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DVRSTY #3: Backing More Female Founders

Applications Now Open!

We're excited to open applications for our third DVRSTY initiative, partnering with Women In Immersive Tech and AWE. This is a call to female founders based in Europe who have an initial product and are looking to raise your first round of institutional VC funding.

DVRSTY is especially tailored for innovators who fit the below criteria:

  • XR and Spatial Computing

  • Generative AI and Computer Vision

  • Realtime 3D and Gaming tech

  • B2C, B2B or developer focused

  • Can dedicate 3-4 hours weekly throughout the program.

What’s New In This Edition?

This year, we're introducing new elements to deepen the support.

  • March - Female founders sharing their advice

    • 13 March: Pre-seed and Seed stories with Claire Barnett from YourHaven and Hanna Toivonen from Starstuff. RSVP here.

    • 21 March: Series A founder’s stories with Susan Cummings from Tiny Rebel Games / Petaverse, Orla Harris from SideQuest and Olga Dogadkina from Emperia. RSVP here.

  • April - Meet investors and operators: Selected startups will gain exclusive access to private sessions with leading operators and investors from Google, Meta, node.vc, FOV Ventures and more.

  • May - Spotlight on demo day: Earn your place at FOV Ventures' online demo day in May, showcasing your startup to a global network of industry-specific investors and leaders.

  • June - Trip to AWE USA 2024: One standout startup will secure a travel voucher and free entry to AWE USA 2024. All applicants get 20% off.

Incredible Mentors Await

Meet our incredible mentors, generously offering their time for one-on-one mentorship. With both group and private sessions, you'll engage with seasoned experts and investors in a supportive environment. This isn't about pitching; it's a unique chance to learn, ask challenging questions, and forge valuable connections.

Past Success Stories - From DVRSTY to Investments

Our DVRSTY initiative has been a launchpad for visionary founders like Annabel Vacano of Atopia Space. From participating DVRSTY's to triumphing at AWE USA 2023 pitching competition and then securing an investment from FOV Ventures and others, Annabel's story showcases the power of our program.

“Annabell's journey with Atopia Space, from participating in DVRSTY's to travelling to AWE and securing investment from FOV Ventures, exemplifies the transformative power of embracing diversity and innovation.”

Likewise, Reedah El-Saie's journey with Brainspark, an EdTech gaming studio, underscores DVRSTY's role in catalyzing groundbreaking ventures. The company first came to our attention when they applied to DVRSTY and although this didn’t lead to an investment immediately during the program we kept in touch with Reedah and are now finalizing investment.

Apply by April 4th 2024

Please apply if you are:

  • Are a female founder or female-led startup, based in Europe

  • Have a product and are looking to raise your first round of institutional VC funding

  • Have started developing fundraising materials

  • Can commit 3-4hrs per week for the program duration

And are building in any of the following areas:

  • XR or Spatial Computing

  • Generative AI or Computer Vision

  • Realtime3D or Gaming Tech

  • Consumer, B2B or Developer focused

Some topics and themes we’re particularly exciting about include:

Spatial Commerce, AIGC in Gaming & Social, Industrial & Enterprise Metaverse, Augmented Productivity, VisionOS ecosystem, Multi-modal AI, Avatar-driven software, Immersive Education. But this list is far from exhaustive and we hope to see a diverse range of ideas and use-cases.For further details and answers to any questions you might have, please explore our FAQ section [link here].

Ensure your application is submitted by April 4th. Finalists will be notified by April 11th and can immediately begin scheduling their sessions. These 45 minute sessions will be between 22 April - 3 May, 2024.

Join the DVRSTY Support Network

If diversity is on your agenda, we're on the lookout for more supporters and partners for this and future DVRSTY programs. Interested? Let us know, and we'll get back to you.

Also, spreading the word about our program can make a big difference. Share the news on your channels to help us amplify our impact. We truly appreciate your support!