New App Development Program Launched for Female Entrepreneurs

On November 26, Apple launched a new Entrepreneur Camp, a new initiative that was designed to create new opportunities for app developers and  businesses owned or led by women.

In order to be eligible for the program, businesses must be “female-founded, co-founded or led and have at least one woman on the development team — as well as a working app or prototype and desire to leverage Apple technologies to benefit their mission.” Applications will be accepted starting January 2019.

According to Apple’s CEO Tim Cook on the new program, “Apple is committed to helping more women assume leadership roles across the tech sector and beyond. We’re proud to help cultivate female leadership in the app development community with the new Apple Entrepreneur Camp, and we’re inspired both by the incredible work that’s already happening, and what’s sure to come.”

Sessions for the Entrepreneur Camp will be held on a quarterly basis, although only 20 app companies will be accepted for each round every quarter. The pilot session beginning in January  will only include 10 companies. 

Once candidates are accepted, each company will have the opportunity to send three members to Cupertino, California for a two-week program at Apple’s campus, which includes code-level assistance with Apple engineers, design sessions, technology and App Store marketing, as well as support from an Apple Developer representative. In addition, each company will also receive two tickets to the following year’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference. 

In 2017, female entrepreneurs received $1.9 billion in funding, compared to the $83.1 billion for men. Although they have such obstacles to face, women-owned businesses are growing more than two times faster than the national average; tech startups led or create by female entrepreneurs are now delivering a 35 percent higher return on investment startups led by male entrepreneurs.

To learn more about the development program or to apply, visit https://developer.apple.com/entrepreneur-camp/.

 

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