Golden Ticket Programs
Opportunity for female founders to get in the game.
Ignite’s Golden Ticket Programs are a game-changer for female healthcare founders, offering unparalleled access to resources, mentorship, and networks to propel their startups to the next level. These regional programs are designed to identify and accelerate exceptional female founders who are driving innovation in healthcare. Participants gain access to:
Expert Mentorship: Learn from experienced industry leaders who provide strategic guidance tailored to your startup’s needs.
Vibrant Networks: Connect with regional ecosystems of healthcare professionals, investors, and advisors.
Comprehensive Resources: Access tools, education, and support to fast-track your growth.
Each program culminates in the Golden Ticket Competition, where founders pitch their innovations live to a panel of industry expert judges. The top three founders from each region win entry into Ignite’s Annual Accelerator Program—providing them with the support needed to scale their companies and achieve market success.
The Golden Ticket Programs are a critical gateway to Ignite’s Accelerator Program, identifying the best and brightest female founders shaping the future of healthcare.
Interested in participating or supporting? Let’s fuel innovation together!
Golden Ticket Program 2025 Key Dates:
North Texas
Applications Open: February 17
Applications Close: March 31
Mid-Atlantic/Northeast
Applications Open: June 2
Applications Close: July 7
Gulf Coast
Applications Open: July 14
Applications Close: August 18
Frequently Asked Questions
Applying for the Golden Ticket offers a multitude of benefits:
- Early Exposure: Gain early exposure and introductions to Ignite’s extensive community, including potential customers, investors, advisors, and alumni founders.
- Accelerator Program Gateway: The Golden Ticket serves as a doorway into Ignite’s Annual Accelerator Program.
- Enhanced Visibility: Through participation in the Golden Ticket Programs founders will receive exposure to Ignite’s network of advisors, investors, and executives.
- Expert Feedback: Those selected to pitch receive valuable feedback from expert Judges during the Golden Pitch Competition, along with opportunities to interact with other program experts.
- Top 3 Recognition: The top 3 startups, determined by Judges’ scores at the Golden Ticket Competition, win The Golden Ticket, granting immediate entry into Ignite’s Accelerator Program.
Ignite’s Accelerator Program is a dynamic hybrid experience spanning 6-8 weeks, blending virtual sessions with a culminating in-person event, The Fire Pitch Competition.
Key Features:
- Community Hub Access: Entrepreneurs are invited to join Ignite’s Community Hub, fostering continuous engagement, information sharing, and participant conversations.
- Mentorship Matching: Selected entrepreneurs are paired with mentors, including Customer and Investor Partners. Each entrepreneur benefits from three guided assessment and advisement meetings.
- Comprehensive Learning Sessions: Workshops led by industry experts cover diverse topics such as government grants, FDA regulatory strategy, fundraising challenges, presentation skills, and insights from alumni. These Learning Sessions provide access to experts, opportunities to hear from Ignite’s alumni, and ongoing discussions via Igniting Connections.
- Office Hours: Participants can access office hours with members of our national network of expert advisors.
- Semi-Final Pitch Competition: The virtual program concludes with a semi-final pitch competition. A panel of 10 or more leaders in our customer, investor, and advisor network judges these rounds, providing valuable individual feedback to each entrepreneur.
- Finalist Program: Finalists are eligible to participate in the Finalist Program, including 1:1 mentoring sessions to prepare for The Fire Pitch Competition.
- In-Person Event: All cohort members are invited to attend The Fire Pitch Competition. This event will include valuable networking opportunities with industry experts.
Ignite’s Annual Accelerator is not just a program; it’s a commitment to empowering and advancing women in healthcare innovation
- Exclusive Focus on Women-Led Healthcare Companies: Our unwavering focus is on discovering, connecting, and accelerating women-led healthcare companies. Guided by women leaders with profound industry expertise, Ignite is committed to fostering networks that empower and uplift.
- Dedication to Diversity: We actively seek to amplify minority women’s voices, contributing to a more inclusive and representative healthcare landscape.
- Robust Advisor Community: Our advisor community boasts depth and diversity, enriched by collaboration with renowned organizations at the Texas Medical Center, Pegasus Park, and a vast network of healthcare experts, consultancies, and law firms nationwide.
- Nationwide Investor Network: Ignite’s influence extends across the nation, connecting entrepreneurs with a diverse range of investors.
- Comprehensive Mentorship Programs: Ignite cultivates meaningful relationships through mentorship programs, starting with dedicated Customer and Investor Partners. This creates a secure space for entrepreneurs to seek advice and ask questions, fostering a supportive environment.
- Engaging Community Beyond the Program: Our community is more than just a program; it’s an ongoing partnership. Beyond the accelerator, participants actively engage, connect with alumni, and contribute to the collective growth of the community.
Yes, participation in Ignite’s Programs involves two fees:
- Application Fee: There is a $150 fee to apply for Ignite’s Golden Ticket Program.
- Program Fee: For startups selected to partake in Ignite’s Annual Accelerator, there is a Program Fee of $2,000. These funds contribute to the ongoing development and enrichment of program content crucial for the success of women leading healthcare startups.
