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WELCOME TO OUR
Silicon Valley
Future Female Innovation Leaders Program
2026
Explore Our Program's
Mission and
Vision
What You Will Achieve
Our female-first Silicon Valley program equips you with the skills, network, and mindset to grow your startup, be a future-ready innovation leader and achieve global impact.
Who Will Profit from Our Program?
Female Innovators in Germany who want to grow their startups and become future-resilient leaders in the broad impact spheres:
Climate
Health
Meet the 2026 Cohort
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Meet the inspiring women who were who were part of our Silicon Valley Future Female Founder Innovation Leaders program. These founders are not just making an impact, they’re shaping the future with their innovation, leadership, and passion.
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CEO & Founder
Yasemin Tanyildizi
CatMedica
Our innovative new device (funnel on a wire) leads to over 90% success rates during mechanical thrombectomy, while current standard methods only achieve 30-45%.
Founder
Teresa Herzog
vibeload
vibeload is a tool for content creators that automatically researches health trends and validates them with scientific sources.
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Operations
Jill Gern
FiberGuard
FiberGuard shifts infrastructure management from reactive to predictive by embedding optical fibers directly that provide 24/7 real-time monitoring to detect structural damage before it becomes critical.
Ready to Get to the Next Level With Us?
The project is supported by Germany's Transatlantic Program, funded by the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).
Please note while the program is free of charge, you are are responsible for your own travel and accommodation expenses.
We look forward to welcoming you to our program!
Application phase is now closed and was open from February 1. to April 19. 2026.
Dive into the Program Objectives
Adopt the Silicon Valley mindset
Acquire skills for
the future
Join a lifelong
community
Grow and scale
your business
Profit from practical experience
Develop resilience and leadership
Generate
long-term impacy
Key Elements of Our Program
What Comes Next?
Meet the Lead Mentor
Silicon Valley is not just a place - it's a mindset. I love helping entrepreneurs from around the world develop and practice this unique mindset.
"
Serial Entrepreneur & Female Entrepreneurship
Founder THE GUILD | Instructor UC Berkeley
Anne Cocquyt
As a serial entrepreneur, award-winning educator and startup advisor, Anne helps founders gain the knowledge and confidence to try new business models, innovate like a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and choose the right fundraising path to grow a successful venture aligned with their values.
Meet All Mentors
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Our experienced mentors help you to get inspired by all players of the Silicon Valley, discover future technologies, meet investors and gain an understanding of their mindset.
Innovation Strategy
Julia Martensen
Innovation Evangelist
ServiceNow
Digital Leadership
Prof. Dr. Sabine Remdisch
Visiting Researcher
Stanford University
AI & Startup Business Advisor
Hedi Razavi
PhD, Emergence Program
Stanford University
AI/ML & DeepTech Investments
Eva-Maria Olbers
Head of Portfolio Growth
Premji Invest
Venture Capitalist
Daniela Caserotto-Leibert
US Head of Ecosystem
Cathay Innovation | Venture Capital
Startup Mentor & VC
Dr. Yvonne Lutsch
Investment Director
Lam Capital
International Research Cooperation
Zahar Barth-Manzoori
Director
DWIH San Francisco
Venture Capitalist
Alfredo Coppola
Co-CEO
US Market Access Center
What Our Alumnae Say
Jana Maria Weinand, Co-Founder & CEO, Leitspalt (ex-Ivillion)
"The biggest shift for me was learning not to be hesitant. I started making intros, meeting people spontaneously, building authentic relationships. That mindset opened doors I didn't expect."
What to Expect in Silicon Valley
Explore Our FAQs
01
Who can apply?
We welcome female founders at all stages to evaluate the curriculum and determine if they would benefit from the sessions. We encourage all interested individuals to apply for the 30 spots in our virtual program, knowing that 12 top performers will be selected for the in-person Silicon Valley experience. Research indicates that women may hesitate to apply for opportunities if they don't feel fully qualified. If you're unsure whether this program is right for you, we strongly encourage you to submit an application. Let us help you decide.
02
What is the cost of participation?
The only expenses you need to cover are your travel and accommodation costs for the 5-day program in San Francisco. Most meals during the program will be covered, meaning your flight and overnight accommodation in San Francisco are the main costs.
03
How does the Application Process Work?
We review applications on a rolling basis, so applying early increases your chances of being selected. Step 1: Virtual Program Selection: After you submit your application, we'll select up to 30 founders to participate in our virtual course. Step 2: Silicon Valley Selection At the end of the virtual program, a jury will evaluate all participants and select the top 12 founders for the in-person Silicon Valley experience. Step 3: Travel Arrangements Selected founders are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation to Silicon Valley. We'll provide guidance and recommendations to help with planning. 💡 Pro tip: Spots fill quickly - submit your application early to secure your place in the virtual program and maximize your opportunity to be selected for Silicon Valley.
04
What does Health and Climate encompass?
These areas cover a broad range of applications. The primary criterion is that your solution has a positive impact on health or the environment. (Extra great if the application is in women’s health!)
05
What is my commitment other than covering travel costs to Silicon Valley?
Your main commitment involves time. • Virtual Sessions: From May 18 - July 3rd you'll participate in weekly 90-minute virtual sessions with mentors, in the evening of Central European time zone (most likely Thursdays). There will also be assignments between sessions, with the sessions and assignments together totaling around 4 hours a week. • Silicon Valley Program: Additionally, the in-person Silicon Valley program will require your full participation over 5 days, including attendance to site visits, networking dinners, and mentoring sessions. We understand this requires time away from your daily work obligations, but the experience will be highly valuable and rewarding. We also ask that all participants share about their experience via their social media channels. • Innovation Showcase in Berlin: Finally, in the fall of 2026, we will organize an innovation showcase in Germany to reunite the cohort and present the group to partners and players.
Our Supporter
The project is supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany, funded by the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).
Special Thanks to Our Community Partners
Meet the Founders
of Our Last Cohort
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Meet the inspiring women who were who were part of our Silicon Valley Future Female Founder Innovation Leaders program. These founders are not just making an impact, they’re shaping the future with their innovation, leadership, and passion.
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Let's Get in Touch!
101 Montgomery St.
Suite #1400
San Francisco, CA 94104
Simone Friese
Director Marketing & Innovation Scout
Donja Hohendorff
Project Manager, Innovation Solutions
Maximilian Dedden
Marketing & Communications Trainee