Startup Runway Foundation exists to help underrepresented founders strengthen traction, sharpen their story, and get discovered earlier in the ecosystem.
We support founders earlier than most programs — before pre-seed — when preparation and access shape what comes next. We were founded in 2016 with a bold, simple mission: connect overlooked founders and underrepresented innovators to their first investors.
We provide non-dilutive $10,000 grants to early-stage founders who demonstrate strong potential but lack early access to capital. This first check allows founders to validate traction, refine their product, and prepare for institutional funding.
Founders receive structured pitch practice, feedback, and storytelling support. We focus on clarity, credibility, and confidence — helping founders communicate value in rooms that matter.
Through curated showcases and targeted introductions, founders gain exposure to investors, corporate partners, and ecosystem leaders aligned with their growth stage and sector.
We work alongside corporations, universities, accelerators, and civic organizations to extend opportunity beyond capital. Partnerships help founders access expertise, customers, and long-term pathways to scale.
Startup Runway Foundation was born out of a real problem in the innovation economy: while women and minority entrepreneurs make up nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population, they receive less than 2% of venture capital.
Lisa Calhoun, Founding Managing Partner of Valor Ventures, founded Startup Runway to step into that gap with a new solution grounded in mentorship, community, and real capital.
Our first showcase launched with just two grants and a small group of mentors. Today, the program has grown into one of the most effective pitch-to-capital pathways for underrepresented founders in the country — serving more than 5,000 entrepreneurs, awarding $10,000 non-dilutive grants at each showcase, and activating a network of 150+ volunteer mentors and judges from leading corporations, funds, and innovation hubs.
Startup Runway exists to close the gap between overlooked talent and real opportunity.
Our model is simple, repeatable, and designed for early momentum.
We support founders at a critical inflection point — when conviction, clarity, and access matter most. Are you ready to pitch at a Startup Runway Showcase?
