Organization · Accelerator
AccelerateHER
AccelerateHER is a UK-based accelerator supporting female and non-binary founders, enhancing their growth and access to investment. It operates primarily in Scotland and aims to achieve investment parity for female-founded companies.
Overview
What AccelerateHER does
What AccelerateHER is
AccelerateHER is a UK-based accelerator supporting female and non-binary founders, enhancing their growth and access to investment. It operates primarily in Scotland and aims to achieve investment parity for female-founded companies.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and program host and community and event host and publisher capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Accelerator
- Founded
- Founded in 2015
- Approximate age
- About 11 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Program host · Community · Event host · Publisher
- Last reviewed
- March 27, 2026
What Accelerator means
An accelerator is a structured, short-term program designed to speed up a startup's progress toward product-market fit, traction, fundraising, or scale.
Open the glossary entryOfficial channels
Find AccelerateHER elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
AccelerateHER as a funder
Investment thesis
AccelerateHER is dedicated to supporting female founders by accelerating their growth and visibility within Scotland's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Focus narrative
AccelerateHER focuses on empowering female founders through various programs, mentorship, and networking opportunities. It primarily operates within the UK, particularly in Scotland, and targets sectors such as technology, health, and environmental innovation. The organization provides resources to help female entrepreneurs scale their businesses and attract investment.
Value beyond capital
AccelerateHER provides resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help female entrepreneurs scale their businesses and attract investment.
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Accelerator
- Regions
- United Kingdom
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 6
Portfolio context
Notable companies associated with AccelerateHER include: Persi: A retail technology company focused on personalizing shopping experiences. Valla: A startup aimed at making legal support accessible and affordable. SMASH: A platform that connects new talent with decision-makers in the content creation industry. Hearing Diagnostics: A company dedicated to improving access to care for those affected by hearing loss. Reath: A business working towards building digital infrastructure for the circular economy. uFraction8: A biotech startup focused on sustainable solutions for bioreactor downstream processing.
Capability profile
AccelerateHER as a program host
Program thesis
AccelerateHER is dedicated to supporting female founders by accelerating their growth, visibility, and backing.
Focus narrative
AccelerateHER focuses on empowering female founders through various programs, mentorship, and networking opportunities. It primarily operates within the UK, particularly in Scotland, and targets sectors such as technology, health, and environmental innovation. The organization provides resources to help female entrepreneurs scale their businesses and attract investment.
Value and support
AccelerateHER offers various programs, mentorship, and networking opportunities to empower female founders. It provides resources to help female entrepreneurs scale their businesses and attract investment.
Format and cadence
- Typical duration
- 9 weeks
- Format
- In Person
Availability
- Application state
- Not published
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Accelerator
- Regions
- EuropeUnited Kingdom
Alumni and track record
Alumni context
Notable companies associated with AccelerateHER include: Persi: A retail technology company focused on personalizing shopping experiences. Valla: A startup aimed at making legal support accessible and affordable. SMASH: A platform that connects new talent with decision-makers in the content creation industry. Hearing Diagnostics: A company dedicated to improving access to care for those affected by hearing loss. Reath: A business working towards building digital infrastructure for the circular economy. uFraction8: A biotech startup focused on sustainable solutions for bioreactor downstream processing.
Capability profile
AccelerateHER as a community
Community overview
AccelerateHER is an organization based in Edinburgh, Scotland, dedicated to supporting female founders. It aims to accelerate the growth, visibility, and backing of high-growth potential female entrepreneurs. The organization is part of Scotland's entrepreneurial ecosystem and has been operational for over a decade.
Community focus
AccelerateHER focuses on empowering female founders through various programs, mentorship, and networking opportunities. It primarily operates within the UK, particularly in Scotland, and targets sectors such as technology, health, and environmental innovation. The organization provides resources to help female entrepreneurs scale their businesses and attract investment.
Member value
Members benefit from tailored mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to resources designed to help female entrepreneurs scale their businesses and attract investment.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- accelerator and community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Regions
- United Kingdom
Community activity
Events and activity
AccelerateHER hosts various events, including the annual AccelerateHER Awards, which recognize outstanding female founders in categories such as Technology, Environment, Culture, and Health, as well as regular Female Founder Hackathons aimed at supporting female founders in developing their ideas and connecting with technical resources.
Notable members
Notable companies associated with AccelerateHER include Persi, Valla, SMASH, Hearing Diagnostics, Reath, and uFraction8.
Capability profile
AccelerateHER as an event host
Event focus
AccelerateHER focuses on empowering female founders through various programs, mentorship, and networking opportunities. It primarily operates within the UK, particularly in Scotland, and targets sectors such as technology, health, and environmental innovation. The organization provides resources to help female entrepreneurs scale their businesses and attract investment.
Format narrative
AccelerateHER offers a range of programs including accelerators, hackathons, and networking events designed specifically for female entrepreneurs.
Participant value
AccelerateHER provides essential resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help female entrepreneurs grow their businesses and secure investment.
Format and cadence
- Event types
- awards-ceremony and hackathon
- Recurrence
- annual
- Modality
- in-person
- Startups can present
- Yes
Availability
- Registration state
- Not currently accepting
Audience and fit
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Series A
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
- Regions
- United Kingdom
Speakers and past editions
Speakers
Notable speakers include Elizabeth Pirrie, CEO & Owner, and Jackie Waring FRSE, Founder.
Past editions
The AccelerateHER Awards is an annual event recognizing outstanding female founders in various categories.
Capability profile
AccelerateHER as a publisher
Editorial focus
AccelerateHER is dedicated to supporting female founders by accelerating their growth, visibility, and backing. The organization provides various programs, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help high-growth potential female entrepreneurs scale their businesses and attract investment.
Audience value
AccelerateHER offers resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities specifically designed to empower female entrepreneurs, helping them to scale their businesses and secure investment.
Format and cadence
- Content formats
- podcast
- Primary platform
- Spotify
Availability
- Guest pitch state
- Not currently accepting
Audience and focus
- Audience
- Founders
- Regions
- United Kingdom
Flagship work and coverage
Flagship properties
AccelerateHER Podcast, Barclays Eagle Labs Female Founder Accelerator, Women to Women (W2W) Programme, Female Founder Hackathon Dumfries.
Common questions
What to know about AccelerateHER
Upseed classifies AccelerateHER under the Accelerator organization type. Its current public profile includes funder, program host, community, event host, and publisher capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 27, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.