Apple has announced Entrepreneur Camp, a new project aimed at app-driven businesses that are either owned or led by women. The camp will consist of an “intensive technology lab, specialized support and ongoing mentoring.” The program is scheduled to begin in January 2019 and the firm has begun accepting applications.
In the announcement, Apple said that to be eligible for the program, businesses that apply must be app-driven and must be female-founded, co-founded, or led, and have at least one woman on the development team. Those who do meet those requirements must have a working app or prototype product and a plan for how they want to use Apple technology.
Discussing the initiative, Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, said:
“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.”
Successful applicants will be able to send three attendees to Cupertino, California for the two-week program at Apple’s campus. It will include one-on-one code-level assistance with Apple engineers, there will be sessions of design, technology, and App Store marketing, and general ongoing guidance and support from an Apple Developer rep. Successful applicants will also receive two tickets to the following year’s WWDC.
Sessions will be held on a quarterly basis with 20 app companies accepted each time. For the pilot round, only ten companies will be admitted.