When Rev: Ithaca Startup Works opened its doors last year, the gender imbalance was immediately clear. All the business incubator’s member owners were men, and more than 80 percent of those attending its events were men.

Rev has since launched a program that supports and mentors women entrepreneurs in Ithaca and Tompkins County with the goal of expanding the regional network of women in business. The program is called Passenger to Pilot: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Upstate New York.

The program recently received a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s second annual Growth Accelerator Fund Competition.

While women own 32 percent of the businesses in Tompkins County, prior to this initiative, the closest women-focused business development resource was WISE (Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship) in Syracuse.

“The response we received after announcing this program was incredible, and made it clear there was a strong need in our community,” said Ariana Blossom, director of Passenger to Pilot. “While providing business development resources, we are also creating a network of women entrepreneurs and are excited to see this network grow in the years to come.”

Blossom

Passenger to Pilot, launched in May, has 16 women business owners representing a range of companies. Among them are Ithaca To Go, a food delivery service; Miel Beauty Bar, a spa and beauty shop; and Singlebrook, a Web and mobile software developer. Each team is assigned mentors and a coach to assist with strategies, behaviors and habits for growth.

Blossom added that Passenger to Pilot supports women business owners at various points in their ventures. While some of the companies are well-established, others are just in the idea stage.

“Rather than just passively have a company you hope goes somewhere, we would like to equip these women with the skills and tools and resources to steer their own way,” she said.

For more information, contact Blossom at Ariana@revithaca.com.