WEVE Acceleration

WEVE Acceleration provides comprehensive programs for international startups expanding into the United States. It offers a US-focused curriculum, personalized mentorship, and strategic introductions to investors, corporate partners, and experienced entrepreneurs. It also develops customized acceleration programs for international governments and conducts corporate learning expeditions.

The company began operations in New York City in 2017, originally as NUMA New York. This venture stemmed from the insight that international innovators need a specialized platform to navigate US market complexities. Recognizing the critical need for localized expertise and a robust network, the organization was established to guide cross-border ventures with tailored support.

WEVE Acceleration serves non-US startups, international governments cultivating tech ecosystems, and corporations engaging with emerging technologies. Its vision is to foster a more accessible global environment for innovators, enabling market access and sustainable business growth through knowledge, partnerships, and essential resources.

High-Level Overview

WEVE Acceleration is NYC's premier acceleration program for international startups expanding into the US market, formerly known as NUMA New York.[1][2] With over 20 years of global experience from its NUMA roots, it delivers a 10-week US soft-landing accelerator featuring targeted curriculum, 1:1 mentorship, and warm introductions to US investors, corporates, and entrepreneurs, having supported over 120 startups from 25 nationalities since opening its NYC office in 2017.[1][2][4] Its mission centers on enabling global market access and business growth for innovators through world-class knowledge, connections, and resources, while also offering customized programs for international governments, corporates, and investors.[1][2]

The program serves non-US startups (early- and growth-stage), international governments seeking to boost their tech ecosystems, corporates via innovation expeditions, and investors accessing deal flow, with additional bootcamps and learning experiences.[1][2] It impacts the startup ecosystem by facilitating US market entry, leading to outcomes like Series A/B funding raises and B2B sales exceeding $700K for alumni.[4]

Origin Story

WEVE Acceleration traces its roots to NUMA, one of the world's oldest accelerator brands, founded nearly 20 years ago in Paris to support global entrepreneurs.[1][2][4] The New York office launched in 2017 as NUMA New York, evolving into WEVE Acceleration to focus on US market expansion for international startups, building on two decades of expertise in introducing promising ventures to major markets.[1][2][4] Since then, it has accelerated nearly 50 companies from 17 nationalities in its first three years of NYC operations alone, marking pivotal growth through successes in funding rounds and major sales deals.[4]

Leadership includes CEO and Managing Director Frances Simowitz, COO Giulia Imperatrice, and Program Director Shai Tamary, steering its operations from its base at 119 W 24th St in New York.[2][3] This evolution from a Paris-born global network to a NYC-centric soft-landing specialist humanizes its role as a bridge for international innovators facing US entry barriers.[1][4]

Core Differentiators

• Proven US Soft-Landing Model: A structured 10-week program tailored for early- and growth-stage international startups, emphasizing US-expansion curriculum, intensive 1:1 mentorship, and vetted introductions to NYC's top investors, corporates, and entrepreneurs—distinct from generic accelerators.[1][2][4]
• Customizable Programs: Beyond startups, offers bootcamps and expeditions for governments, corporates (e.g., innovation workshops across tech, fintech, healthcare), and investors, with flexible in-person/virtual formats and industry-agnostic adaptability.[1][2][3]
• Extensive Network and Track Record: Access to hundreds of mentors, US investors, and corporates; over 120 alumni from 25 nationalities, with tangible wins like Series A/B raises and $700K+ deals; 20+ years of NUMA heritage amplifies credibility.[1][2][4]
• Operating Support Depth: Provides dedicated hours of support per program, ecosystem mapping, and skill-building for corporate innovation, fostering not just funding but sustainable growth and market presence.[1][3][4]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

WEVE Acceleration rides the wave of global startup internationalization, capitalizing on the US as the world's largest market amid rising cross-border expansion needs post-pandemic.[1][4] Its timing aligns with surging demand for "soft-landing" programs, as international founders seek localized networks to navigate regulatory, cultural, and funding hurdles in NYC's vibrant ecosystem.[2][4] Market forces like remote work enabling global talent flows, government-backed innovation initiatives, and corporate hunger for diverse tech (e.g., fintech, healthcare) favor its model, which has diversified 25 nationalities into the US.[1][3]

It influences the ecosystem by democratizing US access—previously gatekept for non-US founders—driving alumni funding, sales, and tech transfer, while empowering governments and corporates to scale ecosystems collaboratively.[1][4] This positions WEVE as a key enabler in a fragmented global tech landscape trending toward hyper-connected innovation hubs.[2]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

WEVE Acceleration is primed to expand its hybrid virtual/in-person offerings, potentially scaling alumni numbers beyond 120 amid AI-driven globalization and renewed US venture appetite.[1][2] Trends like government-corporate alliances for tech sovereignty and investor hunts for international alpha will shape its trajectory, with customizable programs likely proliferating for emerging markets.[1][4] Its influence may evolve from niche soft-lander to ecosystem orchestrator, deepening NYC's role as a global gateway—reinforcing its core mission of making the world smaller for innovators, one startup at a time.[2]