Founder Story: 400+ Members, Zero Ads - How Podium Grew Through Word of Mouth
Mai Vo and Alka Gupta both in their 30's were navigating career shift and entering new life stages, they had their friends and networking events but nothing that connected them other peers navigating the same life transition or just 1 step ahead.
Not networking events with name tags and awkward small talk. Not LinkedIn connections that go nowhere. A place where women could find collaborators, mentors, and peers who understood their challenges.
So they built Podium. A peer-discovery platform that uses AI-driven matching and curated in-person gatherings to help women build meaningful professional networks.
Women with strong female peer circles are 2.5 times more likely to reach the C-suite. But here’s the problem. As women grow in their career, life happens. They change jobs, move cities, enter new life stages — those peer circles quietly disappear.
There’s no infrastructure to help them find the right peers at the right moment.
Podium doesn't do mentorships. The entire business model is finding peers and people 1 step ahead. They also do not do professional only, they look at women as a whole. personal, professional, and caregiving.
The interesting part: they grew entirely through referrals. No ads. No growth hacks. Just women telling other women.
When Podium joined Cohort 12, they had early traction but needed to refine the model.
100 days later:
400+ paying members
Grown entirely through word of mouth
Over half their funding round came from their own members: women at Google, Amazon, international banks
Evaluating international expansion
That last point matters. When your customers invest in your company, it says something about product-market fit.
This is the kind of founder we back. People building something their users genuinely want.
Cohort 13 applications are now open. We're looking for more founders like Mai and Alka.
Apply: https://www.acceleratingasia.com/getfunded
If you know a founder who'd be a fit, send them this link: acceleratingasia.com/getfunded. Or reply to this email with their name and we'll reach out directly.
Applications close February 15. See more details below ⬇️
Applications Open for Cohort 13
Applications are now open for Cohort 13. Selected startups will receive US$100,000 in investment, participate in a 100-day accelerator, and gain long-term access to the Accelerating Asia Ventures network.
More information and the application portal are available at acceleratingasia.com/getfunded.
Opportunities for Investors
Accelerating Asia Ventures welcomes new limited partners seeking access to a rigorously selected, high-growth portfolio across Southeast and South Asia. Further information for investors is available at acceleratingasia.com/investors or by contacting team@acceleratingasia.com .
About Accelerating Asia Ventures
Accelerating Asia Ventures is an independent accelerator and venture capital fund investing in early-stage startups across Southeast and South Asia. Founded by operators, the organisation is committed to supporting founders with capital, credibility, and a long-term community.
For interviews, data requests, or portfolio introductions, contact: team@acceleratingasia.com
