Sequoia Capital has picked up its first group of 15 women-led firms as part of its Sequoia Spark Fellowship Programme. The programme will offer mentorship to women-led startups and capital to cover some of the early costs, the venture capital firm said in a statement. The applications for the programme was declared in July and closed in September. Over 250 women founders had applied. “We want to take a meaningful step towards addressing the gender inequality that exists in the startup ecosystem,” Sequoia added.

The group will take part in monthly mentorship settings and have access to select Surge sessions, and get support from Sequoia India portfolio specialists in hiring, legal, finance, product, technology, and marketing. “The founders have been matched to an investment advisor to give knowledge to startup founders from its portfolio and mentor them for the next 12 months,” it said. This mentorship will help founders with the product and go-to-market roadmap, which will help them prepare for their seed and Series A funding rounds.