Relationships Talk

Apple on Sunday launched its first program dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs develop apps.

The Cupertino-based tech giant invited 11 companies run by women to participate in a free two-week entrepreneur camp. The goal: to help women successfully develop their apps.

“We can’t wait to see you and your skills and help you thrive with your apps,” Esther Hare of Apple’s developer relations told the group.

To qualify, a company must be run or founded by a woman or have a woman on the development team.

Elena Krasnoperova of Los Altos said she welcomes advice about ways she can improve the app she designed to help make life easier for divorced parents.

“I feel I won the lotto,” said Krasnoperova, founder and CEO of FamTerra. “Developing is a lot of hard work, and getting mentorship and advice from Apple is like a dream come true.”

For the next two weeks, participants will receive coding help from Apple engineers and attend sessions on design, technology and marketing. Some of the entrepreneurs are developing apps targeted specifically for women.

Renee Olson, for instance, is working on a dating app that will better help women find a good match. She’s hoping the entrepreneur camp will take her app to the next level.

“Helping me implement new features and also just being here to network,” said Olson, founder of Mental Mobile, based in Southern California.

The developers are from all parts of the world, and many are hoping the experience with Apple will also help them get the financial backing they need to get their apps into the market.

Apple plans to offer the camp to 20 female entrepreneurs every quarter.