The Company announces 33 companies to be accepted for its fifth accelerator class. Rather than through referrals, this group is the first to come from an open open application process. The Company received hundreds of applications, from which 500 Startups selected eight companies. The participating startups follow a few key themes: Mostly the fund’s focus on international and female founders. Seven of the startups chosen, or 21 percent, have at least one female co-founder. And more than half of the companies came from overseas.