If we are going to truly solve these problems and bring about real change, organizations must change the way they do business and begin to think outside of the box. This means building programs or products that can scale. This means testing news ideas quickly, failing fast, and taking those lessons learned to continue to iterate on the program or product. A lot of organizations get excited about potential to innovate inside their organization, but don’t have the funders to back it. Women Who Tech wants to help change this. We’re launching a crowdfunding competition on March 25th called the Women Startup Challenge, in partnership with Craig Newmark of craigslist and craigconnects, to showcase and raise money for innovative women-led ventures (that includes nonprofits and social impact startups) that are committed to solving problems for people, businesses, and the planet. Care2 who runs this blog is a sponsor too.
In addition to crowdfunding money for your venture, you could win the chance to pitch your startup before
To participate, you just need you to fill out a short application here on March 25th describing your venture. Women Who Tech will review your application and email you within 48 hours to let you know if you are approved to participate in the Challenge. Then, if you're approved, CrowdRise will build you a fundraising page in the Challenge and we'll also get you some next steps.
Who Can Apply?
Why a Women Startup Challenge?
Did you know that only 7% of women-led startups receive investor funding, despite that fact that women-led startups have 35% more return on investment than tech companies founded by men. The lack of funding for women-led startups is unacceptable, and we want to do our part to change it.
In addition, to the Women Startup Challenge, we are also hosting the Women Who Tech TeleSummit, where you will learn everything you need to know to build, scale, and fund your venture, featuring the most inspiring tech changemakers, disruptors, startup investors, and entrepreneurs such as Lisa Stone, CoFounder of BlogHer, Kimberly Longey, COO of Free Press, Shireen Mitchell of Digital Sistas, Susan Mernit of Hack the Hood, and more. This is an inclusive event where both women and men are encouraged to be a part of.