Cindy Long of the Center for Women’s Business Research  - Discussing

research underpinnings prior to policy panel (Breakfast meeting)

Center for Women’s Business Research is the premier source of knowledge about women business owners and their enterprises worldwide. The Center’s mission is to unleash the economic potential of women entrepreneurs by conducting research, sharing information and increasing knowledge about this fast-growing sector of the economy.

Since 1989, Center for Women’s Business Research has “painted the picture” of the women-owned business landscape by providing original research documenting the economic and social contributions of women-owned firms. This knowledge transforms entrepreneurial opportunities for women worldwide and is changing the face of the global business environment. 

The Center shares its knowledge with policy makers, financial institutions, corporate leaders, government agencies and the media through research reports, press releases, newsletter publications, seminars, speaking engagements and worldwide on the Internet.

For more information contact: www.womensbusinessresearch.org
Cindy Long -  Center for Women’s Business Research

Access to finance discussion

First Speaker: Wendee Kanarek

Hosted by George Washington University (GWU) Women's Entrepreneurial
 

-          Women's Growth Capital/WomenAngels.net

WomenAngels.net is a new angel investment club designed to help women investors capitalize on the explosive growth in entrepreneurial activity and venture financing in Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia. WomenAngels.net is a manager-led Limited Liability Company organized to provide participants an opportunity for active involvement in a diversified venture capital process. The Club's goal, first and foremost, is to enhance the wealth creation of its members by investing in young high quality, high growth companies in the Baltimore--DC--Richmond corridor. 

WomenAngels.net strength lies in its members. WomenAngels.net is a group of over 80 highly successful women who have invested their money and contribute their talent, expertise and experience in selecting investments and in assisting in the growth of the Club's portfolio companies. The member profile includes women with a variety of professional and private equity experiences - entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and angel investors - as well as women from financial and professional service industries.

WomenAngels.net is the first structured women's "angel" investment club in the country. It also has become a catalyst for the women angel community, by providing an opportunity for co-investing, networking and peer learning. Ultimately, WomenAngels.net will succeed in promoting women as serious, qualified and active members of the angel community.

The GW Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative

Speaker: Kathy Korman Frey, Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship, George Washington University

Looked at the development of Women in Business University Courses:

-          Foundations of entrepreneurial leadership for women

-          Generate, Plan and Launch your great ideas

-          Advanced Entrepreneurial Processes: Learning from Women leaders

-          The Hot Mamma Project – which focuses on case studies and successful role model – cases that focus on high growth successful role models – personal and professional

Springboard Enterprises

Speaker: Amy Millman, President

SPRINGBOARD ENTERPRISES is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to accelerating women's access to the equity markets. The organization produces programs that educate, showcase and support entrepreneurs as they seek equity capital and grow their companies.

SPRINGBOARD’S target market is the growing ranks of women entrepreneurs who lead high-growth potential enterprises. The entrepreneurs who have participated in Springboard programs are the newest faces representing emerging growth enterprises and, certainly, the first wave of women to launch non-lifestyle businesses and grow their enterprises via the equity markets.

SPRINGBOARD promotes women's entrepreneurial development through alliances, partnerships and direct programming. This includes targeted education and coaching, strategic connections with investors, community building efforts and venture capital forums that showcase women entrepreneurs. Our web-based Learning Center, local Workshops and Seminars, and Next Wave Alumnae Initiative service a wide audience of women leading high growth businesses.

SPRINGBOARD employs a community building approach to preparing and presenting new women-led technology companies to investors and business partners. Since the first Springboard Women's Venture Capital Forum was held in January 2000, thousands of investors, service providers, financiers, entrepreneurial institutions, and business leaders have actively participated in recruiting, screening and coaching Springboard companies. By facilitating connections within the community, Springboard has opened a new frontier of capital and business opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

SPRINGBOARD companies have not only successfully raised significant amounts of capital, but have also fortified their businesses, expanded their networks and forged valuable new business connections as a result of their involvement in Springboard programs.

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Speaker: Vanessa Erogbogbo, Program Officer, Gender Entrepreneurship Markets

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) promotes sustainable private sector investment in developing countries as a way to reduce poverty and improve people's lives.

IFC is a member of the World Bank Group and is headquartered in Washington, DC. It shares the primary objective of all World Bank Group institutions: to improve the quality of the lives of people in its developing member countries. IFC Mission Statement.

Established in 1956, IFC is the largest multilateral source of loan and equity financing for private sector projects in the developing world. It promotes sustainable private sector development primarily by:

• Financing private sector projects located in the developing world.
• Helping private companies in the developing world mobilize financing in international financial markets.
• Providing advice and technical assistance to businesses and governments

W2W Ventures

Speaker: Karen Sheehan, Managing Director

W2W Ventures believes in the potential of each individual woman and will strive to give her planning, tools and opportunities to keep herself current and more importantly remind her how talented she is.

 Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA)
 

Speaker: Julia Spicer, Executive Director

Promoting Development and Growth
 

The Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA) fosters the development and growth of business enterprise by creating a forum for the interaction of the providers of private equity, their service providers, and successful entrepreneurs in the mid-Atlantic region.
 

MAVA, founded in 1986, is an organization of business leaders from the venture capital industry and entrepreneurial business community working together to enhance awareness of the region's excellence and are committed to helping the mid-Atlantic region grow and prosper.
 

Over 500+ VC Members and Growing

MAVA's VC Members consist of:

·        over 500 investment professionals

·        from 125 member funds

·        with more than $10 billion in capital under management.

In addition, over 250 key service providers from the legal, financial, executive search and consulting fields are also MAVA Associate Members.

Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)
 

Speaker: Robbie Melton, Program Manger
 

TEDCO's Vision

• Maryland will become internationally recognized as one of the premier 21^st century locations for technology and technology-based economic development.

TEDCO's Mission

• To facilitate the creation of businesses and foster their growth in all regions of the State through the commercialization of technology.

TEDCO's Role

• To be Maryland’s leading source of funding for technology transfer and development programs and entrepreneurial business assistance.