Female Investors
The following is an address I gave to the second Women Entrepreneurs
Festival, held on January 17-18th of this year.
This year we chose the theme "making it" for the Women Entrepreneurs
Festival. A maker is a person who creates something. Women tend to create
businesses that fill a void in their lives. As women we tend to have this
desire to take care of others. It is innate. It isn't surprising that a woman
invented the stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, ironing board, liquid paper,
Scotchguard, the Apgar test, disposable diapers, fire escapes, and of course
chocolate chip cookies.
There were many other innovations that came from women but we weren't allowed to file for our own patents until 1840. How crazy is that? No doubt we have come pretty far since then.
Milena Cvijanovich started her own architecture practice 18 years ago and has since re-invested profits in various projects and businesses, becoming a very successful investor as well as entrepreneur. Female Hero Milena is on the lookout for the right team member to join her latest company, fair-trade luxury marketplace Ethnosphere.
Here's what Milena had to say when we met her:
Sharon Vosmek has been CEO of Astia since 2007, originally joining as COO in 2004. As CEO of Astia, Sharon has an unwavering passion and a uniquely well-suited background to drive forward the organization's mission of propelling women's full participation as entrepreneurs and leaders in high-growth businesses, fueling innovation and driving economic growth. Under her guidance, the Astia community of investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders has grown ten-fold and now spans North America, Europe and India. You can find Sharon @ Astia's blog & on Twitter @Vosmek
The NextWomen Female Hero and
Astia European Advisor Dale Murray has been named 'Angel Investor of the Year' by
the British Business Angels Association. (Click here to read a The NextWomen interview with Dale).
Nearly 200 people gathered together in the unique setting of the Museum of London, to celebrate achievement for early stage investors and entrepreneurs at the BBAA National Awards, on Thursday 30 June.
The event, backed by City of London Corporation recognised the importance of angel investing for the growth of innovating small businesses.Tim Campbell, ex Alan Sugar’s Apprentice, Founder of the Bright Ideas Trust, presided over the ceremony with seven awards presented to entrepreneurs and investors across key areas of the market.
About four years ago I took a step back and started to think about what life was going to look like as my kids started their exit strategy from our house. Also they were at the age where I wasn't picking them up from school and I didn't need to move them from location to location because we live in the city. I figured about 70% of my time was being spent on them and family stuff. I began to plan my strategy for filling up that 70% with other things and figured it would take me some time get there.
Like most everything else I do, nothing happens in long stretches. Once I pivot or come up with a plan it usually is like jumping on a rocket ship as I like to get things done. My first move since I had been blogging for 3 1/2 years at that point was to invest in Curbed Media. I had been watching Lockhart from afar and loved what he was doing. I knew he was starting to look for funding and so I reached out to him.
Upcoming Events
21 May 2012 - 09:00 - 23 May 2012 - 19:30New York, US
22 May 2012 - 09:30 - 24 May 2012 - 19:00Astana, Kazakhstan
