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Female Founders Pitch at Mini-Seedcamp London
Every year we attend start-up events and start-up pitch competitions, from GeeknRolla to LeWeb, and yet we hardly ever see more than a couple of Women pitch. It was a very pleasant surprise to see 5 out of the 20 start-up pitches be led by women Founders at this year’s Mini Seedcamp in London, which took place on Tuesday the 27th of July.
Not only were there 5 women-led pitching startups among the finalists, but one of them was only 21. Jessica Ratcliffe impressed the audience of over 70 web experts, investors and successful entrepreneurs while pitching her business GaBoom, an online swap platform for gamers already live in beta and getting traction, alongside her business partner James King.
The Women-Led finalists were:
- EDITD - The Bloomberg for apparel retailers and brands that forecasts fashion trends – Founded by Julia Fowler and Geoff Watts – One of the 5 Seedcamp Winners
- GABOOM - An online marketplace to swap and sell video games – Founded by Jessica Ratcliffe and James King
- MATCHIK - The first Crowd Sourcing Platform for Home Design – Founded by Joana Picq, COO of The NextWomen
- SCRAMBLR - A SaaS application that enables creative teams to have their own online studio – Founded by Jane Young and Andrew Webb
- SWEEBLE - A web-based self-publishing tool designed to help schools and groups raise funds – Founded by Sue Greenwood and Greg Finney
All other finalists also had very impressive teams and compelling concepts; there was an interesting range of startups, from very early stage/pre-launch to more established and even profitable companies looking for advice and investment. Returning mentors thought this year’s finalists were especially good teams, and all teams were impressed with the quality of the advice given by the mentors at hand – Reshma Sohoni, Philipp Moehring & the Seedcamp team attracted a very interesting crowd to this event, which made it a success.
On top of the quality advice given by mentors, startups also had the opportunity to hear an interesting panel discussion with former VCs turned entrepreneurs about the challenges of fundraising, led by Saul Klein (Chairman of Seedcamp).
Here are some of the insights given by each panelist:
- Avid Larizadeh – now founder of Boticca
“Angels are often the best alternative to early stage startups as they can be more active and give valuable advice. It’s very important to choose the right investor, and not just any investor.”
- Greg Marsh – now Founder of OneFineStay
“I would start looking for early stage funding with friends and family, and look for the good VCs with seed funds.”
And when asked by the audience on what is ‘a little investment’:
“It depends where you are. You can find many people in the streets of Palo Alto who will think $1M is a ‘little bit of money’ – unfortunately they’re very hard to find in Europe. In the UK a “little seed investment” will often be of around £250K. “
- Max Niederhofer – now Founder of Qwerly
“Fundraising is like dating – don’t tell investors you are looking for money, try and pretend you don’t need it.”
“Don’t create unnecessary overhead in your company so early in time – avoid VCs even with seed funds.”
Mini Seedcamp London 2010 has proven to be a very worthwhile event, especially for startups, as it brought some of the most experienced and creative web experts together to provide constructive feedback and advice to early stage businesses trying to break through. We’ll be sending announcements when the next Seedcamp event opens for applications.
Apply to the Accenture Innovation Awards (Entry Deadline – July 31st, 2010)
Every year since 2007, Accenture presents its Innovation Awards to reward innovative business and encourage innovation. Previous winners have been female internet heroes Claire Boonstra, and Marina Tognetti, who founded Layar and Myngle respectively.
Do you have an innovative concept in Media, Communication & High Tech in the Netherlands and want to be honoured for your successful innovation? You can apply until July 31st to enter the Award.
Awards will be given to those different categories:
- Best Mobile Concept
- Best Web concept
- Best Lifestyle concept
- Best Device connected
- Best Gaming concept
- Best Digital Home concept
- Best Green concept
All Female Heroes in Media, Communication and High Tech deserve to get a chance and be nominated for these awards.
For more information and a registration form please visit the Innovations Awards site, and don’t forget, with less than a week to go, it only takes 5 minutes to enter.
Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs Discuss Leadership in Edinburgh
Fiona Murray - photo by Jonathan Littlejohn M.A.
Earlier this month The NextWomen was invited to the “New Approaches to Leadership for Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs” workshop by Informatic Ventures where female founders from Scotland and across Europe discussed entrepreneurship. The over 50 women attending proved nothing but leadership and innovation in each of their man-dominated fields of technology, yet took the opportunity to discuss new approaches with experts from the MIT Sloan School of Management and each other.
Women and Leadership - Questioning and Understanding Statistics
The one-day programme was led by professors Fiona Murray, Laura Barker Morse and Glenda Burkhart who showed amazing talent in triggering constructive group discussions – from behaviour profiles to case studies and group exercises, always trying to evaluate whether women’s leadership approaches could be generalised as such, and how they could be improved.
The agenda included very interesting discussions around the latest statistics from the Kauffman Foundation about Women in leadership roles. Why are there not more women in boards? Male environments versus executive talent pipelines. Do women not get invited to leadership roles or do they turn them down? Although most people in the room agreed to never have heard of women turning down offers to leadership and board roles. How can we accelerate women access to VC funding? Women often focus on realistic return forecasts on investment and don’t always look as appealing as their male counterparts. Are there enough female investors? Not statistically speaking, and that may impactwomen’s access to funding. Why do women founders tend to lead smaller teams? For various reasons, but is that really a problem or can it be an advantage?
International Seminar to Encourage Greater Tech Entrepreneurship Among Scottish Women
Leading international academics, experienced entrepreneurs and The NextWomen will be visiting the Scottish capital on 10 and 11 June for a high profile seminar hosted by the University of Edinburgh’s Informatics Ventures.
The two day event, entitled “New Approaches to Leadership for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs, Managers and CEOs”, will feature lectures, case studies, interactive discussions and “hands-on’’ exercises designed to help aspiring, female executives develop effective leadership styles and grow successful, sustainable companies, especially in the technology sector.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to practice “elevator’’ sales pitches to potential customers, employees and board members. The seminar will be delivered by:
- Laura Barker Morse – MD of Entrepreneurship Ventures, Inc, Boston. Laura has vast experience in the Angel and Venture Capital industry most recently Human Capital Partner at Atlas Venture in London, Paris, Munich and Boston between 1999 and 2008
- Professor Fiona Murray - Associate Professor of Management and co-head of the Technological, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management Group at MIT Sloan School of Management, Cambridge, MA. Fiona is also a specialist in strategic innovation and entrepreneurship issues including development of commercialisation process within early stage and large corporations
- Glenda Burkhart – MD of Golden Seeds LLC, a US Angel Investment Partnership. Glenda is a skilled professional in the area of large scale organisational change who boasts over 30 years experience as a senior corporate executive across both profit and not for profit sectors and previously worked with Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay, the subject of one of the Edinburgh workshop case studies.
- Kenneth P. Morse – Founding MD of MIT Entrepreneurship Center, Cambridge, MA and serial entrepreneur. A visiting professor at ESADE Business School, Barcelona, Kenneth is also a high performance leader in global high-tech sales and management with over 35 years experience in the field
Lead organiser Andrew Mitchell of Informatics Ventures comments: “Scotland has an abundance of first class, aspiring businesswomen across all sectors including science and technology and it’s therefore essential we give them an unfair advantage through world-class executive education and encourage them to have big, bold, global aspirations for their business ventures.
“This two day seminar, with some of the leading names in global entrepreneurship, will assist senior businesswomen to sharpen their leadership skills and style, helping them operate more effectively within the global marketplace and enable them to steer their respective businesses towards sustainable success.’’
Delegates from across Scotland, Europe and the USA will be attending the event.
For further information on New Approaches To Leadership For Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs, Managers and CEOs and to register for the event visit: http://www.informatics-ventures.com/womenentrepreneurs
Our Next Funding & Pitching Event including Pitching Sessions for Women-Led Start-ups
The NextWomen Funding & Pitching & Networking Evening - 26 April, 2010
The NextWomen, in partnership with Astia, invite you to an event in which you can meet, interact and learn from experienced men and women that know all about funding for both start-ups and growing businesses. Spend an evening in the intimate setting of the Loyens & Loeff Law Firm offices gaining insight into how to raise the financial capital you need, whilst networking with fellow entrepreneurs over prosecco, wine and sushi.
Practice your Pitch, and Win a Seat in the Astia Doing it Right Programme in London
The NextWomen offer the exclusive opportunity to 6 women to try out their funding pitches before a Panel of Experts and Investors. It is a unique chance to profit from these experts’ insights, and to receive feedback and suggestions on your funding pitch before you throw yourselves in front of the lions. The winning pitch will have a seat guaranteed at the Astia Doing it Right Program in London on May 4-7.
Date: April 26 2010, from 6.00 to 9.30pm
Location: Loyens & Loeff in the City (near Bank)
More details and Agenda, Click here
Inma Martinez - Stradbroke Advisers
Andrew Nutter – Balderton Capital
Tracy Scribner – MMC Ventures
Maria Dramalioti-Taylor - Business Angel
Simone Brummelhuis - Astia Board & CEO of the NextWomen
Attendee Early Bird (Before April 15th) - £39.00
Attendee Late Ticket (After April 15th) - £49.00
Pitching Workshop & Competition – £75,00 (requires that you purchase an attendee ticket prior to submitting your executive summary, the remaining amount will only be charged if you are selected)
To book your ticket, click here.
If you want to pitch your business, you must purchase a normal ticket and send us an executive summary or high-level pitch for your start-up. The 6 best start-up applications will be invited to join the afternoon workshop, from 3 to 5pm, and pitch to our panel of investors in the evening. The £35 difference for the pitching tickets will only be charged if you are selected, directly by The NextWomen.
About Astia and the Winning Prize:
Doing it Right in London: Programme Overview
In Europe, select entrepreneurs can experience Astia’s hallmark Doing it Rightprogramme that has resulted in a greater than 60% funding success rate for prior participants.
Doing it Right London is a programme where exceptional entrepreneurs enhance their company’s ability to attract funding and cultivate invaluable relationships.
Through candid discussions led by local investors and seasoned entrepreneurs,Doing it Right increases participants’ understanding of the current state of venture capital and angel investment.
Entrepreneurs gain important skills and insight when Doing it Right – from developing an effective fundraising strategy, negotiating term sheets, navigating the due diligence process, to leading a successful company. Doing it Right is current, fresh and relevant.
Select entrepreneurs receive:
- Introductions to leading VCs and angel investors through investor-led panels and workshops
- Presentation skills coaching by a leading expert
- Increased business acumen and executive leadership skills
- Expert advice from VCs, angels and successful entrepreneurs
Women are Trending in Brussels Tech Leadership Conference
Clo Willaerts, Woman in Tech
This is an article by Misae Richwoods, Event editor of The NextWomen and organizer of #140conf meetup in London
Brussels is the seat of Europe and as such it has some unusual dynamics, such as:
- The population is multi lingual with the Flemish and French divide being bridged by English.
- The national mobile operators charge for handsets instead of providing it free with a contract and unlimited mobile internet hasn’t happened here yet.
- At the same time there are world renowned global brands based here like Stella Artois.
- The architecture of the city marries the most delightful stone worked terraces of yesteryear with the stark modern lines of post-war reconstruction and the towering offices that deal with the endless red tape of globalisation.
Yes, Belgium is a more traditional country than the UK and yes, many things seem old fashion. Yet there was nothing backward thinking about the first #140conf meeting in Brussels which paneled an all female speaker line up!
An all female speaker line up at #140conf meetup in Brussels!
Having organised the #140conf meetup in London since last year, it was my pleasure to introduce the concept that real time media is a game changer for business and that we need to get a dialogue started about the changes it’s going to create so that we can use them as a force for good. Read more
Brazil Means Business Symposium – A 360 Degree View of an Emerging Economy
AMSTERDAM – Joana Picq, COO of The NextWomen will be speaking at the first edition of the Brazil Means Business Symposium, that will take place March 29th 2010, in Holland, showcasing some of the fastest growing Brazilian companies in the IT and Bio/Pharma sectors. If you are based in Holland or in the area on the day, take advantage of a special discount which allows all our readers a 10% discount with the code: NW
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Brazil is a Great Place to Start a Business
Brazil has become an attractive market to do business in the last decade, according to the President of the Banco De Lage Landen, in the South of Brazil, Porto Alegre, Mr. Maarten Viskaal:
“Brazil is economically developing very well. Huge investments are planned for in infrastructure, energy and oil extraction. The middle-class is upcoming and pushing domestic demand for consumer goods and housing.”, and “more and more there will be a push into high-tech solutions”.
In Brazil, De Lage Landen provides vendor finance services to the agricultural, construction, healthcare, and technology sectors.
Mr. Viskaal, who has been based in the country for several years, and has witnessed the fast pace of transformation and greater economic stability, adds that the
“The scenario of Brazil diving into a deep economical crisis combined with hyper inflation and currency devaluation is something of the past. The country is economically well run and has a strong banking sector”.
Keen Interest in R&D Carried out by European Biotech Companies
There is keen interest from European entrepreneurs to export goods, biotech imagining equipment, and services to tap the huge consumers’ market that Brazil represents. And there is interest, from Brazilian companies, in biomedical R&D carried out by European biotech companies. Entrepreneurs, investors, market analysts, and technology startups interested in going to market, forming partnerships, and investing in Brazil will be attending the Brazil Means Business Symposium, to better understand how the emerging economy is poised for growth.
Brazilian Software Companies will Have a Huge Presence Read more
Entrepreneurial Technology Women in Italy
cc: flickr womentech
At the end of 2009 more than 1500 people attended and viewed online, the second ‘Women and Technologies 2008-2015′ conference, hosted by the Milano Chamber of Commerce. Men and women, all who work and live with a focus on skills, merit and diversity, came together as ‘bringers of a vision’ to make original contributions to technological innovation and societal development eliminating issues of gender.
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Girls on the continent continue to obtain excellent exam results across the board and yet although female involvement in ICT business remained static during the economic downtrun, there are still few women in permanent techno-scientific professions:
‘There are more than 31, 300 enterprises run by women in the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector in Italy. 3 out of 5 are in the Informatics sector, while 1 out of 5 is engaged in creating and/or repairing machines and equipment. Moreover, female businesses in ICT have been remaining in stable positions in the last year, in spite of the global economic crisis.’ Read more
The 49 Most Notable Female Internet Heroes of 2009
2009 has endured the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, and yet female start-ups are growing in numbers as more of our lives are spent online. We have compiled our list of notable 2009 Female Internet Hero achievements. Far from exhaustive, if you feel you should be added to the list let us know as we will be adding to the list:
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The Digital Government Hero
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Martha Lane Fox is appointed the Government’s Digital Inclusion Champion
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The Launch Heroes
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Sarah Prevette launches SprouterWhich asks entrepreneurs the question “What are you working on?” |
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Paola de Leo and Co-Founder Colin Firth launch Brightwide
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Penelope Trunk of Brazen Careerist launches a professional social network for Generation Y
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Mr and Mrs Tom Harrow (Former Microsoft programmer) relaunches Findababysitter.com
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Deirdre Bounds launches Parties Around the World
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Sarah Beeny launches Tepilo
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Rajeeb Dey and Leah Magoye (Africa Representative) launches Enternships
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Michelle Dewberry launches Chiconomise
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Natasha Friis Saxberg launches Mentory
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Stephanie Phair and Net-A-Porter launch TheOutnet.com
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Michelle Gallen launches Talk Irisha social network for Irish language learners. |
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Anja Beerepoot launches Female FactorA network for women who like to share and show their talents |
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The Queen relaunches the Royal websitewith a Buckingham Palace reception and guests including Sir Tim-Berners Lee.
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Kim Mance of Galavanting launches travelblogexchangeA platform where travel bloggers can congregate, offer tips, advice and support to each other. |
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Shaa Wasmund launches SmartaA combination of Linkedin, Eventbrite and Meetup for UK entrepreneurs |
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Sophie Cox and brother Charlie launch WorldekaA social network with a conscience. |
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The Fundraising Heroes
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Dr Fran Crawford secures £500k investment from the Aspire Fund for Altacor
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Polly Gowers secures £350k investment from the Aspire Fund for Everyclick
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Gina Bianchini and Ning raise $15m and named as one of Fastcompanys 20 Most Influential Women in Tech
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Marina Tognetti and Myngle secure €950,000 fundingThe online platform linking teachers and people achieves government backed funding totally almost €1m |
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Jana Eggers and Spreadshirt Announce €10 million investmentfrom Accel and Kennet Partners.
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Alicia Navarro and Skimlinks raises two rounds of fundingLed by Sussex Place Ventures, the first round was believed to be in the region of £700k and the second £900,000c |
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Lesley Eccles of Hubdub achieves £810, 000 in fundingfrom Pentech Ventures, Scottish Co-Investment Fund and additional Angel Investors.
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The Career Heroes Read more
Tech-Savvy Women Play a Large Part in LeWeb 2009
LeWeb 2009 was yet another interesting web event, gathering a very international crowd of over 2,000 people, from which just over 350 were women. The location was exquisite, the heating system was working and although the food was far from the quality you’d expect in France, there was plenty of it for everyone.
The NextWomen Meetup Read more
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