Women worldwide are changing the game.
We are seeing more and more women enter the entrepreneurship scene and founding some of the most successful startups (hello Beatrice Dixon from The Honey Pot and Angela Denton with her revolutionary platform Streamlytics).
Whether you’re looking to start your own company or expand your side hustle, you are certainly in good company. To help you raise your game even further, our partners at .CO, the global domain for startups, have compiled some of the best resources for women entrepreneurs out there. They’ll give you motivation, business help, and connect you with other women like you who are running the show.
Funding
Founded by women, for women, Springboard Enterprises is a resource hub of investors and influencers who are committed to levelling the playing field and advancing women entrepreneurs’ access to capital. Since Springboard’s launch in 2000, the non-profit organization has helped 684 women-led companies raise $8 billion — yes, that’s a “b” — in capital. Its annual program provides a range of in-person events and community resources to ensure female-led business owners are successful.
An early-stage fund that invests in businesses led by women across industries including e-commerce, media, advertising, and web-enabled service businesses. The firm’s portfolio is stacked with major startup success stories like Zola and Billie. Raising seed capital with over $3B in enterprise value, this is a great place to start for funding and community support.
Another early-stage investment firm, New York-based Golden Seeds focuses on funding women-led businesses. It boasts a nationwide network of more than 275 angel investors, one of the largest in the U.S. In 2017, the firm exceeded $100 million in total investments in women-led companies—a substantial milestone for any angel investment group.
Based out of NYC, this female-founded and female-led incubator invests in forward leaning technology and healthcare companies that aim to improve our lives and the planet. While not exclusively for women-led businesses, Plum Alley is genuinely committed to growing an ecosystem of gender diverse founders, and with such a niche industry focus this is an ideal connection for anyone looking to drive meaningful change and innovation in the tech and healthcare industries.
Education
With a mission to increase the number of female startup founders, Women 2.0 publishes daily content aimed at women in technology. Articles run the gamut from inspirational to educational. Come here if you’re looking to break into the tech industry and want advice and support.
Ali Brown’s podcasts are a goldmine of small business wisdom for aspiring and established female entrepreneurs. You can find a new podcast every two weeks. Alternatively, you can dig deep into the website’s archives for a range of quality content, including interviews with well-known entrepreneurs and authors.
This digital magazine was founded almost 10 years ago, when content for female entrepreneurs wasn’t readily available. Today, Lioness Magazine publishes 12 online editions per year that cover a range of topics. It’s an incredible resource for the latest news and resources that female entrepreneurs need to start and grow their businesses.
Networking and Support
This is an organization on a mission to increase the number of and success of female entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, by enabling access to the resources they need to be successful. They provide inspiration, education and support to their community both online and through local chapter events and workshops around the world. Their 10-week virtual accelerator business school has graduated 390 entrepreneurs from 12 countries, with >80% completion and an average 168% revenue uplift in the last 18 months.
Ada’s List is an online community group for all women (trans, intersex and cis) and all non-binary, agender and gender variant people with an interest or role in technology. The mission of Ada’s List is to provide a visibility platform and marketplace designed to help members collaborate and progress professionally. With over 7,500 members around the world, you get access to a global community of women, great events, courses and opportunities.
This website started as a simple blog to provide female entrepreneurs with advice and inspiration as they grew into powerhouses on their business journeys. Over the years, it has grown into a network of almost 100,000 women who participate in and host live events and business workshops. Plus, it’s still a great place for business resources, from marketing and business plan templates to practical advice.
Ready to get started on your own journey? Join the global community of creative, talented, brilliant women working hard and launching extraordinary ideas online – reserve a .CO domain for your big idea today, on sale for the entire month of March 2021 for just $3 USD!
