Springboard 2000 Yielding Results

As mentioned in the last week's SSTI Weekly Digest, access to capital is a challenge for women-owned businesses. Springboard 2000, one nationwide initiative to overcome that obstacle, in less than one year, has assisted women entrepreneurs in science and technology businesses to raise more than $235 million in venture funding. The investments have been raised directly as a result of two forums held this year in Redwood City, California and Dulles, Virginia.

The forums are co-hosted by the National Women’s Business Council, and other groups such as the Women’s Growth Capital Fund, the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, American Online, the Morino Institute, and the Oracle Corporation. Another forum will be held at Harvard Business School in New England this November. Approximately one month prior to the forum, selected entrepreneurs will participate in a boot camp which will help to prepare them for their upcoming presentations to venture capitalists. Springboard 2000 will continue its series of forums into 2001 with events to be held in Silicon Valley in February, New York City in March, and Chicago in May.

The Springboard 2000 web site, http://www.springboard2000.org, includes updates on the women who have participated in the forums, resources, and additional information on upcoming and past events. The “Learning Center,” includes the following topics: Creating a Business Plan, The Funding Presentation, the Venture Financing Process, Presentation Tips, Building Your Team, and more.