Small Scale Food Processor Association (SSFPA)

💡 Does having social ties matter more than a technical background? Does social media presence lead to more funding? And, how does a startup get more media attention? This week, in the #GenderCapitalResearchSeries, we explore how knowing the right people and being in the right network can impact women and non-binary entrepreneurs’ ability to access capital. (French translation coming soon.) ❋ Technical background and connections are more essential for the success of women entrepreneurs than male entrepreneurs. - A technical background gives significant advantages to female entrepreneurs. - It is more important for women entrepreneurs to have strong social ties with VCs than men, regardless of technical background. - Women founders can overcome gender bias through a strong technical background and strong networks. → Read more: https://lnkd.in/e-Y_Cqdf ❋ X (Twitter) can be a powerful tool for women entrepreneurs seeking VC funding. - Women-owned businesses benefit the most from adopting X (Twitter). - The positive effect of social media on funding disappears for established startups. - X (Twitter) can be a powerful tool for women seeking funding, especially in situations where information on funding opportunities is limited or unreliable. → Read more: https://lnkd.in/eyuZQxYX ❋ While investments from top-tier VCs drive startup media coverage regardless of gender, more broadly, having a female founder is linked to less media attention. - The most important predictor of whether a startup receives media coverage is funding from a top VC firm. - Startups with female founders and those with prior entrepreneurial experience tend to receive less media coverage.  - While media attention can enhance visibility, it may not be a sufficient condition for attracting more investment. → Read more: https://lnkd.in/enEmW2Pv ❋ Women face demand and supply-side constraints in venture capital. - After the 1980s, the number of investments in women-led businesses grew, but the overall share of capital going to women-led businesses remained small. - While the absolute number of women working in the American VC industry increased, the number of women moving on to decision-making roles remained low compared to men. → Read more: https://lnkd.in/eAgEwTnF Check out the #GenderCapitalResearchSeries: https://lnkd.in/eTXzu7yF SVX, Esplanade Québec, WeBC, Pond-Deshpande Centre, Spring, The Canadian Women's Foundation. *This research is part of WIN-VC Canada, supported by Government of Canada. WIN-VC acknowledges the support of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada | Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada. #genderequity #WomenEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #CdnBusiness #CdnBusinesses #InvestingInWomen #nonbinaryentrepreneurs

Ready to dive into the future of food? Join us for an exciting conversation on how investors can fuel #innovation and #sustainability in the food sector, with insights from leaders who are shaping the space: 🎙️ Sandy Mark, Project Co-Manager and Founding Executive Director of the Small Scale Food Processor Association (SSFPA), has a rich history of championing food processors, particularly women entrepreneurs, who face significant barriers in scaling their ventures. Sandy's deep experience as a serial social entrepreneur and her focus on community economic development make her a key voice in understanding the challenges and opportunities in food sustainability. 🎙️ Kevin Taylor, Vice President of SVX Ventures, leads the Fund Design and Management practice, overseeing impact-focused funds and reviewing hundreds of investment opportunities. With a diverse background in management consulting, engineering, and entrepreneurship, Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge on how investors can support sustainable food ventures through strategic investments. 🎙️ Alison Pidskalny, our moderator, Managing Director at Movement51 and Strategic Advisor at Pixelated Ventures, will guide the conversation. With her extensive experience advising founders and Boards, Alison’s expertise in synthesizing big ideas and driving bold, strategic directions will ensure an insightful discussion on how angel investors can make a meaningful impact in the food tech space. If you're wondering, 💭 "How can angel investors support food sustainability?" Sandy, Kevin, and Alison will break it down. 🎟️ Save your spot (it's free!) to join us for our webinar on November 27 @ 12 PM MT - https://lnkd.in/efphkWuX

Ready to dive into the future of food? Join us for an exciting conversation on how investors can fuel #innovation and #sustainability in the food sector, with insights from leaders who are shaping the space: 🎙️ Sandy Mark, Project Co-Manager and Founding Executive Director of the Small Scale Food Processor Association (SSFPA), has a rich history of championing food processors, particularly women entrepreneurs, who face significant barriers in scaling their ventures. Sandy's deep experience as a serial social entrepreneur and her focus on community economic development make her a key voice in understanding the challenges and opportunities in food sustainability. 🎙️ Kevin Taylor, Vice President of SVX Ventures, leads the Fund Design and Management practice, overseeing impact-focused funds and reviewing hundreds of investment opportunities. With a diverse background in management consulting, engineering, and entrepreneurship, Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge on how investors can support sustainable food ventures through strategic investments. 🎙️ Alison Pidskalny, our moderator, Managing Director at Movement51 and Strategic Advisor at Pixelated Ventures, will guide the conversation. With her extensive experience advising founders and Boards, Alison’s expertise in synthesizing big ideas and driving bold, strategic directions will ensure an insightful discussion on how angel investors can make a meaningful impact in the food tech space. If you're wondering, 💭 "How can angel investors support food sustainability?" Sandy, Kevin, and Alison will break it down. 🎟️ Save your spot (it's free!) to join us for our webinar on November 27 @ 12 PM MT - https://lnkd.in/efphkWuX

Want to know more about venture capital? Read our latest blog by Angela Lovell called Why Venture Capital? While it’s true that venture capital isn’t a fit for every type of business, it’s increasingly being used as a tool by many that have the potential for or are experiencing rapid growth. It’s a dangerous stage because it’s often when businesses have a hard time accessing money through conventional financing. Sandra Mark, founding executive director of the Small Scale Food Processors Association (SSFPA), says many of the small businesses she sees have had to go it alone. Venture capital can be a good fit for such businesses because it injects the kind of investment that allows them to grow, she says. SSFPA has a free training program called Venture-Capital Ready (VC Ready) that is aimed at women food entrepreneurs who want to scale up their businesses and need funding. Over 200 women have applied to the program and some of the graduates have been successful in securing investment. Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gv2P2cSm A version of this article appeared in the October 1 issue of Country Guide magazine.