WealthMeUp’s Post

Today we want to shine the spotlight on Kavya Sharman, PhD, whose venture is Phase Capital, a Nashville-based early stage biotech fund that is addressing the local gap in biotech infrastructure and funding. When seeking advice for women and girls today, she offered insightful guidance: Don’t think within the lens of ‘as a woman” or “as a girl.” Focus on achieving your goals independent of any societal or demographic constraints, identify the people that are in your corner as early as possible, and stay actively away from those who question your capabilities. There’s a big difference between those who will positively critique your work with the goal of helping you and those that don’t believe you can succeed and therefore continuously criticize your abilities. The way you feel after meeting with people will tell you which of these categories they fall in. My favorite meetings are ones where I leave feeling challenged but ready to take on the world—surround yourself with people that make you feel this way. Your journey is too short to surround yourself with people that make you feel intentionally small. Also, trust your vision. You see the world the way no one else does. As an entrepreneur, by definition, you are creating something that has never been created before. Stay true to your vision and surround yourself with people that will support and challenge you, without enforcing their vision on you. Read more from Kavya, and the other incredible women in our Founder program here: https://lnkd.in/gzdJ9cGM #entrepreneurship #innovation #womeninbusiness #womenempowerment

Every time someone asks why I focus on helping female founders, I usually answer... "How long have you got?" My mission was crystal clear from the beginning. To empower these brilliant yet often overlooked innovators. And I’m so proud of my clients’ achievements. One client launched her product to 200 active users, generating $20,000 monthly. Another secured a fully-funded entrepreneurial PhD to kickstart her innovative research. A third released her beta product and successfully funded her initial investment round. Despite these achievements, it’s a continuous battle for respect and equitable opportunities especially when it comes down to funding. It became clear that my role was not only to assist in launching businesses but also to change the industry's foundation. With even more determination, I stepped up my efforts. I started to advocate more passionately, connecting founders with a network of allies and resources committed to create an equitable environment. The work is far from being done but I love to see positive results. Today, I see these female founders not only starting but also sustaining and scaling their businesses, fundamentally reshaping their respective landscapes to be more inclusive. If you're a female founder feeling undervalued or overlooked, let's change that narrative together! _____________________ 👋🏻 Hi there, welcome! ✨ I'm Sarah. I guide women who feel unsure or overwhelmed about starting their startup, helping them shape their ideas into a business that's ready for funding. If you're a woman beginning your startup journey, follow me here on LinkedIn. I'll keep sharing advice and support to help you grow.

Have you heard these questions from investors? If you're a #femalefounder, chances are high that you have. How do you respond? - Do you laugh it off? - Do you answer the question? - Do you end the conversation? - Would you want to work with this investor? At Breakthrough Labs, we run pitch practices for women that prepare them for these questions. You're certainly not going to experience this in every pitch, but we want the first time you experience it to be in a safe space, and we want you to be prepared. We've got you. 💜 #communitysupport #femaleentrepreneur #womensentrepreneurship #startuplifehacks #womenintech #femalefounders

💡 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬In our last post, we discussed 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 specifically designed for women founders and shared 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 from female entrepreneurs like Whitney Wolfe Herd and Katrina Lake. Now, it’s time to get practical. In this post, we’re diving into the 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩-𝐛𝐲-𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 female founders need to secure funding and build a winning pitch deck. 🧐 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲: A detailed, data-driven business plan is essential. Investors want to see that you understand your market, have clear financial projections, and can demonstrate the potential for high returns. Don’t forget to highlight your team—investors are betting on people, not just ideas! 🌐 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: A strong network is invaluable. Use your connections to secure introductions to investors. Attend industry events, join online communities, and seek mentorship programs to open doors. Platforms like The Fourth Effect, SCORE Mentors and Mentor Her can help you connect with the right people. 📊 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬: Your pitch deck should not only inform but also engage. Practice turning negative questions into opportunities and present your startup with confidence. Consider pitching workshops or coaching to refine your delivery. Learn finance and feel comfortable answering financial questions about your business. With the right preparation, you’ll be on your way to securing the funding your startup needs. 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬? Catch up on tips for navigating bias, networking, and unlocking funding opportunities for female founders in the blog series: “Investor Insights: What Female Founders Need to Know to Navigate Bias and Accelerate Fundraising.” here. https://buff.ly/3U2B253 🚀 Stay tuned for more insights and tips in future posts! #TheStartupStation #PowerUpGlobally #FemaleFounders #FundingAdvice #VC #Entrepreneurs

💡 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬In our last post, we discussed 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 specifically designed for women founders and shared 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 from female entrepreneurs like Whitney Wolfe Herd and Katrina Lake. Now, it’s time to get practical. In this post, we’re diving into the 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩-𝐛𝐲-𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 female founders need to secure funding and build a winning pitch deck. 🧐 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲: A detailed, data-driven business plan is essential. Investors want to see that you understand your market, have clear financial projections, and can demonstrate the potential for high returns. Don’t forget to highlight your team—investors are betting on people, not just ideas! 🌐 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: A strong network is invaluable. Use your connections to secure introductions to investors. Attend industry events, join online communities, and seek mentorship programs to open doors. Platforms like The Fourth Effect, SCORE Mentors and Mentor Her can help you connect with the right people. 📊 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬: Your pitch deck should not only inform but also engage. Practice turning negative questions into opportunities and present your startup with confidence. Consider pitching workshops or coaching to refine your delivery. Learn finance and feel comfortable answering financial questions about your business. With the right preparation, you’ll be on your way to securing the funding your startup needs. 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬? Catch up on tips for navigating bias, networking, and unlocking funding opportunities for female founders in the blog series: “Investor Insights: What Female Founders Need to Know to Navigate Bias and Accelerate Fundraising” here. https://lnkd.in/dDVxFM6V 🚀 Stay tuned for more insights and tips in future posts! #TheStartupStation #PowerUpGlobally #FemaleFounders #FundingAdvice #VC #Entrepreneurs

🎟️ Introducing: FLIP MCR x Female Founders 🔄 Powered by Zally® & SoSquared 🚀 This event is a step away from the usual female founders events. We want to showcase a variety of experiences, highlighting that there isn’t just one route to success in business. Closing the gender investment gap is a huge issue that must be addressed. Through facilitating open and honest conversations, we hope to raise awareness and contribute to the progressive change that is needed. 💼 Pre Event: Held at PwC MCR, attendees will have the opportunity to visit the Frictionless Futures space on a guided tour, along with a Pitch Workshop hosted by Paul Wilshaw. 🚀 Main Event: Kicking off the main event at 5:30, we will be welcoming a range of investors, founders and funds that can provide value to attendees, as well as initiatives that support and guide female founders. Closing the event will be an open Q&A that both speakers and audience members can participate in to provide answers. Not a female founder? No problem - we're opening up the conversation. Regardless if you're a successful female entrepreneur or just interested in starting your first business, we invite you to join us. 🎟️ Tickets: https://lnkd.in/eZ8CNFCN 📲 FLIP MCR Website: www.flipmcr.com #FLIPMCR #Founders #Investors #StartUp #Innovation

A real issue - women entrepreneurs need to be getting more investments. We deliver more returns, so we need to get more investment. Some facts: -Investments in companies founded or co-founded by women averaged $935,000, which is less than half of the average $2.1 million invested in male-founded companies. -According to the research, when women business owners pitch their ideas to investors for early-stage capital, they receive significantly less -- a disparity that averages more than $1 million -- than men.  -Yet businesses founded by women ultimately deliver higher revenue -- more than twice as much per dollar invested -- than those founded by men, making women-owned companies better investments for financial backers. I was thankful to be able to attend the Show Her the Money screening hosted by CED (Center for Entrepreneurial Development) and xElle Ventures a few weeks ago.

We’re bringing to you the Female Founders event that pushes the boundaries 🚀 Following on from #FLIPMCR 1.0, we recognised the need to support female founders. The gender investment gap is a significant problem that needs addressing and we want to champion the progressive change that is needed. We’re going further than coffee mornings and bringing you conversations that push the boundaries. Not a female founder? No problem. Even if you're not a successful female entrepreneur or you’re just interested in starting your first business, we invite you to join us. It’s time to FLIP the script for female founders 🔄 🎟️ Tickets available here: https://lnkd.in/eZ8CNFCN 📲 For more information on FLIP MCR, click here: www.flipmcr.com #ManchesterTech #FemaleFounders #Founders #Investors #StartUp

When is the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. The second best time? Now. 🌱 Seed the South 🌱 is planting seeds for the future - today. This conference was a testament to the commitment Charlotte has on growing our startup ecosystem - one seed investment at a time. Congratulations to Juan Garzón, Jenny Farias, Innovate Charlotte, and gWen (Growing Women Entrepreneurs Network) on re-launching Sam Smith's vision for Seed The South. Who needs a Silicon Valley when we are seeding the 🌲Land of the Pines🌲? How can CLT better support founders? What conferences do you attend? Did you experience STS?