Funding Issues and Options for Women EntrepreneursWritten by Victoria Colligan
Traditional Venture CapitalProblem: it is an old boy's network and access to it is limited. The traditional Venture Capital (VC) structure is not conducive to women's businesses which tend to be passion-driven, and less focused on exit strategies requiring high returns in short periods (5 years or less). Women typically want to balance money with fulfillment and may focus less on high returns if this means giving up specific lifestyle characteristics. Solution: Some venture capitalists that "think out of box" and focus on funding women owned companies are alternatives to consider. Some of these VC firms include: Alternatives to Venture CapitalUsing One Business to Fund Another Low overhead businesses, like service businesses, with which women tend to have success, are great starting points that can lead to more product-oriented businesses. These businesses often provide launching pads for women to become familiar with an industry, build relationships in industry and lead to a natural progression of growth in other areas. For example, Ladies Who Launch feature Alison Chozen funded her company Sterling Truffle Bar with her event company, Mosaic. See her story. Another example is Ladies Who Launch feature Holly Bohn who used her offices services company to fund www.seejanework.com (stylish office products). For more on her story, click here Franchise, Sales Rep and Independent Contracting Opportunities Ladies Who Launch believes this is a great model for women who want to start their own businesses while having maximum flexibility and low financial risks. This model allows women to be creative, to have control and to have flexibility while making money. There are many options out there and some are especially great for women who may have an idea but do not necessarily want to reinvent a wheel that may already exist. For Ladies Who Launch recommendations of companies that offer these opportunities, please see Entrepreneurial Opportunities with Lower Risk and Maximum Flexibility.
| | Celebrating WomenWritten by Stella Ramsaroop
After thousands of years of abuse, educational deprivation and being treated like property, women are finally getting opportunity to blossom like beautiful flowers that they are. The entire month of March is dedicated to strength and intelligence of woman. It’s time to stand tall, to dance uninhibitedly and to give a dainty applause to other half of human race. According to a pullout in March 12, 2005 issue of The Washington Post, there are 14 women in U.S. Senate, 65 women in U.S. House of Representatives and four women serving U.S. Cabinet. There are also eight women serving as Governors. I’d say that women are finally having a say in world. The whole “hand that rocks cradle” thing is nice, but it’s also just a phrase used to pacify demand of woman to be an equal voice of reason concerning decisions that effect her. The pullout also said that one of every four doctors in America today are women, and that number will be growing soon with half of all medical students being female. It’s about time we got recognized for something more than just beauty. The beauty of women has long been acknowledged. However, by giving a woman recognition for just shallow shell of a fading attribute and no more is just as demeaning as giving her no recognition at all. Though many men still find it hard to reconcile beauty and intelligence in same female, there is no doubt at all that women will soon be on equal par with their male counterparts – in relationships and in office. We’ve sure come a long way baby, but we still have such a long way to go. The same Washington Post pullout, which was created and edited by women, termed their section, “A Few Who Made a Difference.” This celebration of women has become a spotlight for just exceptional women - doctors, legislators and activists. What about everyday Jane? She is just as spectacular as a Susan B. Anthony or a Mae Jemison. We should be celebrating all women. We should be celebrating stay-at-home moms and women working at local Wal-Mart too.
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