Springboard Rallies Network to Make Sure Women-Led Ventures Count

30 Organizations Sign On to Promote Startup America - WOMEN

NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Venture Catalyst Springboard Enterprises will hold its 5th Annual Winners' Circle Celebration Dinner on October 25 in New York City,  a town that has seen a tremendous surge of start-up activity recently, especially those that are women-led.  In a special announcement, Startup America Founding Board Member Dr. Pamela Contag and the Partnership team will announce that thirty (30) organizations representing U.S. women entrepreneurs have signed on to Startup America Women, a national campaign to promote the engagement of women-led high growth startups with the Startup America Partnership.  The Partnership has launched an effort to provide 100,000 high growth companies connections to strategic and substantive resources from its partners.  Companies can apply at www.startupamericapartnership.org to begin utilizing these offerings.

Springboard has committed to sign up its national network of women-led companies to connect with the Partnership's corporate and financial partners.  "Springboard is all about connecting high potential women-led companies to the financial and human capital they need to build big businesses starting small," said Kay Koplovitz, Chairman of Springboard Enterprises.  "We are serving as a catalyst for this initiative to rally all the organizations representing women leading high growth companies.  We want to make sure that women entrepreneurs are counted, participate in significant numbers and benefit from the opportunity."  

Earlier that day, Springboard is hosting a venture forum at The Paley Center for Media showcasing a number of the 37 women-led companies that have joined Springboard's international network of 481 portfolio companies.  Springboard has been recruiting and connecting women-led companies to investors and trusted advisors since 2000.   The companies have raised over $5.5 billion in growth capital and include in their ranks enduring brands like Zipcar, Constant Contact, iRobot and hundreds of other tech and life sciences ventures that have become the engines for innovation and job creation.

Among the honorees to be feted at Springboard's 5th Annual Dinner are Wenda Harris Millard,  a digital media pioneer and President; Meg McCarthy, EVP of Aetna and renowned leader of innovative solutions in the health care industry; and Lauren Flanagan, founder of BELLE Capital and one of the top 25 U.S. Angel investors.

COMPANIES PRESENTING AT SPRINGBOARD 2011 VENTURE FORUM:  Jan Bruce, Founder & CEO meQuilibrium; Eloise Bune, Founder & CEO Gracious Eloise;  Ellie Cachette, Founder & CEO ConsumerBell;  Katherine de Leon Co-Founder & CEO Cull TV; Jody Fennell, Co-Founder & CEO Abundant Closet;  Morgan First, Founder & CEO Second Glass; Kim Folsom, Founder & CEO ShowUHow; Kelly Fitzsimmons, Co-Founder & CEO HarQen; Marci Harris, Founder & CEO POPVOX; Susan Hunt Stevens, Founder & CEO PracticallyGreen; Tracy Kobeda Brown, Founder & CEO Evil Genius Designs; Jodi Marchewitz, Founder & CEO  iGuiders; Lynley Sides, Founder & CEO The Glue Network; Therea Szczurek, Co-Founder & CEO Radish Systems; Melinda Wittstock, Founder & CEO NewsiT

The 30 STARTUP AMERICA WOMEN AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS:  85 Broads * ACTiVATE * Anita Borg Institute * Astia * BELLE Capital * Ceres Venture Fund * Count Me In * DWEN * Enterprising Women * Girls In Tech * Golden Seeds * Hot Mammas Project * Illuminate Ventures * Inforum * NCWIT * NWBC * Phenomenelle Angels * Pipeline Fellowship * RampCorp * Sharp Skirts * SheEOs * Springboard Enterprises * StartUpChicks * Women2.0 *  Women Angels * WBDC(Chicago) * Women's Entrepreneurial Council * WIPP * Women Presidents' Organization * Women's Leadership Exchange *

Venture Catalyst Springboard Enterprises is the premier platform where entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts meet to build great women-led businesses.  Springboard sources, coaches, showcases and supports high growth companies seeking equity capital for product development and expansion.  Since 2000, Springboard has helped 481 women-led companies raise over $5.5 billion in equity financing, including 10 IPOs and legions of high value M&As.  www.springboardenterprises.org

SOURCE Springboard Enterprises