Ventureneer launches THE VENTURE CROWD Crowdfunding Campaign to Fix the Underfunding of Women Entrepreneurs

NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventureneer, a content marketing, research and training company geared toward the small business community, announces the launch of THE VENTURE CROWD, a project aimed at educating women entrepreneurs and investors about a relatively new financing and investment option available to them -- equity crowdfunding.

The project will help fund actionable tools, including a guide and training, to educate both entrepreneurs and investors about how to take advantage of equity crowdfunding. To provide this education for free, THE VENTURE CROWD will itself be funded out of Plum Alley, a reward-based crowdfunding platform.

Title II of the JOBS Act has the potential to level the playing field for women entrepreneurs by creating a new funding source -- equity financing for companies that are publicly raising money -- however few women are participating, according to Crowdnetic, which maintains an equity crowdfunding database. Women-led businesses achieve higher returns on equity to investors than all men-led businesses, according to the SBA Office of Advocacy. Yet only one woman raises equity crowdfunding for every five men that do.

"Right now only a tiny percentage of Americans with the wherewithal to be angel investors and invest via equity crowdfunding are," said Geri Stengel, President and Founder of Ventureneer. And the vast majority of angels -- 80% -- are men who mostly back all male executive teams, according to the Center for Venture Research. Investing in women-led companies via equity crowdfunding is a way to diversify an investor's portfolio."

"Equity crowdfunding changes the way entrepreneurs finance their businesses, yet few women use it," says Stengel. THE VENTURE CROWD ensures women know how to tap into and leverage this money by providing tools, insights and training. Stengel's crowdfunding goal is to raise at least $7,500 with additional funding provided by Dell and Ellenoff Grossman & Schole, a leading law firm specializing in alternative financing. Interested funders should visit THE VENTURE CROWD's project on Plum Alley's website to learn more about the research, report and tiered rewards for funders.

Women-owned businesses represent 30% of all firms, but only 16% of firms that have employees and 10% of high-growth firms, according to the Kauffman Foundation, which researches and advocates for entrepreneurship. "Without education and the critical infusion of capital, women will continue to raise companies with lower sales, profits, and fewer jobs," adds Stengel. THE VENTURE CROWD will be a game changer for women entrepreneurs and investors.

THE VENTURE CROWD's efforts will be supported by media partners including, Enterprising Women, Small Business Trends, The Next Women, and Women 2.0. Supporting organizations include Astia, Ellevate, Inforum Center for Leadership, the National Association of Women Business Owners, National Women's Business Council and the Women Presidents' Organizations.

To help support THE VENTURE CROWD where everything is ventured and everything gained, visit plumalley.co and folow hashtag #TheVCrowd.

About:
Ventureneer is a content marketing and market research company providing education and training for small businesses. For corporations that want to reach these organizations, Ventureneer provides branded marketing and social media opportunities that generate visibility, thought-leadership, and brand loyalty.

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