WOMEN FOUNDERS NETWORK

IN 2025, WE CONTINUED AND EXPANDED OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS, COLLEGE WOMEN AND FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS.NEXT GENERATION INVESTORSTHE JUNIOR VENTURE CAPITALIST (JR. VC) PROGRAM (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JUNIOR JUDGE PROGRAM) FOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS HAD 7 VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS TO LEARN ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP, LEADERSHIP, VENTURE CAPITAL AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. GIRLS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A FACILITATED REVIEW OF THE WOMEN FOUNDERS NETWORK FAST PITCH FINALIST COMPANIES WITH A SEASONED INVESTOR AND ATTENDED AN IN-PERSON PRACTICE PITCH EVENT. THE JR. VC PROGRAM CULMINATED IN THE GIRLS ATTENDING THE ANNUAL WOMEN FOUNDERS NETWORK FAST PITCH EVENT AT UCLA IN LOS ANGELES. THE GIRLS WATCHED THE PITCHES, ASKED FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS OF THE FOUNDERS, THEN DELIBERATED TO SELECT THEIR WINNER AND PRESENTED A SPONSORED CASH PRIZE. WE INCREASED THE PARTICIPANT NUMBER FROM 65 IN-PERSON STUDENTS LAST YEAR TO 83 STUDENTS IN 2025, AND INCREASED THE VIRTUAL JR. VC PROGRAM FOR NON-LOCAL STUDENTS FROM 27 PARTICIPANTS LAST YEAR TO 38 STUDENTS THIS YEAR. FOR THE FIFTH YEAR, WE HAD OUR DUE DILIGENCE ANALYST PROGRAM FOR UNIVERSITY WOMEN (FORMERLY KNOWN AS WFF FELLOWS PROGRAM). THE PROGRAM OFFERS REAL-WORLD, RESUME-BUILDING EXPERIENCE. STUDENTS WERE SELECTED THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS, HAD 2 ZOOM SESSIONS TO LEARN ABOUT PERFORMING DUE DILIGENCE ON EARLY STAGE STARTUPS AND GIVEN ACCESS TO RESOURCE MATERIALS. PARTICIPANTS WORKED IN TEAMS OF TWO WITH A MENTOR. EACH TEAM WAS ASSIGNED TO EVALUATE ONE OF THE FAST PITCH FINALIST COMPANIES AND PRESENT A DUE DILIGENCE REPORT. WE HAD 39 APPLICANTS, WITH 20 PARTICIPANTS ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM.FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSOUR STARTUP FUNDAMENTALS WEBINAR SERIES INCLUDED TOPICS ON PITCH DECK ESSENTIALS, SCALABLE STARTUP FUNDING, VALUATION AND NEGOTIATION, FINANCIAL FORECASTS, CAP TABLE BASICS, RETAINING OWNERSHIP RIGHTS, AND PR/MARKETING STRATEGIES. OUR IN-PERSON LAUNCH EVENT WITH OVER 60 ATTENDEES FEATURED A PANEL OF WOMEN INVESTORS AND A PREVIOUS FAST PITCH WINNER SHARING FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES FOR STARTUPS. THE 13TH ANNUAL FAST PITCH COMPETITION RECEIVED 185 APPLICATIONS AND 10 FINALISTS WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. EACH FOUNDER IS PROVIDED A PITCH COACH, PRO BONO FINANCIAL CONSULTING, A PACKAGE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AND PERKS FOR DISCOUNTS ON A WIDE ARRAY OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. THE FAST PITCH FINALISTS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN TWO PRACTICE PITCH EVENTS FOR FRIENDLY FEEDBACK IN PREPARATION TO COMPETE FOR CASH GRANTS AT OUR ANNUAL FAST PITCH EVENT AT UCLA, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 300 PEOPLE. WE AWARDED $55,000 IN NON-DILUTIVE CASH GRANTS TO THE WINNING FOUNDERS IN 2025.