Women Who Tech Announces the Sixth 'Women Startup Challenge' Focused on Emerging Technology

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Women Who Tech, a U.S.-based nonprofit that advocates for women in the technology and startup industry, today announced the launch of Women Startup Challenge: Emerging Tech, one of the largest pitch competitions to showcase top early-stage women-led technology startups focused on Augmented Reality, Blockchain, IoT, Space and Robotics, Transportation, Biotech, Virtual Reality, Energy and Agriculture tech. Aimed at closing the gender gap in the tech sector, the startup challenge will feature 10 finalists pitching their emerging tech ventures before a panel of prominent investors, including Nisha Dua, Partner at AOL's BBG Ventures, Rebecca Kaden, Partner at Union Square Ventures, and Hoolie Tejwani, Vice President at Obvious Ventures. The Women Startup Challenge will take place at Google in New York City, March  2018. Competition criteria and submission details can be found at https://www.womenwhotech.com/women-startup-challenge/emerging-tech.  

In 2016 women entrepreneurs secured $1.48 billion in funding, a mere 2.5 percent of the amount invested in male-led ventures, according to venture capital database PitchBook. "Not only do we need women supporting women within tech and startup sectors, but we need the investor community to help fund women-led startups and address this funding gap," said Kaden, of Union Square Ventures.

The Women Startup Challenge series has showcased 52 of the most innovative early-stage women-led startups, helping draw global attention to the significant gender bias in venture capital funding and providing tech company leaders and investors with direct access to the best early-stage women-led startups.

"Emerging tech is a trillion+ dollar industry. As the world around us becomes more automated, we need diverse perspectives building and launching products," said Allyson Kapin, founder of Women Who Tech. "This innovation is changing the nature of business, society and government. It is important that the people driving this change are as representative of our society as possible; our future literally depends on it." 

"It's simple. Women-led companies drive higher returns," said Dua of BBG Ventures. "But they got less than 10% of venture funding last year. That's a huge opportunity that traditional VC is missing out on."

Accomplishments to date:

• Over $1,000,000 in cash and prizes has been awarded to support women-led startups.
• 1,700 applicants have participated, representing diverse, women-led startups across the U.S.
• 40% of finalists have been women of color.
• 1900+ attended the competitions, including founders, engineers, investors, and tech press.
• Alumni have closed seven-figure rounds and partnerships with Amazon, Snap, and more.
• Alumni have been accepted into some of the most competitive accelerators like Techstars.
• Competition and winners have received extensive press coverage (e.g., TechCrunch, Recode, TheNextWeb, BBC, BuzzFeed, INC, Upworthy and more.
• #WomenStartupChallenge has trended on Twitter during each competition.
• Since competing in the Women Startup Challenge, the finalists have collectively raised $20M collectively.

Women Who Tech has been supported by Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Google, Blanc & Otus, Fred and Joanne Wilson, LinkedIn, the Office of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Mozilla, Microsoft, IBM, General Assembly, Rad Campaign and Invisu.

About Women Who Tech
Women Who Tech is on a mission to close the funding gap. We're shaking up a culture and economy that has made it exceedingly difficult for women to launch startups and raise capital.

By showcasing women-led ventures through our Women Startup Challenges we put capital, mentoring, and resources behind women who are creating the most innovative tech companies so we can help them scale their products.

Contact: Taylor Phillips
Assistant Account Executive
[email protected]
415 856 5129

SOURCE Women Who Tech