Chloe Capital, a movement-driven venture capital firm, along with Ascender, a nonprofit incubator for Pittsburgh’s entrepreneurs, with support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, will host Invest In Women x Pittsburgh this Spring.
Empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs
Invest in Women x Pittsburgh is an initiative for underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Pittsburgh area. It supports women-led technology companies tackling real-world problems in the financial, health, workplace, education and climate sectors. Chloe Capital, Ascender and the Richard King Mellon Foundation are partnering to create a collaborative and inclusive fundraising experience through a series of online events. These events will lead up to a 48-hour in-person program in Pittsburgh in April 2022. The program will feature a Founder Showcase, which will be open to the public.
“We’re committed to addressing inequality, quality of life and economic development in Pittsburgh, and we’re ready to showcase our region’s talent, resources and opportunities with Chloe Capital’s global network,” said Nadyli Nuñez, Executive Director at Ascender. “Invest In Women x Pittsburgh is a win for underrepresented founders, investors around the world and our community.”
“Leaders of community-focused organizations and foundations like Ascender and the Richard King Mellon Foundation are a driving force behind innovation in Pittsburgh. We’re excited to collaborate on an initiative that fuels the global expansion of underrepresented founders by moving capital to women in Pittsburgh,” said Myneco Ramirez, Chloe Capital Chief Experience Officer. “With the face of venture capital and entrepreneurship changing, this collaboration is a great example of how the public and private sectors can work together to do well by doing good.”
How Invest in Women x Pittsburgh helps entrepreneurs
The virtual events include information and recruiting sessions. There will also be workshops led by top coaches in productivity, diversity and inclusion, finance and more. Participants will receive knowledge and skills to innovate globally while operating in the Pittsburgh area. Five high-growth technology companies with women executives will then be selected to participate in a 48-hour, in-person fundraising experience. This is designed to connect underrepresented founders to investors and other industry leaders as part of Chloe Capital’s growing Movement to Invest In Women.
By the end of the program, Chloe Capital will make at least one investment in a company located in, or willing to relocate to, Allegheny or Westmoreland counties. On average, participants in a Chloe Capital program each go on to raise $2,000,000 within a year, catalyzed by visibility and introductions to the firm’s worldwide network.
This partnership with Chloe Capital and Ascender on the Invest In Women x Pittsburgh program will generate meaningful opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the Pittsburgh region to connect with investors, and with people and resources across our region to accelerate their growth,” said Sam Reiman, director of the Richard King Mellon Foundation.
Invest in Women x Pittsburgh activities
Activities for Invest In Women x Pittsburgh are as follows:
- Applications Open: November 1, 2021
Seed to Series A women-led technology companies seeking funding apply here: ChloeCapital.com/funding - Online Information Sessions (open invite): January 19, 2022, February 2022
- Online & In-person Information Session: March 2022 (invitation only)
- Applications Close: February 11, 2022
- In-person Fundraising Experience: April 2022 (invitation only)
- Founder Showcase: April 2022 (open invite; space is limited)
About Chloe Capital
Chloe Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in women-led technology companies. It invests with a gender and diversity lens. Chloe Capital partners with universities, foundations and corporations to host programs that help catalyze fundraising efforts for underrepresented founders. This collaborative approach to early-stage investing has resulted in millions raised. Today, more than 20,000 people around the world have joined Chloe Capital’s Movement to #InvestInWomen. ChloeCapital.com
About Ascender
Ascender is a 501(c)3 and vibrant community of innovators located in East Liberty. It helps entrepreneurs start and build their companies by offering educational programming, mentorship, expert coaching, incubation and a collaborative coworking space. Annually Ascender touches 500 entrepreneurs across many industries and works with both venture track and small businesses. Ascenderpgh.com
About the Richard King Mellon Foundation
Founded in 1947, the Richard King Mellon Foundation is the largest foundation in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and one of the 50 largest in the world. The Foundation’s 2020 year-end endowment was $3.1 billion. Its Trustees in 2020 disbursed $130 million in grants and Program Related Investments. The Foundation focuses its funding on six primary program areas, delineated in its 2021-2030 Strategic Plan. RKMF.org
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