Fundraising
Bitwise
Bitwise Industries raises $27M as part of its Series A financing led by Kapor Capital and New Voices Fund. This represents one of the largest Series A ever raised by a Latinx female-led company. The funding also includes a major investment by the Quality Jobs Fund, a project of the New World Foundation seeded by the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. The capital supports the company’s goal of activating human potential for the technology industry in underdog cities.
“Fundraising milestones like these are monumental for women of the Latinx community, and I hope the size of what we’ve done is soon eclipsed by the next female or person of color. This country is filled with stories similar to mine – people from underserved communities, who never thought these kinds of opportunities would be accessible to them,” said Irma L. Olguin Jr., CEO and cofounder, Bitwise Industries. “This investment will further Bitwise’s ability to make what was serendipity in my life far more common. By connecting people from marginalized places to the skills they need to enter the technology industry, and by surrounding them with vibrant and inclusive spaces, we will transform communities.”
$2 Million Grant
Spelman College recently received a $2 million grant from the Department of Defense to support its continued growth in STEM education.
The Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM, which will be affiliated with the Office of Research, Innovation and Collaboration, is the first center of its kind and will serve as the hub for all STEM undergraduate research and training activities at the College.
“The Center aligns with the College’s strategic priorities and ensures that our students are empowered and equipped to enter competitive STEM fields,” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., Spelman president. “We are honored to be awarded this grant, and to have the support of the Department of Defense in assisting Spelman in fulfilling its mission to diversify STEM.”
Personnel
NLL
The National Lacrosse League (NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, announced that Jessica Berman has been named Deputy Commissioner and EVP of Business Affairs. Berman joins the NLL from the National Hockey League, where she has spent the last 13 years, most recently as Vice President, Community Development, Culture & Growth. She becomes the first woman to hold the title of Deputy Commissioner at any professional sports league in North America. Berman will oversee all of the league’s legal affairs and transactions, manage team services, and assist the Commissioner with the NLL’s overall growth strategy.
Launches
Women’s Business Accelerator
The Banff World Media Festival announced that applications are now being accepted for the opening cohort of the BANFF Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media. With support from Western Economic Diversification Canada, this new program offers training, mentorship, and market access to 50 women entrepreneurs from from Southern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia who are ready to grow or launch their own businesses in the screen-based industries. Application deadline is Sept. 24.
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