Bold Women Big Ideas

"Springboard is a key part of our success since it is where we met up with the VC firm that invested in the Company early on.
Without Springboard and the opportunity that it generated for us, we would not be where we are today!" --
Kathleen Chien, 51Job, Silicon Valley 2000 Alumna, Shanghai, China, [Listed on NASDAQ: JOBS; September 2004]

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Bold Women, Big Ideas

In 1997, women ran 9 million businesses with revenues of $3 trillion and a work force of 27 million. The growth rate of women-led businesses was twice the rate of their male counterparts and the industries they were choosing to enter were the ‘non-traditional sectors” such as finance, manufacturing and technology. Further research revealed, however, that while access to capital sources had improved for women-led businesses, women were not accessing the equity capital necessary to finance these non-traditional businesses. According to Venture One, only 1.7% of the billions in venture capital investments made in 1997 had been invested in women-led businesses.

Conceived in 1999, Springboard 2000 Enterprises, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating women entrepreneurs’ access to the equity markets. The organization recruits, educates, showcases and supports women-led high-growth businesses as they seek venture capital and grow. The co-founders include Kay Koplovitz, Amy Millman, Denise Brosseau, Cate Muther, Jim Robbins, Andrea Silbert, Debra Filtzer and Karen Bixby as well as countless investors, accountants, lawyers, entrepreneurs and leaders in academia, government and business.

The entrepreneurs involved with Springboard are the newest faces in the world of emerging growth enterprises and, certainly, the first wave of women to launch non-lifestyle businesses and finance the launch of their businesses via the equity markets. Measureable Results Springboard companies have raised capital, grown their businesses, expanded their networks and made new business connections through their involvement with Springboard.

• 360 women entrepreneurs at 17 venture forums hosted in 7 markets in the USA.
  
• $4 billion in equity capital, grants and strategic investments raised.
  
• 7 Springboard companies went public since July 2004.
  
• 25% merged or were acquired.
  
• One company has successfully completed is SB-2 SEC filing, another method of entering the public markets.
  
• 80% of Springboard companies continue to grow as independent or part of merged entities.
  
• 2/3 of Springboard alumnae are serial entrepreneur and have graduate and/or professional degrees.
• 50% are no longer with the businesses they presented at a Springboard Forum.
• Most have launched new ventures, become investors or returned to the corporate world. Springboard alumnae are global leaders headquartered or doing businesses in China, India, Singapore, Israel, Ghana, Germany, England, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan among others.
  
• 5000 women entrepreneurs leading software, technology, new media, consumer & business products, bio & life sciences industries have participated at Springboard Forums, Workshops and Equity Matters Seminars.
  
• 5000 investors, financiers and business development professionals have actively participated in Springboard programs and recruiters, coaches, screeners and attendees.
  
• Springboard and our portfolio companies have been featured in several cover stories and covered extensively by most major print and internet media outlets.
  

A Track Record of Successful Programming

Springboard’s signature program is its Venture Capital Forum program. These successful Forums, at which women pitch their emerging growth ventures to private equity investors, effectively fast track women-led businesses into the venture capital investment pipeline. More importantly, they reinforce the concept that message development and connections are instrumental in the overall success of an entrepreneur in securing capital. The first Springboard Forum was held in Silicon Valley at the Oracle Corporation. Subsequent Forums were hosted by AOL, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Kellogg, Babson, Fidelity Investments, UNC, The George Washington University and many other reknowned entrepreneurial and academic institutions.

As of 2008, Springboard co-hosted 17 Forums showcasing 360 women-led companies that raised $4 billion in equity, grants and strategic investments. As a result of their involvement with Springboard, our alumnae have raised capital, fortified their businesses, expanded their networks, and developed valuable new business connections. In addition to increasing women’s access to capital, the organization promotes women’s entrepreneurial development through alliances, partnerships and educational programming. It boasts a network of investors and service providers who actively participate in the programs and develop close ongoing relationships with the entrepreneurs. Springboard’s web-based Learning Center and educational workshops provide services to Springboard alumnae as well as the larger audience of women entrepreneurs nationwide.

Springboard Alumnae Springboard presenters have fared exceedingly well, yet the women entrepreneurs leading these companies recognize that they need continued access to capital, connections and real time information addressing the challenges of growing businesses. In a recent survey, Springboard alumnae emphasized the importance of learning from their peers and making strategic connections with later stage investors, service providers and business leaders who can assist them in achieving milestones.

A growing organization itself, Springboard recognizes the importance of sustaining and supporting alumnae, who, over the next few years, expect to grow their businesses into large, profitable employers, contributing new products, services, and wealth to the economy. Springboard is committed to supporting the alumnae throughout the lifecycle of their businesses and their careers. Springboard programming offers ongoing access to contacts, advisors, and expertise necessary to secure expansion capital and scale their businesses. Through a combination of online resources and tools, regional and national gatherings and the formation of the Council of National Advisors and the Venture Partner Nexus, the organization will enhance the entrepreneur’s ability to connect with their peers, other entrepreneurs with a similar growth profile, business leaders, trusted advisors and investors.