Have a great idea? Love to win? Ladies, this one is for you.
In conjunction with the rise of women leaders, Women 2.0 is raising funds to invest in promising young women entrepreneurs and giving young women entrepreneurs the opportunity to be mentored by and present their business plan to a successful and experienced panel of high-profile individuals, from venture capitalists to seasoned entrepreneurs and professionals.
The Business Plan Competition is open to all students, young professionals, and entrepreneurs in the Bay Area. We will accept submissions from individuals or teams up to 4 members (teams must have a minimum of 2 women). The maximum age of entrants should be 35 years of age.
The Judging Panel will evaluate the strength of your business plan and hand-pick the most promising business ideas. The top 3 business plans will have 15 minutes to present to the Judging Panel at the Women 2.0 Business Plan Competition Final Presentations (Details TBA). Each pitch will be followed by a session with the Judging Panel. The winner will be announced at the end of the evening.
The Judging Panel of the Women 2.0 Business Plan Competition
Patricia Nakache
Trinity Ventures, General Partner
Since joining Trinity in 1999, Patricia is particularly interested in Internet-based marketing and information services, alternative advertising solutions, and software delivered as a service. Prior to Trinity, Patricia worked at McKinsey & Company and contributed to FORTUNE magazine and other publications on management best practices in technology companies. Patricia received her A.B. in Physics and Chemistry from Harvard and and an MBA from Stanford.
Venky Gansen
Globespan Venture Partners, Managing Director
As a Managing Director of Globespan, Venky focuses on investments in Software and Internet/Infrastructure start-ups. Venky, a successful entrepreneur himself, shares his intense focus on results, strategic market view, and technical expertise to help the firm’s portfolio companies achieve market leadership. Venky earned degrees in Math, Economics and Computer Science from Reed College and the California Institute of Technology. He was a Rhodes Scholar Finalist from India.
Lara Druyan
Allegis Capital, General Partner
Lara joined Allegis Capital in 2000, bringing extensive experience in the software industry. She was responsible for Silicon Graphics Inc.’s desktop software business. She identified market opportunities, developed and evangelized business strategy, and oversaw the successful execution and deployment of the SGI NetMeeting collaborative software suite into Fortune 500 companies. Lara earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Chicago and an MBA from Harvard.
Carol Sands
The Angels Forum, Managing Member and Founder
Carol has thirty years of financial services, sales management, and marketing experience, and launched the Halo Fund in 2000. Carol received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from The University of Iowa. She is on the board of SVASE and a frequent lecturer at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (which has authored a case study of The Angels’ Forum) and also at its School of Engineering.
Eligibility and Rules
The business plan must represent the original work of members of the team. The competition is for new, independent ventures in the seed, start-up, or early stage. Generally excluded are the following: buy-outs, expansions of existing companies, real estate syndications, tax shelters, franchises, licensing agreements for distribution in a different geographical area, and spin-outs from existing corporations. As if you’d be silly enough to submit that anyway.
Questions?
Email us women2.0@gmail.com with any questions or if you would like to become a sponsor. Good luck!
