Published on Newsplex
In an effort to increase female entrepreneurship in Charlottesville, the Tom Tom Founders Festival is letting Founders Summit attendees send complimentary tickets to women.
The initiative was announced Thursday and will allow each ticket-holder to send a free ticket to a female entrepreneur.
“Women are changing the environment in today’s business,” said Celi[a] Castleman, TTFF Project Manager. “Tom Tom is committed to inclusion and gender diversity, and we want to make the Summit accessible to current and future female entrepreneurs. This is a terrific opportunity to learn from those that have paved the way as well as make connection with mentors and resources.”
More than 15 women will be participating in the Founders Summit, including Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, Becca McCharen and Dahlia Lithwick.
The event will also be MCed by Valerie Morini and Dar Malecki, the co-owners and operators of MADabolic Cville.
According to the White House, just 29 percent of businesses in the United States are owned by women and three percent of venture capitalists are women.
But women will start their businesses with half as much capital as men on average, and they make up more than 80 percent of the purchasing power in the country.
When it comes to company leadership, women make up 14-6 percent of executive officers, 4.6 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs and 16.9 percent of Fortune 500 board seat holders.
For more information on the Lean-in Initiative, click on the link alongside this page.