Motivated by modern-day statistics about female founders of companies receiving less funding than male entrepreneurs, Ariel Beck, the daughter of the founders of Bluemercury, decided to launch her own nonprofit. Even more impressive? She’s only 15 years old.
Girls Who Start is a DC-based organization that helps inspire girls to become entrepreneurs by providing exposure to other female leaders, as well as the tools and tips needed to start a company.
According to venture capital database PitchBook, only 18 percent of startups have at least one female founder, and only 4.94 percent of venture capital goes to female-led startups.
On April 6, the inaugural Girls Who Start Entrepreneurship Summit will be held in Georgetown, with Elle Macpherson as the keynote speaker. She is a well-known supermodel and the co-founder of WelleCo.
Other speakers at the summit include Natalie Mackey, CEO and founder of Winky Lux; Elizabeth Galbut, founding partner of SOGAL Ventures; Shizu Okusa, co-founder of JRINK; Kori Hale, CEO and founder of CultureBanx; Lauren and Carrie Dunne, co-founders of Varnish Lane; and Claire Shipman, senior national correspondent for ABC’s Good Morning America and author of The Confidence Code for Girls.
The event is free (guests must pre-register), and is created for female middle school, high school, college and graduate students, but all ages and genders are welcome to attend. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Halcyon.
For more information, visit girlswhostart.org/summits. // Halcyon: 3400 Prospect St. NW, Washington, DC; Free
