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December 2008 BizSpark Launch Party

With over 400 in attendance at the swanky Microsoft BizSpark Launch Party on December 16th, 2008 in San Francisco, Women 2.0 came out in full force to join the celebration!

At the San Francisco BizSpark Launch Party, Shaherose announced onstage to the startup community the new Women 2.0 workshop series Jumpstart Your Startup and the Women 2.0 Startup Competition - Pitch 2009. Deadline to enter is April 10th, 2009!

Did you know that as a BizSpark Network Partner, Women 2.0 can sponsor your startup to receive development tools, platform technologies, and production licenses through Microsoft’s BizSpark program? Here’s how.

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Women 2.0 Job Board





2009 Workshop Series: Jumpstart Your Startup

This is a workshop series for entrepreneurs with the next big idea.

Jumpstart your startup with a new series from Women 2.0 to help bring your business idea to reality. Jumper cables in the trunk? Check. Gas? Check. Brakes? All good.

Starting on Saturday, January 17th, 2009 and wrapping up on Thursday, February 26th, 2009, the “Jumpstart Your Startup” workshop series held by Women 2.0 consists of 5 two-hour Thursday classes in Palo Alto and 2 full-day Saturday classes in San Francisco. Workshops utilize discussion forums with UC Berkeley professor Naeem Zafar and hands-on working sessions with successful women executives, VCs, and entrepreneurs providing “from the trenches” feedback and insight.

» Click here for course description, schedule, and more information on Jumpstart Your Startup

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Women with an idea for a startup and/or a startup in the making. If a part of a founding team, attendees may invite one or more team members (male or female).

ABOUT THE “JUMPSTART YOUR STARTUP” WORKSHOP SERIES
You will work with your team, or on your own, to research potential, perform analysis to identify resources, and write a simple business plan (or at least a good executive summary). By course completion, participants will have evaluated the strength and potential of their business idea and prepared the following tangibles: a market size-up, a deck of slides, and a business plan including financial projections.

HOW TO APPLY FOR YOUR SPOT IN THIS WORKSHOP SERIES
Women 2.0 will be selecting up to 25 attendees based on an application with the following five questions:

  1. Please explain your desire to be an entrepreneur and any past experiences that have helped you in the shaping of this goal: (e.g.: professors, clubs, associations, conferences, books, speakers, etc).
  2. Please tell us in a few sentences what your strengths/abilities are and how your contribution is going to positively impact the success of the startup.
  3. Do have a business or an idea? If yes, describe why your idea is unique and why has it not been addressed yet in today’s market?
  4. Do you have a team? If yes, is your whole team planning to attend this event?

To apply for a spot in the Women 2.0 Jumpstart Your Startup workshop series, email your answers to the above questions to Baat Enosh at baat@women2.org — We will be enrolling selected participants on a first-come, first-serve basis so you should apply ASAP because space is limited! Early-bird pricing for Jumpstart Your Startup has been extended to January 8, 2009!

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Women 2.0 Attend WebPlay This Friday for FREE!

WebPlay is an annual conference showcasing industry leaders, market trends, innovation, and people who are changing the world. Learn from informative panels featuring top dogs at MetaCafe, Hi5, SGN, RockYou, Meebo, and more!

When: Friday, November 21st, 2008, 12pm - 6pm (lunch is provided)
Where: Plug and Play Technology Center, 440 N Wolfe Road, Sunnyvale, CA (map)
Why: Learn from the people who are doing it, and support your fellow Women 2.0 as they pitch live!
How: Use coupon code “women20″ to register for your FREE conference ticket

Watch live company pitches from the Women 2.0 community at WebPlay:


Pack and Go!


Mythili Sankaran, CEO
Where Independent Happens


Danae Ringelmann, Founder
Travel Planning Made Friendly


Pokin Yeung, Co-Founder
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We will be at the UC Berkeley campus on Nov 18th!

Women 2.0 has partnered with Berkeley’s Women in Business and internshipIN to bring you the first Women 2.0 event on the UC Berkeley campus for November 18th!

Join us on Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 at 7pm in UC Berkeley’s Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union building in the Tan Oak room on the 4th floor.

  • Learn from five women entrepreneurs in various industries and hear how they transformed a few simple ideas into remarkable businesses!
  • Get students excited about your company or project with a short 1 min introductions.
  • Meet enthusiastic Berkeley students and potentially leave with a new co-founder or intern for your team!

Looking for an intern or new hires? Interested in sharing your entrepreneurial experiences with students? Looking to get more connected with the Berkeley startup community?

Special Guests

Event sponsored by Berkeley Women in Business
Connecting startups and students - internship opportunities!


Speaker Bios:

Annie Chang (Co-Founder, LOLapps)
Annie is Co-Founder of LOLapps, provider of custom applications spanning pop culture, entertainment, and a variety of special interests for Facebook and other social networking platforms. Headquartered in San Francisco, LOLapps raised $4.5 million in venture funding earlier this year. Annie started her career as a computer scientist at Adobe and then moved over to product management and product design at BitTorrent. In her spare time, she enjoys bike riding in Marin and daydreaming about scuba diving in Thailand. Annie’s been helping to promote women in technology since her college days, where she managed communications for the Society of Women Engineers at Cal. Annie holds a BS in EECS from UC Berkeley.

Edith Yeung (Founder, SFentrepreneur; Co-Founder, Clue Market, Inc.;
Executive Producer, BizTechDay)
Edith founded SFentrepreneur to connect the entrepreneurship community across the greater Bay Area. She also co-founded Clue Market, a social networking and marketing company. Most recently, Edith was the executive producer of BiztechDay - a technology bootcamp for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Prior to starting all these fun projects, Edith spent 9 years in the software and consulting industry and built a successful career working with companies including AT&T Wireless, Cisco Systems, Ariba, American Management Systems, Siebel, Oracle Symantec, Telstra Australia, Matav Hungary Telecom, Autodesk, Taiwan Semi-conductor just to name a few. Check out Edith’s BiztechDay interview on Comcast/CNN.

Donielle Buie (Founding Partner, Gutsy Partners)
Donielle founded Gutsy Partners because of her passion for entrepreneurship and her belief in the power of the entrepreneur to change society. She saw that many people had the motivation and skills to start a business but unfortunately had gotten “stuck” in the planning, start-up, and growth process because they were trying to do it all by themselves. She has recently taught two 8-week entrepreneurship courses at Abundant Life Christian Fellowship and has hosted workshops, including Leadership at the Start of Your Business. Donielle holds a BS in Biomechanical Engineering and an MA in Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies from Stanford University. At Stanford, Donielle was selected for the prestigious Mayfield Fellows Program focusing on high technology entrepreneurship. Through the program, she worked at Evant, a San Francisco based software startup. This experience sparked her passion for entrepreneurship!

Hazel Grace Dircksen (Founder, Socialbees Strategy)
A consultant and entrepreneur based in Silicon Valley, Hazel Grace helps companies leverage social networking tools to reach new audiences. Her most recent company Socialbees Strategy has already crafted Facebook business pages and ads for more than twenty companies in its pre-launch stage. Prior to Socialbees, Hazel Grace was an award-winning fashion designer and launched FashionIV, a social fashion site that was a Facebook Developer Platform launch partner at F8 ‘07 through the San Francisco Ladies Who Launch Incubator. She went on to become the Ladies Who Launch Silicon Valley leader and San Francisco co-leader where she helps female entrepreneurs grow businesses. When she’s not working on a project for one of her many clients, you can find Hazel Grace on MySpace (member at the 500,000 mark), Yelp (Elite member for the past three years), Facebook (first GEO network user – ask about her top secret Facebook account!), and Twitter, just to name a few.

Alison Covarrubias (Owner, Business Legs; Director, San Francisco Chapter of Ladies Who Launch)
After working in technology sales for several years, Alison discovered that the corporate life was not her calling and made the decision to embark on her entrepreneurial career. She launched herself and her business when she joined Ladies Who Launch as the leader and director for the San Francisco chapter. Ladies Who Launch is a national organization of women who embrace creativity and entrepreneurism as a lifestyle and support each other both on-line and in-person. Her own business, Business Legs, offers start up consulting services with an emphasis on strategic planning and marketing confidence for women entrepreneurs. She is passionate about helping women live their entrepreneurial dreams and will stop at nothing to spread the entrepreneurial bug to anyone and everyone considering starting a business. Alison holds a BA in Speech Communication from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.


Click to view larger mapDirections and Campus Map

  • Get directions on Google
    (cross-streets: Telegraph & Bancroft)
  • Parking lots: Student Union Garage (on Bancroft west of Telegraph), West Anna Head Lot (Telegraph & Channing), and RSF Garage (in the Gold Section on Bancroft at Ellsworth).
  • The event will be held in the MLK Student Union’s Tan Oak room located on the 4th floor.


    The MLK Student Union building on Sather Plaza.

Save a Tree!

We are promoting the use of electronic programs and printing less paper programs for Women 2.0 events. Try viewing our Koollage pod for this event on your mobile phone by clicking here.

Read More »

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Microsoft BizSpark Program

Women 2.0, as a Network Partner of Microsoft is one of the few entrepreneurial organizations in the US that can enroll startups in to the BizSpark program.

What do you get?
Development tools, platform technologies and production licenses

  • All the software included in the Microsoft® Visual Studio® Team System Team Suite (VSTS) with MSDN® Premium subscription
  • Expression® Studio Version 2
  • VSTS Team Foundation Server (standard edition)
  • Production use rights to host a “software as a service” solution (developed during participation in the BizSpark Program, on any platform) over the Internet, with regard to products including Microsoft Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server, Microsoft System Center, Microsoft BizTalk Server, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Access to the Microsoft Developer Network, Global Community, and Technical and Customer Support

Do you qualify?
To qualify you must fit the following criteria:

  • Actively engaged in development of a software-based product or service that will form a core piece of its current or intended business;
  • Privately held;
  • In business for less than 3 years; and
  • Generating less than USD $1 million in annual revenue

How do you sign up?
Email Women 2.0 at women2.0@gmail.com with the subject line: “Interested in BizSpark,” if you’re interested in joining the program

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Women 2.0 is committed to increasing the number of women entrepreneurs starting high growth ventures by providing the resources, network, and knowledge for the launch and growth of their company.

Our vision is to be a catalyst for change, mobilizing a global community of ambitious women entrepreneurs seeking to advance the world through technology.

Women 2.0 is headquartered in San Francisco.

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Platinum Sponsors

Get Ready for Pitch 2009!

Pitch 2009 is a unique startup competition open to early-stage ventures globally. Eligible startups are in alpha or beta stage, and must have at least one female founder. Deadline to apply: April 10th, 2009.

 "A recession is the best time to start a company.
  The opportunity cost is low, hiring good people is
  relatively easy, rent and equipment are cheap
  (sometimes free) and established competitors are
  focused on reducing costs & staying in business,
  not on innovation. The key is being in a good
  position when the economy picks back up."

  - Rebecca Lynn
    Principal, Morgenthaler Ventures
 "Some of the best products and services come out
  of some of the worst times. In the early 1990s,
  tens of millions of dollars had gone down the
  drain in a futile effort to develop 'pen computing'
  (early phase of mobile computing) and a
  recession was shriveling the economic outlook."

  - Chris Shipley
    Executive Producer, Demo; Co-Founder/Chairman, Guidewire Group
 "Pitch was the best thing to happen to Koollage.
  I met the right people to help me take my startup
  to the next level."

  - Mythili Sankaran
    Founder and CEO, Koollage

Related Events

"CEE9SI - Women and Entrepreneurship" Stanford Class Info Session
Wednesday, January 7th, 2009, 8pm
Old Union, Stanford University

Learn about how women have created successful careers in entrepreneurship. Explore the classic themes of leadership, creativity, negotiation, networking, and funding as well as the unique motivations, characteristics, and challenges of female entrepreneurs. Class time devoted to group exercises and an incredible lineup of guest speakers. Open to students of all majors, no prior experience required, men encouraged to enroll. Readings will cover classics in the field of entrepreneurship as well as women-specific literature on starting your own business. Class time will be devoted to group exercises to practice your skills and an incredible lineup of guest speakers to learn from the entrepreneurs themselves. Info session on Wednesday, first class on Friday, and application deadline the following Monday. Classes are Fridays, 3:15pm - 5:05pm in Bldg 320, Rm 220 (1-2 units). Questions? Email Belinda Chiang at belindac@stanford.edu.

(click to enlarge the flyer below for CEE9SI)



FountainBlue's High Tech Entrepreneurs' Forum presents "Angel Investor Panel - Technology Predictions"
Monday, January 12th, 2009, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Graduate Community Center, Havana Room, Stanford
Cost: $20 FountainBlue members, $25 partners, $30 general by 1/9 at noon, $40 for annual membership and event admission. NO on-site registration.

High-tech angel investors are generally seasoned executives with deep strategic and operational experience in running successful start-ups as well as extensive experience within corporations in various roles. The angel investors we’ve recruited for this month’s panel have been seen a wide range of high tech business plans, and have their own thoughts and recommendations on technology trends for 2009 – what will get funded, where the markets and business is heading, how to be successful in these challenging times. Our panel will feature: Brian Boyer (Partner, TIPS Group), Jim Connor (Membership Co-Chair and Board Director, Sand Hill Angels), Bill Powar (Keiretsu Forum), Ron Weissman (Band of Angels), abd Jeff Yu (Managing Director, Angels Forum). For more info and to register, please visit FountainBlue's page here.


Bay Area IT/Software Development Execs Meetup Group presents "Twitterville: Using Global Neighborhoods to thrive in tough times"
Tuesday, January 13th, 2009, 7pm - 9pm
Samovar Conference Hall, Mountain View, CA
Cost: $20

Shel Israel will be discussing his new book Twitterville which contains interviews and case studies from more than 50 businesses and organizations who are using Twitter to get closer with customers during the challenging economic times we all face. These include Dell Computer, Comcast, The Home Depot, The American Red Cross, NPR, the Barack Obama campaign, Jim Long, NBC cameraman at the White House people in home offices and nonprofits. He will discuss why Twitter serves a growing number of companies to improve support, sales, news coverage, disaster recovery information and conversations with customers. For more info and to register, visit the Meetup page here. As usual gourmet dinner, wine and drinks will be provided!


SDForum preesnts "Emerging Technologies in Physical Retail"
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009, 6:30pm - 9pm
Pillsbury Winthrop, Palo Alto, CA
Cost: Free for SDForum members, $15 general

Two major themes are driving the invention and adoption of technologies in physical, bricks-and-mortar retail: (1) the need to make the physical retail experience as trackable, analysable and steerable as the online experience, and (2) the redesign of retail environments by customer type. In this talk, Albert Wong of IBM will survey the leading new retail technologies (including ecash, guided selling, radio frequency identification, and near field communications), and explain how they are being deployed by major retailers such as Best Buy, Walgreens, 7-Eleven, McDonalds, Marks and Spencer, and Virgin. IT Architect, IBM, and ACM Distinguished Speaker Albert Wong will also cover the software and hardware infrastructure developed to support those emerging technologies. Whether you are simply curious about physical retail, are active in the space, or are just wondering how it is that you spent as much as you did this past Christmas, come join us for a fast-paced tour of emerging technologies in retail. For more info, please visit SDForum's page for the event here.


SDForum's Engineering Leadership SIG presents "2008 Retrospective - Reflecting (agilely) on What We Learned as Engineering Leaders"
Thursday, January 15th, 2009, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
SAP, Southern Cross Room, Palo Alto, CA
Cost: Free for SDForum members, $15 at the door for non-SDForum members

The facilitators are Ken Yagen (Senior Director of Engineering, MuleSource) and Ron Lichty (Group Manager, Consumer Zone Alarm Technologies, Check Point). WIIFM: Learn agile inspect and adapt techniques while reflecting on and sharing your experiences of the past year. Collectively resolve how to apply them to become a better engineering leader in 2009 and come away with a concrete New Year's resolution for achieving this goal. It's the new year and time to make our New Year's resolutions. In Agile development, retrospectives are regularly performed (quite more frequently than once a year) to reflect on what has happened and how things can be improved. In this session, we would like to collectively take a look back at what experiences and lessons we had in 2008 and how we can learn from those to improve our engineering leadership skills in 2009. For more info, please visit SDForum's page for the event here.


Asian Professional Women In Tech presents "Travel Around the World and Multiply Your Experiences"
Saturday, January 17th, 2009, 1pm - 3:30pm
Alzheimer Association, Mountain View, CA
Cost: $5 and as the APWT tradition, bring snacks, drinks or wine to share if you like

APWIT (Asian Professional Women in Tech) is proud to present two women entrepreneurs who founded their unique travel sites. Per popular demand, our previous speaker Teresa Williamson of Tango Diva is coming back. She is also graciously offering a free Brand Storming Session for one lucky APWT winner - a $300 worth of value (you must be an APWT member to win). Teresa is the creator and founder of Tango Diva, a worldwide online social network and travel magazine for women. Tango Diva’s online community of thousands of global users solicits Teresa for advice, ideas, and travel news. Tango Diva membership exceeds 6,500 women globally. She is also the author of FLY SOLO: The 50 Best Places on Earth for a Girl to Travel Alone (Penguin 2007). Pokin Yeung is the founder of GeckoGo, an online website for independent travelers to plan their travels and share their experiences back with the community. With her idea sketched on a piece of napkin, she was one of five finalists in the 2007 Women 2.0 Business Plan Competition. Officially launched since October 2008, GeckoGo is the fastest growing source of unique travel tips online. Prior to GeckoGo, Pokin worked as a product manager in various consumer product marketing companies including L'Oreal, Campbell Soup and Research in Motion. Ladies only. Bring your women friends! Sorry, no boys. (boys have enough clubs of their own! :-) For more info, please visit APWIT's page at here.


SF Entrepreneur presents "Yelp Business Success Panel - Meet the Super Yelpers"
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009, 6:15pm - 8:30pm
Westin, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $20 early bird, $25 at the door

It's no secret the internet has revolutionized the way business works. As a result, your customers have more information about you, your product and your competition than ever before. There is an entire conversation taking place inline and by taking part in it. At the same time, the internet has leveled the playing field tremendously. With a limited marketing budget, a bit of creativity, and online tools like Yelp. Come and meet these Yelp Warriors and learn how they successful make their business mark on Yelp. For more info and to register, please visit SF Entrepreneur's page for the event here.


VC Taskforce presents "Building the Perfect Company Presentation"
Thursday, January 29th, 2009, 6pm - 8:30pm
Two Palo Alto Square, Palo Alto, CA
Cost: $35 VC Taskforce members, $45 affiliate, $65 general, $10 extra at the door

Your company presentation is the single most important fundraising document. Delivered at a VC partner meeting or shared over email, your company overview defines who you are, what you do and the extent to which your firm sounds like an attractive investment opportunity for angels, VCs or strategic investor. The VC Taskforce is pleased to offer a Company Presentation workshop for CEOs and other executives responsible for crafting and delivering the company's core presentation. Dr. Ronald Weissman, our session leader, has been an active Silicon Valley VC (Apax Partners) and angel investor (Band of Angels) and has trained many companies in the art of successful pitching. Marc Burch, Angel Investor and institutional investor for the von Liebig Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology at UC San Diego, will also be coaching. For more info and to register, visit VC Taskforce's page for the event here.