Indiegogo Believes Women’s Day Should Be Every Day: Announces Year-Long Initiative to Empower Female Entrepreneurs

International-Womens-Day-2016

On Tuesday, while celebrating International Women’s Day 2016, Indiegogo announced a new year-long initiative to support diversity in entrepreneurship. The funding portal will seek to offer extra support for women-run crowdfunding campaigns between now and March 2017. 

The global crowdfunding portal stated:

indiegogo“Over eight years ago, we created Indiegogo to give everyone with a passion an equal shot at success. Too often were ideas going unborn because they lacked access to funding, because the gatekeepers that control finance had made the decision that those ideas weren’t worthy. Not because they were bad ideas, and not for lack of a hardworking team, but because of unconscious biases that affected the decision-making process. Unconscious biases usually based on gender, race, or class.”

Indiegogo then revealed, despite a recent study from Babson College that reported women-led venture-backed companies earn 12% more revenue than male-led companies, women are still getting down for investment opportunities. It was then noted:

“We created a completely open platform by removing the gatekeepers so that the crowd can decide what gets funded if they think an idea is good, because nothing else should matter. Seeing women break into business by using Indiegogo is inspiring, but there is still much to be done. We’ve always been committed to improving diversity in entrepreneurship because we believe that the world is better when more ideas are given the opportunity to succeed, and this year we’re launching key initiatives to encourage even more.”

Partnering with Dell Women’s Entrepreneur NetworkGirls In Tech UKGirls in Tech USBlooming FoundersTrep Life and Lipstick & Politics, Indiegogo will host events throughout the year focused on supporting female entrepreneurs to get their ideas off the ground. Women that launch campaigns through the initiative will also have the opportunity to sign-up for additional campaign mentoring from Indiegogo’s dedicated support team. 

Danae RingelmannIndiegogo co-founder Danae Ringelmann explained:

“Because it’s a completely open platform Indiegogo has broken down gender inequalities and removed bias from the funding equation. We’re really proud of building a platform where all ideas are welcome and have a chance to thrive.”  

Dell Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Elizabeth Gore, commented:

“Today, women business owners in the U.S. get less than three percent of venture funding and that presents a problem in creating the 600 million new jobs we need to employ the eligible workforce in the next decade. The rise of crowdfunding is leveling the playing field for women’s access to capital, which is why Dell partnering with Indiegogo to enhance its women-run crowdfunding campaigns.”

Malachi Leopold, co-founder and CEO of Trep Life, shared:

“We’re incredibly excited to be a part of Indiegogo’s initiative to support and encourage women entrepreneurs. Every Indiegogo campaign involves a leap of faith, taking a risk, betting on yourself – and that’s what Trep Life is all about. We’re looking forward to telling stories that are launched from this initiative.”

Lu Li, founder and CEO of Blooming Founders, added:

Lu Li“Blooming Founders is thrilled to partner with Indiegogo to support female entrepreneurship in the UK. Indiegogo has been a real game changer in early stage finance. Now, women get a fair chance and more access to investors, both men and women who, in contrary to established funding institutions, are willing to back a woman-led business idea. Hopefully, more successful campaigns led by women will empower other women to consider crowdfunding as an avenue of fundraising.”


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