Founder Newsletter #35
A Note from Leslie.
Dear founders,
Earlier this month, I did something both extremely out of character and extremely in character: I took a very public political stance when I created and led the VCs for Kamala Pledge. The surge of ultra-right wing VC voices that dominated headlines in July did not speak for me, and I was hearing concerns from many of you as well. That's why I spoke up in a moment when it was unpopular to do so. To date, more than 800 VCs have signed - veritable who's who in the industry - plus hundreds of founders too.
I'm sharing this here because I have historically stayed away from politics, but this was a major moment and I didn't want to pretend like it never happened with you. I am politically independent and deeply believe in the power of dialogue - especially with those whose views are different from mine. I also know that some of you don't want to hear about politics at all, and I respect that. You won't hear more about this through Graham & Walker channels after today.
That said, if you'd like to add your voice and join upcoming VCs for Kamala events, you can sign the pledge here. This election is much more consequential for our country, our institutions, and our literal bodies, than a handful of billionaire VCs say it is. They may have more dollars. But we have more heart.
Warmly,
Leslie
In today's newsletter:
September’s Forum on 9/11: From Ideas to Customers - Start off Right
San Francisco, 9/17-18: G&W is collaborating with AWS to launch a 2-day fundraising bootcamp designed to give women founders the tools and knowledge to reach key fundraising milestones.
Read on to find free founder resources, accelerators and conferences
We are on Slack: If you haven't already, join our exclusive G&W Slack channel here!
G&W Forum: From Idea to Customers
Join us for an exclusive workshop led by Sam Chandler, Director of Customer Success at Startups, Zendesk. In this interactive session, Sam will guide you through the pivotal journey of turning a great idea into a thriving business. How do you know if you’re a founder or just someone with a good idea? The answer lies in your customers! Sam will break down the transition from idea to founder into three actionable steps, providing you with the tools to effectively invest in your customers and elevate your business to new heights. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights and kickstart your entrepreneurial journey with confidence.
Founder Resources
Accelerators, Programs & Conferences
G&W’s Female Founders Alliance is excited to collaborate with AWS to launch the AWS Impact Bootcamp, a 2-day program for women founders designed to foster community and give startups the tools and knowledge to reach key fundraising milestones. The inaugural program will kick-off in-person in San Francisco on September 17-18th. Learn more and apply here.
Canadian Founders: The Consulate General of Canada in Seattle, in partnership with G&W Female Founders Alliance and WTIA, is excited to announce the launch of the Canadian Women-in-Tech SaaS Startup Market Accelerator. This Market Accelerator will help 10 Canadian women-owned or women-led technology companies evaluate and prepare for expansion into the Washington state and the United States markets. Applications are open through August 30th with the program kickoff on September 23rd.
LaFamilia’s 4th Annual $35K National Pitch Competition: This year in partnership with Techqueria, LaFamilia is hosting our first-ever premier Latine startup conference in LA. The top 8 finalists will pitch live at the DALE! Summit for a chance to win a $35K non-dilutive cash prize. This is a different competition because Latine founders get the chance to pitch to some of the top VCs in the industry. Deadline is August 28th. Apply here.
Black Girl Ventures is now accepting applications for their Black Girl Pitch Program. Learn more here and apply before Nov 6th.
Calling All Veterans: The Veteran Shark Tank was created in 2012 to promote and assist Veterans who are starting or growing their businesses. Starting out as a small regional event, it is now the premier national pitch competition for veteran entrepreneurs. Learn more and apply here before Oct 6th.
Free Resources, Events & Grants
Impact Grants empower businesses and nonprofits to drive positive change in their communities by providing accessible financial support. The Impact Grant Application For Businesses application window is open quarterly. Learn more here.
Galaxy Grants: Small business funding for women & minority entrepreneurs. Learn more here and apply before Sept 30th.
Women founders apply for grants up to $10K from Amber Grants. Learn more here and apply.
Workshop for Legal Blueprint for US Startups: Ensuring Compliance and Avoiding Pitfalls with Manuel Martinez-Anzaldua, Co-founder & CEO, Virtlaw. Discover strategies to help your startup navigate legal challenges and ensure compliance. RSVP here.
CFO on call: Our friends at Forecastr are here to answer any vital finance questions you have! Use their new Ask Me Anything form to ask about
Startup finance, Fundraising strategy, Finance metrics, Pitching tactics or Investor relations.
What we are reading:
G&W Benefits
Find our latest and greatest G&W Founder Benefits here to get your hands on the exclusive partner perks available to our founder community!
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Leslie, THANK YOU for taking this important action! I forwarded the link to all of my VC and Founder clients, and many of them expressed how glad they were to get the opportunity to sign on. Much love and respect for everything you do, and thanks again for taking the big leap into political action at this crucial time!