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A few organizations are championing for women entrepreneurs, helping to accelerate their careers and provide them with resources for success. One of those organizations is Inforum Center for Leadership (ICL). This organization helps women grow their leadership capabilities and gain executive possibilities. ICL especially helps to support women in STEM companies (science, technology, engineering, and math). They do this through their inGAGE program which has assembled 33 women mentors since its installation. Currently, the mentors have helped grow and/or start 16 companies, creating 43 new jobs. ICL has also raised $10 million in seed money.
The National Women’s Business Council’s (NWBC) 2014 Annual Report references women in STEM fields and provides insight on their impact. “Encouraging young women in STEM fields can provide a foundation for future entrepreneurial efforts,” the report noted. It also discussed the growth potential and opportunities in STEM organizations, as well as the struggles women entrepreneurs face in these fields. “Previous research indicates that women are less likely to have degrees in STEM fields— and these fields are more likely to offer opportunities for growth oriented entrepreneurship.”
Although it may seem like a catch-22, companies are rising up and helping women succeed in all entrepreneurial efforts, including those in STEM. City Bank is another company working to help women. They are granting $175,000 to women entrepreneurs at Arizona State University (ASU). The funding will help the ASU Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative which provides new resources to propel programming for women at ASU and beyond.
Last year, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) donated $50,000 to the ASU Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative. The grant originated from the SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund—a competition that resulted in 50 winners. The point of the competition being to empower startups and accelerators that are on the cusp of innovative and successful new endeavors.