Even as the COVID-19 vaccine makes its way to our friends and families, we probably still won’t be able to gather at large, in-person events in 2021. But there’s no shortage of opportunities for female founders to connect with and learn from like-minded peers in their women entrepreneur network in the meantime. The silver lining of sticking with virtual events and conferences is that we can attend from anywhere in the world without the added commitment of travel time and expenses.
At Women Tech Founders, we firmly believe in the power of the female founders community within the tech startup ecosystem. And we’re not the only ones. In honor of our upcoming 2021 Women Tech Founder Conference, we’ve put together a list of incredible virtual events for female founders that you don’t want to miss.
Get Fundraising Tips for Black and Brown Women Founders
Date: June 17, 2021 Time: 5:00-7:00 PM CDT Registration: RSVP here
Cost: Free
Black and brown founders know all too well that startup fundraising is a boys’ club, and a very white one: women founders receive less than 10 percent of VC dollars, and Black founders get less than one percent, according to a recent Crunchbase report.
Shelly Bell wants to change those numbers. She’s a serial entrepreneur and computer scientist who’s helped over one hundred Black and brown women founders secure capital for their businesses through her organization Black Girl Ventures.
Sign up for the free event to learn straight from Shelly about how to navigate funding from venture capitalists and angel investors as a Black or brown female founder.
Commit to Being a Better Ally at the Lesbians Who Tech Pride Summit
Date: June 21-25, 2021 Time: All day Registration: Sign up here
Cost: $149 for Early Bird, $199 General Admission
Founded in 2012, Lesbians Who Tech is a community of LGBTQ, non-binary, and trans people who work in and around tech – as well as the people who support them.
LWT calls its annual Pride Summit “your virtual, queer, inclusive, badass summit” for over 40,000 tech leaders worldwide. Allies are welcome.
Past speakers include the likes of Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Stacey Abrams, Kara Swisher, Megan Rapinoe, and Alicia Garza.
Expand Your Women Entrepreneur Network at the National Women’s Business Conference 2021
Date: October 17-19 Time: All day Registration: Sign up here
Cost: $195 for NAWBO members, $250 for non-members
The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) is a massive women entrepreneur network that represents the approximately 10 million women-owned businesses in the US.
If you’re looking for a chance to connect with women in business outside the tech startup world, NAWBO’s 2021 National Women’s Business Conference is a great option. The event will feature networking, workshops, and roundtables, as well as speeches from:
- Inventor and venture capitalist Jessica Matthews
- Poet, activist, and author Cleo Wade
- Author and motivational speaker Diana Nyad, the first person to swim from Florida to Cuba
There will also be a live watch party in New Orleans for a limited number of participants, but the event will be virtual for most participants.
Learn from BIPOC Founders’ Stories at the 2021 Women Tech Founders Conference
Date: April 28-30 Time: All day Registration: Register here
Cost: Free
Our 2021 Women Tech Founders conference is coming up at the end of this month. Each year, we bring together investors, impact experts, and venture-backed founders to empower women in tech with the support and expertise they need to succeed.
This year’s event will center perspectives from the BIPOC female founders community who are closing the achievement gap in the startup world and giving back to their communities while doing so.
Each day’s speaker and workshop agenda focuses on a different theme:
- Problems to Purpose: how to break through barriers
- Purpose to Profits: how to secure capital
- Your SuperHero legacy: how to find a community to lean on
We can’t wait to connect with our network of inspiring women tech founders virtually. Learn more about the event and register to save a spot today – it’s free to all!
Terri Brax is the Creator and Co-Force behind Women Tech Founders and TeacherCare. Her passion is advancing those around her.