We all know that strong startups need a culture of collaboration and a supportive entrepreneurial community—not just capital—for innovation to thrive.
However, we've got more data than ever showing that startups really need female leaders. It's not just our gut instinct telling us this. Philadelphia-based First Round Capital recently reported that startups in their portfolio were 63% more successful when their teams included at least one female founder.
On the Tomorrow Tour, a content and event series inspired by Comcast NBCUniversal and organized by Technical.ly, we had the privilege of connecting with more than 1,000 entrepreneurs in six diverse American cities and gathering some of the best innovation stories across the country. Along the way, we discovered female leaders who are creating disruptive change in their communities.
To celebrate and support great female entrepreneurs, Comcast NBCUniversal has teamed up with Startup Grind to present the second annual Female Founders Month in May. As part of this campaign, we’re supporting more than 60 female speakers at Startup Grind chapters in 40 countries. You can check out the schedule here.
To kick this off, I’d like to introduce you to a few of the inspirational women we met during the Tomorrow Tour:
Katlyn Grasso, founder of GenHERation, has helped empower more than 50,000 young women by connecting them with female executives, educational opportunities, scholarships, and other resources. This University of Pennsylvania Wharton grad has won a lengthy list of fellowships and awards and regularly speaks and writes on entrepreneurship, technology, and the advancement of women.
Isabella Acker, Curator of Culture at Prism Music Group, works to elevate arts and culture in Miami through programs and events aimed at fostering creative collaboration. Acker previously worked in marketing, tourism, and talent management.
Prasanna Krishnan, founder of Philadelphia-based SmartyPal, launched an iPad children’s book series that delivers "good screen time" to growing minds. As "Chief Mom" of her company, Krishnan leads teams that fuse engaging stories with personalized educational activities. Before venturing out on her own, Krishnan held high level positions at major companies including Microsoft, Comcast, and DFJ Ventures.
We were also honored to have CNBC Switch Pitch regular Kelly Hoey on tour with us mentoring and providing valuable feedback to startups across the nation. Kelly is no stranger to supporting female founders as a successful angel investor and author.
Comcast Ventures, under the leadership of Amy Banse, has been investing in a growing number of female visionaries who are building impressive startups for years.
Are you a female founder working on a great idea? Our Entrepreneurial Engagement team would love to learn more. From Denver to Detroit to Philadelphia, we’re on a mission to grow urban entrepreneurship to make an even greater impact in all of the communities we serve. Here are 10 ways you can connect with us.