A note from our editor, Elizabeth MacBride:
The outpouring of grief after Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death had me thinking about the role men play in the lives of women who question unjust systems and push boundaries. Ginsburg said her mother was the most influential in her life – “the bravest and strongest person I have known” — but had a husband who was famously her strongest advocate and supporter.
In interviews, women entrepreneurs often mention the role their fathers played in teaching them how to negotiate and stand up for themselves. Could it be that if you’re a woman who wants to launch into the overtly hostile business world, it helps to have a father who supports your individual aspirations?
That kind of father is still relatively rare. Many women I know struggle with the realization their fathers never saw them as more than a category. Despite lifetimes of work by Ruth Bader Ginsburg and millions of other feminists, it’s still a patriarchal world.
My thinking about this led me to a personal goal: Over the next year, I’m going to interview 25 women entrepreneurs around the world working in DeepTech. If you have an idea for a woman leading a successful company, driven by a science-based innovation, email me at emacbride@timesofe.com.
This week, we launch our Arkansas reporting project, sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation. (Stories below). And finally, speaking of people with the courage and intellect to challenge unjust systems, I want to note my friend and Times of E supporter Abby Disney’s TED Talk on shareholder primacy.
And really – I know Disney Executive Chair Bob Iger is a popular man in the world of entrepreneurship. But he shouldn’t get a pass on answering tough questions about people working at Disney World who can’t afford insulin or are sleeping in their cars.
— Elizabeth MacBride, founder of Times of Entrepreneurship
Times of Entrepreneurship Stories of the Week
From NW Arkansas To Ann Arbor, How Smaller Tech Ecosystems Are Faring Differently In The Pandemic
As tech players move to areas with lower costs and easier living, they may invest and grow local.
Taking The Fight Outside
When outdoor entrepreneurs in Bentonville crowned the region the “Mountain Biking Capital of the World” earlier this year the idea raised eyebrows. But it turned out to be a lucky bet.
Important Stories from Elsewhere
Global Innovation
Elizabeth MacBride hosts a panel discussion including Seth Levine, Foundry Group founding partner, Dina Sherif, the executive director of the Legatum Center for Development & Entrepreneurship at MIT, and Mark Schulz, professor, University of Akron School of Law at the GCV Digital Forum on Sept. 29! Join me there and be part of the discussion as innovation meets capital and a global audience. Our panel starts at 10:20 EST. Here’s the link to sign up: www.gcvdigitalforum.com For a 30% discount, use code DFSPK30 at checkout.
Trump Plans To Announce His Pick To Replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg On Saturday
Senate Republicans foiled Democrats plans to stall a nominee until Election Day.
FDA To Announce Tougher Standards For Vaccine That Make It Unlikely One Will Be Cleared Before Election Day
Public health officials are worried about a potential loss of public confidence in the vaccine amidst relentless politicization of the race to develop one.
China Says It Won’t Approve TikTok Sale, Calls It “Extortion”
An editorial published in China Daily, the official English-language newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, says China has no reason to approve the “dirty” and “unfair” deal.
Wells Fargo CEO Ruffles Feathers With Comments About Diverse Talent
Black senior executives across corporate America said they are frustrated by claims of a talent shortage
Labor Secretary: Proposed Rule Simplifies Definition Of Gig Workers
Freedom from the structures of a nine to five can be especially welcome for parents, caregivers and others.
Canada Just Launched A $221 Million Black Entrepreneurship Program
The government is working with financial institutions to aid Black businesses recovering from the pandemic.
Amazon Drives New Programs To Improve Tech Startup Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity
The Amazon Alexa fund is collaborating with Blavity to host Start-up Showcase and fundraising program at annual AfroTech World and the pitch event Women Founders Represent.
The Micromobility Revolution
How bikes and scooters are shaking up urban transport worldwide. The market opportunity: At least $200 billion worldwide, according to CB Insights.
15 MIT Startups To Watch
Among this year’s cohort in the virtual delta v cohort: Earned Credit Project, which helps families that earn less than $40,000 a year manage their money; MomMe, a therapeutic to help women recover from vaginal tearing after birth; and MVANA, which lets women try on clothing virtually before going to a physical store.
Pakistani Fitness Startup Amfit Raises $1 Million Seed Round
Sisters Mahlaqa and Noor Shaukat started the four-store chain to fill a gap in fitness spaces for women after graduating from Oxford. Indus Valley Capital led the round, which included participation of an unnamed unicorn founder.
The Role Of Education In Taming Authoritarian Attitudes
As economic instability feeds the rise of authoritarianism, new research from Georgetown University finds one factor makes more likely to question dictatorial leaders: having a bachelor’s degree.
You may have missed
The Pandemic Is Shining A Light On Second-Tier Tech Hubs.
Here’s a Times of E story on Miami’s growth in recent years — aided by a surprising patron: Pitbull.
A Woman Restaurateur Sticks Up For Her Fellow Owners.
The industry is even worse off than many Americans think.
Resource of the Week
Empower ME
Washington, D.C.-based Atlantic Council launches empowerME, a hub for research and stories about entrepreneurs in the Middle East.
Venture Capital Spotlight
Name: Indus Valley Capital
Location: Karachi, Pakistan
Web site: https://www.indus.vc/
Size: $15 million fund
What it is: Founded in 2019 by LinkedIn’s former VP of growth, the firm is investing in startups in Pakistan. It’s betting on the coincidental explosion of the middle class and the population’s move online. Also, it says that the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the world’s fifth largest country has matured enough to support follow-on investments and exits. With a population of more than 200 million, Pakistan is more urban than India. For every retiring person he/she is being replaced by three people. “Imagine the productivity boost,” founder Aatif Awan said in a Disrupt 2019 presentation. Incidents of terrorism are on the decline, he said in the same presentation. (Fair to note here that many people in the international community see America’s mass shootings as equivalent to terrorism incidents in other countries).
Minimum investment: It’s a tiny fund, but still open for investment, according to Pitchbook.
Leadership: Founded by LinkedIn’s former vice president of growth, Aatif Awan
Investment style/track record: Indus Valley is looking for deals in the Edtech, Healthtech, and B2B marketplaces, among others. It cites Egypt’s Swvl , Indonesia’s KinerjaPay, and India’s BlackBuck as examples of the kinds of companies it wants to find and back in Pakistan. On the web site, Awan offers his email and a promise of fast capital – days, not weeks.
Quote: “What an amazing incredible opportunity,” Awan says in his presentation.
Events
Boost with Facebook
Date: Started Sept. 1 and culminates on Nov. 24 at hybrid online-offline event with participants in Amsterdam, Cairo and Silicon Valley
Application available here.
Startups Without Borders, a global platform for refugee and migrant entrepreneurs, has partnered with Facebook to launch a digital marketing training program. It aims to support 1,550 entrepreneurs and business owners who are recovering from the pandemic. It is open to business owners from the MENA region who have left their country of origin in search of a better life and have started a business initiative in the U.S. or Europe.
Beta Boom Female Founders Summit
Date: September 24, 2020
Location: Virtual
Information available here.
This virtual gathering, celebrating rising female founders, brings together investors and supporters and will include two pitch competitions. Sally Krawcheck will deliver the opening keynote.
Fuckup Nation: 8th Anniversary
Date: Sept. 24, 2020, Fuckup Nation East: 19:00 GMT+2; West: 19:00 GMT – 5:00
Information available here.
Speakers include Hal Klopp, founder of The North Face; Pepe Villatoro, CEO of Fuckup Inc. and Marcus Dantus, CEO of Startup Mexico
Women in Tech Virtual Career Event, Hosted by Dice, ClearanceJobs and eFinancialCareers
Date: September 24, 2020.10 AM – 1 PM ET for candidates with a security clearance; 1 PM – 4 PM ET for non-cleared candidates (tech, finance)
Candidate Registration
This virtual career fair will allow employers and professionals a chance to connect in real-time. It is focused on employers committed to diversity & inclusion across tech, government and financial services.
United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National Conference
Date: September 27 to 29
Information available here
The 2020 conference, focused on Hispanic economic development, is among the largest gatherings of Hispanic business leaders in the U.S. This year’s conference will be held virtually for the first time.
Start Smart Class
Fall 2020 starts on September 28
Information available here.
This hands-on class, aimed at entrepreneurs who are serious about launching a startup, is focused on helping them build a solid understanding of their target market so they can grow a science/technology company successfully.
Social Value Matters 2020: People, Planet and Power
Dates: September 28 to Oct. 2
Location: Virtual
Information available here.
As the gap between rich and poor increases and the effects of climate change become more apparent, this conference will look at how to carve a path to a sustainable future.
Women and The Changing Face of Entrepreneurship In Africa
Dates: Oct. 1 and 2
Location: Virtual
Information available here.
This conference aims to provide a clearer understanding of the landscape of female entrepreneurship on the continent and features a keynote by
Dr. Vera Songwe, United Nations Under Secretary-General.
Follow the Entrepreneur (FTE) Investment Campaign and Summit
Dates: Oct. 10-14
Location: Athens, Greece (event will also be live streamed)
Information available here.
VIVA Investment Partners, a Swiss private equity firm, is hosting this gathering, where entrepreneurs will come together with leading global investors to build relationships and identify opportunities to collaborate.
Imagine H2O’s Water Innovation Week
Date: October 12-14
Location: Virtual
Information available here.
Industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, customers and advisors will meet to discuss the opportunities that exist in the water sector this year.
SOCAP Virtual: A Global Impact Summit
Location: Virtual
Dates: October 19-23
Information available here.
This gathering of global change-makers aims to address the world’s toughest challenges through market-based solutions.
Young Entrepreneur Convention
Location: Ames, Ohio
Deadline: October 24, 2020
Information available here.
The theme is “founders helping founders” at this one-day event, aimed at business owners in their teens and twenties, at Iowa State University.
Greentown Labs Climatech Summit
Date: Nov. 5-6
Location: Virtual
Information available here.
Entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, policymakers, startup support organizations and other climate champions will come together to chart a holistic course to building a sustainable future for all.
Sight Tech Global
This virtual conference is dedicated to fostering discussion among technology pioneers about how rapid advances in AI and related technologies will create a more accessible world for people with blindness and visual impairments.
Date: Dec. 2-3, 2020. Registration is free and opening soon.
Information available here.
Baylor New Venture Competition
Date: March 25-27, 2021; Applications open September 1, 2020
Location: Baylor University; Waco, Texas
Information available here.
Baylor New Venture Competition offers applicants business plan feedback, mentorship, and a chance to compete for more than $250,000 in prizes. Collegiate entrepreneurs from around the globe are eligible to participate in the competition, hosted by Baylor University.
Render Capital Competition
In Louisville, Ky., Render Capital awards eight entrepreneurs $100,000 each Friday, Sept. 25. To learn more about the winners and the annual competition, register here
https://render.capital/virtual-pitch-event/.
– Compiled by Elaine Pofeldt
