In a powerful precursor to West Chester University’s upcoming Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference on Oct. 18, the campus hosted a screening of Show Her the Money, a documentary highlighting the struggles and successes of women entrepreneurs in securing venture capital.

The screening on Sept. 25, organized by WCU’s Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center and the Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic, focused on the struggles and successes of women entrepreneurs in securing the funding they need to grow their businesses and bring their ideas to life. WCU has partnered with the Keiretsu Forum for more than a decade to encourage entrepreneurship among its students and community.

The event drew more than 60 attendees, including students, local entrepreneurs, and members of the broader community, for a discussion on gender equity in the business world. According to the Global Impact Investing Network, female-founded startups in the U.S. receive just 2 percent of all venture capital funding, while 79 percent goes to all-male teams. For women of color, the situation is even more dire, with only 0.2 percent of venture capital going to their businesses.

That disparity is why the Director of the Cottrell Center Patricia Diggin said the screening was important for WCU to host.

“As a University, we are always striving to amplify the voices of diverse populations, particularly women and women of color,” she said. “This event is just one example of how we are committed to supporting gender equity in the venture start-up and business community.”

After the screening, a distinguished group of business founders and funders participated in a panel discussion on the challenges women face in securing venture capital and the importance of building strong support networks. The panelists were:

• Jasmine Jones, Founder and CEO of Myya, who was featured in the documentary
• Tracey Welson Rossman, CMO of Chariot Solutions
• Yasmine Mustafa, Co-Founder of ROAR for Good
• John Majeski, CEO of Portola Valley Partners, who brought a male perspective to the conversation on how investors can support women entrepreneurs

Natalie Onesi, a WCU Graduate Student studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling, attended the screening and said she was struck by the perseverance of the women featured.

“The main takeaway for me, as someone with no entrepreneurial experience, is that it can be anyone,” she said. “You can have a great idea, and if you find people around you who believe in it, you can really make something of it. But it also highlighted how women in those scenarios might have up to 10 more obstacles put in front of them as compared to men in those same rooms.”

The panel discussion afterward highlighted the value of including men in conversations about change to start fostering more inclusive environments, Onesi said. 

The Show Her the Money event served as a lead-in to WCU’s upcoming Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference, “Empowerment Through Collaboration: Creating Space for Women Everywhere,” which will be held on Oct. 18. This year marks the 11th anniversary of the conference, co-hosted by the Cottrell Center and SCORE of Chester and Delaware Counties.

It will include breakout sessions on topics like talent engagement, stress management, and effective communication. This year’s Keynote Speaker is Gina Schaeffer, Co-Founder and former CEO of Logan Hardware, with Cherri Gregg, Public Media Host and Lawyer, delivering the closing address.

Both events are linked by their focus on empowering women entrepreneurs and amplifying underrepresented voices.

“These events reflect the values of our University and are part of a broader movement to ensure that women and underrepresented groups have the resources and support they need to succeed in the entrepreneurial world,” Diggin said.

By providing platforms for these discussions, WCU is helping to shape a more inclusive future for women in business, she said.

For more information about the conference, visit the Cottrell Center’s website.

For more information about Angel Investing and Entrepreneurial Services, visit Keiretsu Forum’s website. WCU has partnered with the Keiretsu Forum for more than a decade to encourage entrepreneurship among its students and community.  In fact, Keiretsu Forum will be holding its 12th Investor Capital Expo in Philadelphia on Oct. 31, offering a prime opportunity for early-stage companies seeking funding to engage with over 100 angel investors and family offices. This premier event brings together founders and funders for meaningful connections and investment opportunities.

Learn more at West Chester University (WCU), the largest member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, which is comprised of 10 state-owned universities within the Commonwealth of PA. Founded in 1871, West Chester University is a comprehensive public institution offering a diverse range of more than 180 academic opportunities in 40 fields of study across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.