March 24, 2022
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM PST
Virtual Event
A panel of female founders and venture capital investor share their experiences raising funds, investing as well as the opportunities, hurdles, and how you can replicate what’s worked!
- Standard ticket: $15
- This event is complimentary for all WCS members. No promo codes needed.
- Refer to the membership options here. Become a member here.
- All registrants will receive access to a recording of the event.
Across industries, women-led startups received just 2.3% of VC funding in 2020 according to Harvard Business Review. During a pivotal time for our planet, with energy transition at the forefront of sustainable development and climate resilience, it is crucial that female founders have adequate access to funding, to empower the environmental innovation needed. Based on PwC State of Climate Tech 2021, Climate tech now accounts for 14% of VC investment. Learn more about raising capital in the cleantech and climate tech space as a woman in 2022.
We’ll cover the opportunities and hurdles of raising funds, allow female founders to share their stories, and hear from a venture capital investor as they illuminate what works.
At this event you’ll learn:
- How to effectively approach investors in the current climate
- What has worked for other female founders that you could replicate
- Out-of-the-box sources of funding and other resources
Agenda (Times in PT)
- 5:00 – 5:05 Arrival, introductions, and housekeeping
- 5:05 – 5:40 Panel Discussion
- 5:40 – 5:55 Q/A from the Audience
- 5:55 – 6:03 Breakout Networking Session #1
- 6:03 – 6:11 Breakout Networking Session #2
- 6:11 – 6:19 Breakout Networking Session #3
- 6:20 – 6:30 Thank you and wrap-up
Speaker
CEO and President at EnPower, Inc.
A serial entre- and intrapreneur, Annette Finsterbusch’s career has been dedicated to driving growth and building value through successfully identifying, financing, and developing innovation into products and businesses in untapped markets. Her global corporate board experience spans industries including compound semiconductors, energy storage, lighting, advanced materials, 3-D printing, and the Internet-of-Things. Annette serves as President and CEO of EnPower, Inc.
Prior to joining EnPower, Annette founded Applied Ventures, the venture arm of Applied Materials. Other notable positions include CEO of MindShadow.com (acquired); Investment Manager at DaimlerChrysler Venture Capital; and CEO of Ketra (acquired).
Speaker
Co-Founder & CTO at South 8 Technologies
Jungwoo earned her PhD from UC San Diego for her work on thin-film battery technology and pioneering battery characterization efforts. Prior to her PhD, she spent four years as an Optical Engineer at Panasonic where she developed high-end laser systems and processing techniques for manufacturers as well as a Research Engineer with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and managed development efforts on advanced solar cell technology. She has several scientific publications and patents.
Moderator
Head of Houston Incubator & Vice President of InnovationGreentown Labs
A Board Member of the Angel Capital Association, Juliana is a Lead Investor of the Portfolia Rising America Fund that invests in BIPOC and LGTBQ founders, as well as the Portfolia Consumer and Rising Tide Funds. She is also an Advisory Board Member of the University of Houston Cougar Venture Fund, the Houston Diversity Fund, the Investors of Color network and Impulse4women. A Kauffman Fellow experienced in Bridging the Gender Gap in investing, she is part of the City of Houston’s Women Commission. Juliana was the Texas Medical Center Venture Fund Director and the Managing Director of the Houston Angel Network. Juliana obtained an MBA at the London Business School and Haas School of Business in Berkeley, specializing in Entrepreneurship.
Principal
Maria is a Principal at Piva Capital, a Venture Capital fund investing in transforming industry for people and planet where she focuses on sourcing and evaluating companies and supporting their existing portfolio. Maria has a background in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from Berkeley Haas School of Business.
Cleantech.Org is the world’s largest community for discussions on cleantech technology and entrepreneurship, with an online membership base of over 45,000. Serving as a resource to scientists, entrepreneurs and investors, Cleantech.Org is a leading portal for energy & environmental technology commercialization.
Energy Transition Ventures (ETV) is an early stage Texas and Silicon Valley venture capital investor, investing in startups leading the energy transition. ETV’s experienced team is dedicated to bridging the gap between fossil fuels and the future.
