Beyond VC: Grants, Angels & Venture Philanthropy for Female Founders

​💸 Beyond VC: Fundraising Strategies for Female Founders
📅 Wednesday, Nov. 12 | ⏰ 12 – 1 PM EST | 💻Virtual Masterclass

​Raising capital isn’t one-size-fits-all. Venture capital gets the headlines—but it’s not the only path. In this masterclass, we’ll explore alternative fundraising strategies that female founders can leverage: grants, angel investors, and venture philanthropy.

​Our powerhouse panel brings deep expertise across every corner of the capital landscape:

​✨ Marcia Dawood – Angel Investor | Author of Do Good While Doing Well | SEC Advisory Committee Member | Venture Partner at Mindshift Capital
On a mission to #DoGoodWhileDoingWell, Marcia empowers investors to fuel change and helps founders bridge the gap from idea to thriving business.

​✨ Amy Bastian – VP of Grants & Programs at NC IDEA
A natural problem-solver dedicated to expanding entrepreneurship as a driver of economic advancement, Amy supports founders through data-driven grantmaking and ecosystem programs.

​✨ Amy Jacobs – Charlotte Market Manager, Abundance Capital
With decades of leadership across banking, nonprofits, and venture philanthropy, Amy connects founders to innovative capital models that unlock growth for social impact startups.

​🎤 Moderated by: Ashley Gautreaux – gWen Cofounder + Partner, CreativeCo
Ashley brings her experience as a founder, builder, and connector to guide the conversation and surface actionable insights for attendees.

​💡 Whether you’re an early-stage founder exploring funding options or an investor curious about new models, this session will give you practical insights and fresh perspectives on financing innovation beyond VC.

​👉 Save your spot and join the conversation on Nov. 12.