Contact:
Kathy Wilson, Tier One Partners for Astia
781-652-0499 or kwilson@tieronepr.com
Cherie Blair and Baroness Wilcox among High-Profile Speakers Sharing Perspectives on the Role of Women in Business
SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK and LONDON, (June 7, 2011) — Astia, a premier venture accelerator that targets exceptional startups with women on their founding teams, today announced it will host the second annual We Own It Summit in partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Imperial College Business School, Silicon Valley Bank, SNR Denton and NESTA. The Summit will take place at London’s Imperial College on June 9-10, 2011, and will feature Cherie Blair and Baroness Wilcox among its keynote speakers.
During the Summit, business and thought leaders will explore the lack of women's participation in high-growth enterprises and identify solutions to move forward. By setting out to achieve realistic long- and short-term goals, with the help of its participants, the Summit aims to bring down the barriers that face female entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators.
"The health of our global economy depends on women participating at the highest ranks of business and entrepreneurship," said Lesa Mitchell, vice president, advancing innovation, Kauffman Foundation. "We founded the 'We Own It Summit' to spotlight the challenges women face in launching successful high-growth businesses and to identify practical ways these challenges can be overcome. We're calling the next 10 years the 'Decade of the Woman Entrepreneur,' and I'm excited about how this year’s Summit will advance this proclamation."
Highlights of the Summit include Cherie Blair, wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, in a conversation with Sharon Vosmek, CEO of Astia. Blair is the founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which promotes women entrepreneurs in countries where they lack equal opportunities. She also is one of the founding barristers of Matrix Chambers, which has been lauded for its exceptional human rights work.
Joining Blair as keynote speaker is Baroness Wilcox, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Business, Innovation and Skills. She will be discussing the new age of women entrepreneurs and their high-growth firms. The Baroness is one of England’s most eminent businesswomen, having worked for the Automobile Association, Port of London Authority and Cadbury Schweppes among others.
"It's very important that we recognize women in innovation and entrepreneurship," said Vosmek. "Having notable speakers such as Mrs. Blair and Baroness Wilcox in attendance at this year's Summit is an honor."
About "We Own It"
Convened by Astia and funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Silicon Valley Bank, SNR Denton and the Imperial College Business School, the We Own It Summit represents a cross-section of entrepreneurs, investors, academia, government, media, non-profit and industry organizations focused on breaking down barriers for women in high-growth entrepreneurship – across the pipeline – from college graduate to company founder and CEO. The We Own It Summit will focus on addressing the myths, money, motivations, metrics and solutions for women's participation in high-growth entrepreneurship.
About Astia
Founded in 1999 in Silicon Valley, Astia is an innovative global not-for-profit organization that propels women’s full participation as entrepreneurs and leaders in high-growth businesses, fuelling innovations and driving economic growth. Astia offers programs for high-growth startups that deliver results.
About the Sponsors
Silicon Valley Bank
Founded in 1983, SVB Financial Group provides diversified financial services to emerging growth and established technology companies and the life science, venture capital and premium wine markets. Through its focus on specialised markets and extensive knowledge of the people and business issues driving them, SVB Financial Group provides a level of service and partnership that measurably impacts its clients' success. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, the company offers its clients commercial, investment, merchant and private banking, as well as value-added services using its knowledge and networks. SVB Financial Group serves clients around the world through 26 domestic offices and international subsidiaries in the UK, Israel, India and China, and an extensive network of relationships with venture capitalists in Asia, Australia, Europe, India and Israel.
SNR Denton
SNR Denton is a top 25 legal services provider focused on eight industry sectors and with offices in key financial and commercial centres in 43 countries. Its Venture Technology practice provides nimble, fast-paced counsel to cutting-edge emerging growth companies and venture capital firms – from Silicon Valley to New York to London and around the globe.
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