Incubator Graduation Launches Entrepreneurs to Their Next Phase
The NYWSE Incubator Program celebrated the graduation of its six women social entrepreneurs and their venture teams at its finale on June 29, 2009 in a skylight corporate lounge at Baruch College. Incubator social entrepreneurs presented their ventures to a panel of distinguished experts hailing from diverse fields of social enterprise, such as venture capital, venture philanthropy, women’s and children’s initiatives, and business development, including women’s enterprises. The event was a unique opportunity for Incubator Program participants to showcase their achievements and to receive critical feedback in a supportive environment to help chart the post-Incubator phase of their businesses.
Among the accomplishments shared by the Incubator participants were securing the first financings of their ventures ranging from several hundred dollars to $50,000; piloting the first program of a new organization; introducing an expanded set of services to existing ventures; developing boards of directors; attracting new staff, volunteers, and partners; completing a business plan; and creating two first demo websites for Internet-based ventures. Other results included acceptance into follow on support programs, such as the GoodCompany Ventures VC Incubator Program and securing fiscal sponsorship for ongoing development, building upon the extensive personal, professional and organizational growth achieved over the past six months.
The expert panel was comprised of some of New York City’s strongest thought leaders in social innovation as listed below, and was guided by Angela Jia Kim, founder of Savor the Success(.com) and Om Aroma(.com), master of ceremonies of the event.
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Ana Oliviera, Executive Director, New York Women's Foundation (www.nywf.org)
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Cheryl Campbell, Manager-Business Grant Program, Eileen Fisher (http://www.eileenfisher.com/ourcompany/cons/commitment.asp)
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Elmira Bayrasli, Vice President, Partnerships, Policy, and Outreach, Endeavor (www.endeavor.org)
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LaTeisha Moore, Founding Member of the Board, New York Venture Philanthropy Fund (www.nycvpf.org)
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Monica Dean, A. Director, Field Center for Entrepreneurship, Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College (http://zicklin.baruch.cuny.edu/centers/field/)
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Rob Delman, Managing Director, Golden Seeds (www.goldenseeds.com)
In addition to the generous contribution of their time and expertise of all experts, Elmira Bayrasli of Endeavor also offered individual presentation coaching to all entrepreneurs to benefit their future pitches based on video shot by Scott McClure.
The graduation event was also an important moment to celebrate the contribution of Incubator Program mentors and apprentices and acknowledged them for their vital role in enabling the social entrepreneurs to realize their visions. Mentors and apprentices (or junior partners) volunteered their time and expertise over six months to empower a woman to realize her dream to improve our communities and our lives. The Incubator Program is grateful and indebted to them for their generosity of spirit and time.
In conclusion, Incubator Program Founder and Manager Allison Lynch adapted the famous words of Margaret Mead to encapsulate the essence and intent of the Incubator Program: "Never doubt that a small group of (women) can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." And so the Incubator Program did and will continue.
Many thanks are owed to Baruch College’s Field Center of Entrepreneurship for their support which made the Incubator Program and its graduation event so special, and to Program Coordinator Melissa Osborne and NYWSE Director Natalia Oberti Noguera for their dedication to the Incubator Program.
