Local woman works to encourage female entrepreneurs, close gender gap
FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) – Next month, a new effort to encourage female entrepreneurs will launch in Fishers.
As the startup scene quickly grows in central Indiana, many people say women are missing from the equation. One local woman is taking it upon herself, to close the gender gap.
When Kristen Cooper made the jump into technology and started working in the technology sector she noticed a trend.
“I see far fewer entrepreneurs, yet I talk to a lot of women who have passion for becoming an entrepreneur one day,” said Cooper, who works for the tech company, Sticksnleaves.
Cooper said women had full-time jobs and families, but those weren’t the biggest factors keeping them from starting their own businesses and tech companies.
“They didn’t feel like they were truly welcome, they didn’t feel like they were a part of this boys’ club. I thought ‘Wow, what a missed opportunity here’,” said Cooper.
So, with several women she met at Launch Fishers, she started Launch Ladies, a networking group to connect, train and encourage more female entrepreneurs.
“There are so many women and men that have awesome ideas, that they need some help, they need a little structure,” said Cooper.
Laurie Kroll, the founder of the Village 2 Village Project, a non-profit that works with children in Uganda, started attending Launch Ladies meetups for training and a little encouragement.
“Most of our society tends to say you can’t do it. It’s too much of a risk. You’re doing so many things already,” said Kroll.
Kroll said the Launch Ladies training helped her land $50,000 in funding that saved her project.
“If you surround yourself with the community that can believe in you, and encourage you and give you some of the tools that maybe you don’t have to accomplish some of those goals, then I think we can all keep going forward,” said Kroll.
In July, Cooper is expanding with Startup Study Halls bringing in business executives and experts to work with the women and potentially invest in their ideas. She said it’s simply good business.
“These could be the people that turn one person into a 30 person business. Or a 300 person business, or if we really do this right – a 3,000 person business,” said Cooper.
Even though Launch Ladies and the Startup Study Halls were started to encourage female entrepreneurs, the ultimate goal is diversity in business. Both men and women are welcome, you just need to register online. Click here for all the information.