ayana Foundation

C3 👈🏽 Confidence + Competence + Credibility Kicked off #ATXTechWeek today with our ayana Foundation family & Capital Factory surrounded by an incredible group of founders and funders. Our InnovatHER panel was all about empowering more women entrepreneurs to secure venture funding, sharing invaluable resources, and exchanging lessons learned along the way. At the end of the day, it’s about building relationships beyond the initial check, showing up authentically, making clear asks, and leaning on a strong support network. Huge thanks to our amazing partners and sponsors for making this possible 🤍 Dell Technologies Inn Cahoots Optimal Counsel LLP Moneta Ventures & to all of our speakers and community who came out to support. Shoutout to the most amazing team & Co-Founders Lesley Robinson, PhD Rajul Kadakia Lynn Fernando

State & Stats of Women in Entrepreneurship Panel – at ayana Foundation x Austin Tech Week This panel was one of my absolute favorites to be part of because this topic is close to my heart. It was a fantastic opportunity to enhance my research—particularly by updating my evergreen Literature Review with the key reports we discussed. We featured powerful data from sources like the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2022/2023 Women’s Entrepreneurship Report, the 2023 Dell Technologies DWEN WE Cities Index, the Austin Mayor’s Task Force for Women Entrepreneurs Report (2024), and a sneak peek of DivInc’s upcoming Equity Nation 2030 report. Each report provided critical updates on the challenges and progress for women entrepreneurs—locally, nationally, and globally. (Links to reports in comments.) Our conversation highlighted both gaps and opportunities—such as Austin’s ranking of 37th in potential investors—and emphasized the importance of collaboration and action in ensuring women founders have access to funding and robust support networks. What made this session special was the balance between data-driven insights and practical strategies for impact. Makes my checkbox heart so happy! It wasn’t just about identifying challenges—it was about empowering all of us to become part of the solution. From understanding gendered venture capital trends to brainstorming how Austin’s culture can foster equitable entrepreneurship, the discussion provided real inspiration and actionable steps for advancing women’s participation in business. I’m excited to incorporate these findings into my research and apply them to foster more inclusive and innovative entrepreneurial ecosystems. A heartfelt thank you to our panelists—Patti Kelly, APR, Elisa Sepulveda, and Dr. Patricia Greene—for sharing your passion and expertise. THANK YOU always to the amazing and intentional YJ Lin + Dell 4 Startups for sponsoring, supporting, and showing up for the conversation. Let’s keep this momentum going! Together, we can transform Austin’s “Keep Austin Weird” ethos into a movement for equity, opportunity, and innovation—empowering women entrepreneurs to thrive >> FLOURISH. Huge hug to my ayana Foundation team for making the day a dream >> reality! Jaclynn Brennan Rajul Kadakia Lynn Fernando Julie Nguyen #HelpingFoundersFlourish #WomeninEntrepreneurship #EntrepreneurialLeadHERship

🌅 An Unforgettable Evening! 🌅 Our sunset soirée in Beverly Hills was nothing short of magical: bringing together trailblazing women founders, angel investors, VCs, and industry leaders for a night of connection, inspiration, and impact. ✨ Thank you to our incredible guests and co-hosts (Cherub and Moneta Ventures) for making this event one to remember! Together, we are building a future where women-led startups thrive and the entrepreneurial ecosystem becomes more inclusive and equitable. 💼 In a short span of time, with a fully volunteer-led team, we have achieved some incredible milestones: -Awarded $100K in seed grants -Distributed $125K in program funding -Produced 70 programs and events -Partnered with 25 incredible organizations -Directly impacted over 2,000 women founders -Received 240 fellowship applications -Delivered 40 hours of curriculum -Expanded our reach to over 5 US cities …and we are JUST getting started. 🔥🙌 #HelpingFoundersFlourish Help us to continue our mission and stay tuned for more of these magical, impactful moments from the ayana Foundation! 🌍💫 And of course, only the utmost gratitude to our product sponsors: All Better Co. Beebizy Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails Bonjour Fête Chareau Faire la Fête // First Growth Brands Hettas J.P. Morgan Private Bank Juliet Wine khalo Kif & co Layermor Fragrance MAGICDATES St Hildie's Stellar Protective Group VAIN Jaclynn Brennan Rajul Kadakia Lynn Fernando Lesley Robinson, PhD Kristin Glushon #AyanaFoundation #LAtechWeek #WomenFounders #AngelInvestors #VentureCapital #EmpowerWomen #Entrepreneurship #ImpactInvesting #CherubPowered #TechForGood

🚀 ayana Foundation x Austin Tech Week 🚀 Join me for MY FAVORITE TOPIC: State & Stats of Women in Entrepreneurship – Austin, the U.S., and Beyond 🗓️ When: Monday, October 28th | 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM 📍 Where: Inn Cahoots This data-rich panel will explore the state of women in entrepreneurship with insights from Dell Technologies' DWEN WE Cities Index, the Austin Mayor’s Task Force for Women Entrepreneurs, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Women’s Entrepreneurship Report, and DivInc’s (forthcoming) Equity Nation 2030. We’ll highlight data that tells the story about women in entrepreneurship - especially funding gaps, gender dynamics in startups, and Austin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Leave with checkboxes and actionable solutions to make Austin a leader in inclusive entrepreneurship. Key Discussion Topics: 🔸 Funding Gaps & Trends: Gender and venture capital insights 🔸 Austin’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Local initiatives shaping change 🔸 Challenges & Opportunities: Addressing barriers and building solutions 🔸 Call to Action: Engaging the community to elevate Austin’s impact RSVP now to guarantee your spot and maximize networking opportunities: 👉 https://lu.ma/d19zoiod Panel Speakers: 🔹 YJ Lin – Dell for Startups 🔹 Lesley Robinson, PhD – ayana Foundation (Moderator) 🔹 Patti Kelly, APR – Solari Strategies 🔹 Elisa Sepulveda – DivInc 🔹 Patricia Greene – Babson College, Former @U.S. Dept. of Labor Join us and discover how we can turn “Keep Austin Weird” into a movement for equitable entrepreneurship! 🌍 #AustinTechWeek #InnovateHER #WomenInBusiness #PitchingWithPurpose #WomenEntrepreneurs #ATXEvents #HelpingFoundersFlourish Jaclynn Brennan Rajul Kadakia Lynn Fernando Kristin Glushon Preston L. James, II Carla Stanmyre McDonald Kristen Carson ...

✨ 🚀 Panel Announcement! 🚀 ✨ The ayana Foundation alongside A.W.E. & Capital Factory, is hosting a powerhouse event at Austin Tech Week celebrating Austin’s women entrepreneurs. Expect insightful panels, founder-funder matching, networking over the best food in town, and live music! 🎤 🌮 💼  📅 Mon, Oct 28 | 12:30 PM - 6:00 PM 📍 Inn Cahoots in Austin  🤝 Partners: Capital Factory, Dell Technologies, Ellevoy, Inn Cahoots and Moneta Ventures 💡 Panel 1 | InnovateHER: Pitching with Purpose: Join successful founders and investors as they reveal strategies for securing funding and thriving in male-dominated spaces. Discover how to craft compelling pitches, build investor relationships, and make power moves for long-term success in today’s competitive landscape. -Jaclynn Brennan (Co-Founder & Executive Director, ayana Foundation ) -Lawton Cummings (General Partner, Capital Factory) -Mandy Lawrence (Senior Attorney, Optimal Counsel LLP) -Sidney Collin (Co-Founder, President & CTO, De Oro Devices) 💡 Panel 2 | State & Stats of Women in Entrepreneurship: Austin, the U.S., and Beyond: Join a data-driven panel on women in entrepreneurship, featuring insights from key reports like the DWEN WE Cities Index and DivInc’s Equity Nation 2030. Explore venture capital trends, gender impacts, and innovative solutions that position Austin as a leader in inclusive, equitable business growth. -Lesley Robinson, PhD (Co-Founder & Director of Education, ayana Foundation ) -Elisa Sepulveda (Head of Development & Marketing, DivInc) -Patricia Greene (Entrepreneurial Educator & Program Builder, Uplevyl) -Patti Kelly, APR (Founder, Solari Strategies) -YJ Lin (Senior Program Manager, Dell for Startups)   🎉 Don’t miss the chance to learn, connect, and be part of meaningful conversations driving Austin’s entrepreneurial future! ✨ RSVP and update your profile to complete all the required questions on your registration by TODAY (10/22) to guarantee your spot and drive the best networking matches for you! https://lu.ma/d19zoiod

Join us for the kickoff to Austin Tech Week! 🚀✨ The ayana Foundation , alongside A.W.E. (Austin Women in Entrepreneurship Ecosystem) & Capital Factory, are hosting a powerhouse event celebrating Austin’s women entrepreneurs. Expect insightful panels, founder-funder matching, networking over the best food in town, and live music! 🎤🌮💼 📅 Mon, Oct 28 | 12:30 PM - 6:00 PM 📍 Inn Cahoots, Austin 🤝 Partners: Capital Factory Dell Technologies Ellevoy Inn Cahoots Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow with like-minded leaders! 💡 For the event, we will be using technology to intelligently match founders, funders & partners to demonstrate the power of the RIGHT match, courtesy of our partner, Ellevoy.  To get the most out of this experience, please update your profile to complete all the required questions on your Luma registration by Tuesday, Oct 22nd to guarantee your spot at the event and drive the best networking matches for you. Can’t wait to see you there! RSVP: https://lu.ma/d19zoiod #AustinTechWeek #WomenInEntrepreneurship #FounderLife #NetworkingEvent #AustinStartups #FemaleFounders #AustinEvents #Empowerment #Innovation #HelpingFoundersFlourish

An unforgettable evening for the ayana Foundation at #LATechWeek celebrating community, entrepreneurship, and a little bit of magic ✨ Our Investor & Partner Sunset Soirée highlighted 9 months of impact for ayana alongside my incredible Co-Founders & board: Rajul Kadakia Lynn Fernando Lesley Robinson, PhD Kristin Glushon OUR IMPACT 💰 Gave $100,000 in seed grants 🤝🏼 Hosted 75 events & programs 🖊️ Received 240 applications for our AcceleratHER Fellowship 📍 We’ve reached over 2000 Founders across 5 cities in the US …and were just getting started 😏 Special thank you to our fabulous co-hosts Cherub Jaclyn Johnson Angeline Vuong + powered by partner Moneta Ventures & all of our sponsors who made this celebration possible. #Nonprofit #philanthropy #femalefounders #techweek #collaboration #funders #founders

🌅 It’s TODAY! 🌅 The ayana Foundation , in partnership with Cherub and powered by Moneta Ventures, is thrilled to welcome our esteemed guests to an exclusive sunset soirée this evening in Beverly Hills as part of #LATechWeek! 🌇✨ We can’t wait to connect with angel investors, VCs, and family offices across the consumer, B2B, and tech sectors at this intimate event. Huge thanks to our incredible partners and sponsors for making this night possible: All Better Co. Beebizy Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails Bonjour Fête Chareau Faire la Fête // First Growth Brands Hettas J.P. Morgan Private Bank Juliet Wine khalo Kif & co Layermor Fragrance MAGICDATES Moneta Ventures St Hildie's Stellar Protective Group VAIN We’ll see you tonight! 🥂 #LATechWeek #SunsetSoiree #ayanaFoundation #upliftingwomenfounders #helpingfoundersflourish

✨ A big WADO / THANK YOU to Nicole Morgan, APR for her incredible support of the TU Cherokee Women's AcceleratHER Fellowship! ✨ Nicole’s session, Building to Success: Growth Strategies, Marketing Mastery, and Brand Building for Women Founders, was packed with invaluable insights on scaling operations, driving marketing and sales growth, and mastering brand and social media presence. Nicole’s passion for empowering organizations and her vast experience in PR, especially as the founder of Resolute PR, help companies implement bold strategies. Her commitment to business success and community development is inspiring, and we’re so grateful for her time and expertise. Thank you, Nicole, for being such a dynamic and engaging speaker and for helping our founders build a path to success! 💙 #Leadership #WomenInLeadership #AcceleratHER #upliftingwomenfounders #helpingfounderflourish #cherokeewomen #cherokeefounders #womeninentrepreneurship

I SEE YOU 👀 You’re a woman who needs an escape. You’ve built a beautiful life, a family and climbed through the corporate ladder to be a leader in your field. You thought this would check that box inside of you that continues to go unchecked—but somehow, no matter how hard you try, nothing ever fills it. And now, that void is growing—and you’re growing concerned. You’ve handcrafted this beautiful life for yourself, but it’s starting to not feel like that's enough to feel whole. You’ve spent your life being the ultimate box-checker but never once asking yourself if this is even what YOU want. Now, you have a whole big beautiful life but it doesn’t feel like YOUR life. Welcome to 🎭 the UNMASKING 🎭 This one-night-only event is the escape you’ve been longing for to finally sit with who you truly want to be, what you actually want and leave feeling a bubbling desire to go and grab your dreams. We have a jam-packed line up of women, queer & BIPOC experts that will leave you walking out of the event with a renewed stride to your step and the shift you needed to find out who you are in this big world. We only have 100 spots. Don’t wait, sign up today. Did we mention it’s free? It's free!! 😋 🎟️ Register for FREE: bit.ly/the-unmasking 🎟️ Comment below and let me know what you’re hoping to escape during our event. I want to start helping now! . . . . . #austintexas #austin #atx #austintexasthings #austinblackbusiness #whattodoinaustin #austinevents #austintxlife #austinbusiness #austincommunity #austinartist #austinwomen #womenofaustin #austinevent #austintx #austintxlife #communityfirst #communityovercompetition #disruptors #disruptor #blackcommunity #queercommunity #blackowned #communitylove #blackwomanowned #atxlifestyle #atxartist #atxcommunity