UC Berkeley Is a Powerhouse for Entrepreneurs Interested In Building Things, Especially For Women

Won't this surprise you!  UC Berkeley graduates have founded more venture-backed companies than undergraduate alumni from any other university in the world, according to the 2024 PitchBook university rankings. 

Venture capital is paying attention to Berkeley-generated companies. And they claim they are just getting started.

Big note:  Berkeley was ranked first for female graduates who started businesses, first for female-founded companies and first for the amount of capital raised by women. 

“That UC Berkeley is No. 1 globally across five major categories, including three for female founders, shows how Berkeley continues to light the way, and we do so inclusively,” [Laura] Hassner [executive director of UC Berkeley Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Berkeley Changemaker] said.

Expand the Visibility of Female Founders

How much does culture and society play a role in keeping female entrepreneurs behind and what can we do to change this?

According to Entreprenista Founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer, in order to change this, we need to expand the visibility of successful women founders – which is the driving force behind our Entreprenista 100 awards. Telling these stories and highlighting these women will inspire the next generation.

We also need to rethink how we portray entrepreneurs and leaders – emphasizing qualities like creativity, empathy and collaboration rather than outdated masculine stereotypes. Founders in our community are making billions of dollars in revenue collectively, and they’re wearing pink while they do it. 

Learn more from Cartin and Spritzer – their biggest piece of advice to women considering entrepreneurship and what the perfect plan might reveal. 

Amsterdam-Based Women Entrepreneurs Are a Force to Reckon With

Women across the globe are starting businesses in record numbers. They have busted borders, broken through stereotypes and are bringing about progressive changes in the business ecosystem.

According to data released late last year (2021) by the Dutch chamber of commerce – KVK, the number of female entrepreneurs in the Netherlands increased by 29 per cent in the past five years.

However, women are still facing challenges on their way to entrepreneurship, but their hunger for success has made them cross all roadblocks and lead their businesses.

Here are 9 Amsterdam-based female founders that are running their startups solo. 

Women Entrepreneurs Are Stepping Up to the Plate With Personal Investments in Startups

While raising money is still hard for almost every entrepreneur, there's a growing sense that it's getting easier for women at long last.

Notably, women entrepreneurs are stepping up to the plate: In a survey of 279 U.S. women entrepreneurs conducted jointly by Inc. and Fast Company, a surprising 42 percent say that in addition to running their own companies, they make personal investments in startups. On the flip side, of those who have raised outside capital, 38 percent said they specifically sought out female investors. 

As of November 2017, according to the Angel Capital Association, 22 percent of angels are female.

Read more about how more female founders are going from raising cash to backing other startups as angel investors.

Photo screenshot of ThirdLove's founders.

Support for Female Entrepreneurs From Around the World

Eighteen (18) startups from around the world, will join Blackbox for the Spring 2015 Female Founders Edition (held in Palo Alto from April 27 - May 8, 2015) program.  Check it out here.  It's great to see support for female entrepreneurs from around the world!

Quick backstory:

Blackbox, the Silicon Valley accelerator dedicated to leveling the playing field for global startups, today announced their first-ever program comprised exclusively of women founders. Blackbox Connect Female Founders Edition is committed to helping women gain access to Silicon Valley resources and funding networks, and is powered by Google for Entrepreneurs.

Screenshot courtesy:  Blackbox