Women leaders shared their hard-earned knowledge about starting and investing in businesses at IN-AWE, a virtual event that brought together innovators and entrepreneurs from throughout the state.
Inspirational speeches, sobering statistics, and real-life stories about finding funding were highlighted during the gathering, with a laser focus on women investors and women-owned companies.
The struggle to raise capital is real, Linda Olson, founder and CEO of Tampa Bay Wave, told the 370 people who watched on Zoom. Companies led by women raise less than 2 percent of the nation’s venture capital annually and those led by women of color raise a fraction of 1 percent. The problem is exacerbated in Florida, where all startups raise less than 2 percent of the total venture capital…