This article is sponsored by Arlington Economic Development’s Business Investment Group.
According to Crunchbase, since 2018, Arlington-based companies have generated approximately 200 venture capital and merger and acquisition deals totaling over $15.7 billion.
These deals span several industries, including software, fintech, cleantech, big data, AI and cybersecurity.
Unfortunately, the landscape of venture capital remains starkly imbalanced — both inside and outside of Arlington — with women founders notably marginalized in the funding arena. Recognizing this disparity, Arlington Economic Development (AED) forged a strategic partnership with Citrine Angels, a leading angel investing organization in the mid-Atlantic region committed exclusively to championing women-led ventures.
Together, they unveiled the “Elevate Your Venture: Arlington Female Founder Series,” a concerted effort to redress the gender gap in entrepreneurial funding. View 7News On Your Side coverage of this partnership.
The series kicked off on March 5 with the “Is Venture Funding Right For You” event at Northeastern University’s Arlington campus. It was standing-room-only as entrepreneurs and investors packed the space to hear leading fund managers provide valuable insights on the pros and cons of accepting venture capital.
Amidst the lively discussions, panelists tackled the fundamental question of what it takes for a venture to be considered “hackable,” highlighting crucial factors to contemplate before pursuing funding from venture capital firms. Notably, it emerged that most businesses do not meet the criteria for venture funding, with only about 3% eligible to pitch to angel investors and venture capital firms. View 7News On Your Side coverage of
This statistic is a sobering reminder that venture capital is not the sole yardstick of success; many Fortune 500 companies have thrived without venture funding. Key takeaways and the event presentation can be reviewed here.
Building on the knowledge shared during the first event, the series continues on May 22 with “Getting Venture Ready — What Does It Mean and How Do You Get There?” at the National Landing Experience Center. This free event will feature discussions on topics ranging from finding and evaluating investors to crafting a persuasive pitch.
If you are interested in participating in this event, register today.
If you are interested in learning more about AED’s support of entrepreneurs and the wider business community, encompassing a diverse range of programs, strategic partnerships and more, please visit the Arlington Economic Development website.
