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Female founders struggle to raise capital. forbes Women-led startups reportedly received just 2.3% of venture capital funding in 2020.
Raechel Canipe, Director of Community Engagement at Synapse Florida, is no stranger to disappointing statistics. So she became a founder herself to help make a difference.
Canipe publicly announced the launch of her new organization, Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship (WTE), just before Christmas. She calls the venture “Labor of Love” and hopes it will become a vital resource for the burgeoning businesswomen throughout Tampa Bay.
“At every level, there is a problem with funding,” says Canipe. “I feel there is a definite need for organizations like this. We’re trying to resource people to have, or seek funding to accelerate and incubate the business.”
This group includes women in technology, entrepreneurship, economic development and industry support organizations. The aim, Canipe said, is to provide much-needed resources such as peer mentorship, hand-picked referrals to community leaders, and educational programs.
She began hosting smaller conferences in the fall, and by December’s fourth event, Canipe felt WTE had enough momentum for a digital launch. She will now expand her network and resources beyond grassroots organizing and “shoulder taps”.
Raechel Canipe (second from left), one of the first WTE meetings, who is also Director of Community Engagement for Synapse Florida.
Based in Tampa Bay, Canipe hopes to expand WTE across the state within the next year. She stressed the importance of members forming organizations for other members and said they would choose volunteer advocates in other areas to further increase their influence.
“To help implement programming and bring opportunities to connect face-to-face with other markets that are densely populated by women in tech,” added Canipe. “Like Orlando, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Miami.”
Canipe remembers when he started his career, so there are no WTE dues. She recalled that nominated professional bodies charged up to $500 for participation.
Canipe said he bootstrapped WTE in a “witty, lean” way. Her attorney can help her decide whether she should register as a non-profit organization or continue to run the organization as a labor of love in her free time.
Synapse is a Tampa-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Florida innovators and connecting them with investors, policy makers and other stakeholders. As her Director of Engagement at the non-profit community, Canipe has spent her days interacting with technical experts and watching the industry thrive.
“It’s important to me that everyone can be seated at that table,” she said. “And I think it will be beneficial for companies as well.
She believes WTE supports the business community by creating economic opportunities for those who may not have access to professional resources and by introducing them to talented women who want to solve problems.
In addition to the lack of funding for female founders, Canipe said there are barriers to even just starting a tech career and transitioning from mid-level positions to leadership roles.
Despite the challenges, Canipe said statistics show the positive impact of having female professionals at all levels of the organization. She said there is no denying that diversity can help companies increase their return on investment, improve employee culture and retention, and make better decisions.
“I really hope that by creating this group, we can expand on the amazing work that other organizations are already doing,” she said. Yes, women just don’t know where to start.”
Canipe (second from right) said her experience at the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce was invaluable to her work at Synapse and now WTE.
Canipe said he hoped to have the WTE conference in St. Petersburg by March, but said it would likely happen sooner. She encourages women to connect via her Slack channel at the organization while her website is being completed.
She said the group is geographically dispersed throughout Tampa Bay, but said there are a few other ways to join the organization virtually other than the monthly happy hour meetups.
The ultimate goal, according to Canipe, is to make Florida the most business-friendly environment for women. She also plans to create a talent pipeline of female professionals for the tech industry.
Canipe said other local technology leaders have offered to help with the mission and will deliver a “very robust and well-resourced program” by the first quarter of 2023. rice field.
“I’m a little surprised that there’s so much interest in what we’re trying to do,” added Canipe. “We have great people in our community. We are really lucky.”
For more information on Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship, visit this Slack channel or this LinkedIn page.
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