Issue 4 Vol I
August 2012

Turning Passion into Opportunity

Maya combined her love of writing children's books with her technology background to create Memetales, a platform for publishers and an e-book reader for kids. Her journey to entrepreneurship demonstrates how following a dream or passion can lead to opportunity and independence. After over a decade in corporate life, Maya decided to take a break. Unable to stay idle, Maya wrote children's stories that her sister illustrated. When time came to publish these stories, she discovered that the publishing world had become broken and that publishing her books the traditional way would be difficult. Using her technological skills, she launched a website and then a reading app that lets kids read these stories on their electronic devices. “Today, the mission of Memetales is to always innovate to get the best children’s stories to children in the most engaging and innovative ways, while making it viable and profitable for the creative individuals who create the stories.”
Learn More About Maya Bisineer >>

Women in Innovation Summit -  September 22, 2012, Seattle, WA
Learn More wins2012.com

SXSW ECO - October 3-5, 2012, Austin, TX
Learn more sxsweco.com/about

Start Something Women's Business Conference (NAWBO) - October 4-5, Louisville, KY
Learn more at nawbo.org

Camp Experience October 12-14, 2012, Keystone, CO
Learn more at campexperience.com

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In our Focus on Solutions Series roundtable in Boston, we brought together entrepreneurs and investors from the Boston area to discuss best practices for entrepreneurs seeking funding. Part of our insightful discussion centered on how entrepreneurs should prepare for their pitch to investors. Below, we have highlighted the steps involved the preparation of your pitch.For the complete article, click on the Read More link at the end of this blurb.

Gain exposure by placing yourself in the entrepreneur/investor ecosystem.
One of women’s unique strengths is their ability to network and weave relationships together. Use this ability to get your name and your credentials out into the entrepreneurial world.

Create the Perfect Pitch
a. Be conservative about your earnings potential. Create a very clear business plan with a very clear value proposition, so that the people on the other side of the table will understand what you’re trying to accomplish and when. Then try to be fiscally conservative in your earnings potential.
b. On the flip side, don’t be too conservative when selling your vision. People often get so fixated on demonstrating a conservative plan and on not overselling their vision that they pitch something too small.
c. Pitch the big vision. Then show you understand your weaknesses and the business’s risks. Speak to how you are going to address your limitations and eliminate or at least reducing the risk.

Practice Your Pitch.
Find an expert investor who is not interested in investing in your company but is willing to work with you on your pitch. Approach her or him without the aim of getting money, only the goal of getting advice. If you take money off the table, the investor may be more willing to mentor and work with you.

Keep going back.
Think of ‘no’ as ‘not right now.’ Persistence is the hallmark of an entrepreneur. Sometimes the person you speak with today may say no now but then will invest in you three years from now.

Read the entire article >>

During the four Focus on Solutions roundtables we asked the entrepreneurs and investors what they thought women entrepreneurs did well and what they needed to improve upon.
Check out what they said >>