Explore your journey and chart your path as a woman founder.
MARCH 28th, 2022
#KSWELIxDTV
The inaugural Dream to Venture event took place on March 28th, 2022, where over 340 students and community members joined us in-person and virtually for an evening filled with inspiring content shining a spotlight on what it means to be a FoundHER by exploring the journey and path to becoming a woman in entrepreneurship.
Attendees heard from those whose entrepreneurial dreams came to life to create a venture, saw women founders take the stage to pitch their ventures, then became a judge to learn more about the entrepreneurial journey and pitching process.
Dream to Venture strives to dismantle barriers that women entrepreneurs face, instill confidence in young women to become their own bosses and connect them with the greater Austin startup network.
“The DTV event was an absolute inspiration. Seeing women of all ages, in all different stages of life, pitch solutions to world problems was exhilarating. It reminded me that you are never too young or ever too old to change the world around you. My favorite part was the juxtaposition of a professor pitching her idea to a student walking straight on stage from class to pitch her idea. We all have the ability to be experts and to be learners!”
– Caroline Crawford, AB
“I felt so inspired, I dedicated a portion of my week to do entrepreneurial work”
– Katelyn Roy, SB
This wasn’t like any other pitch competition – not only did the audience get to vote and choose who wins a brand new Dell XPS Laptop as Dell Technologies Crowd Choice winner, we placed attendees in the judges seat!
We provided behind-the-scenes insight and resources so attendees could learn to see pitching through the eyes of a judge to create or innovate their next pitch.
Congratulations to the winners
$10,000 grand prize winners:
Clocr + Hera Biotech
Dell Technologies Crowd Choice Award Winner
Psykhe
“I was blown away by the pitches on Monday. It was almost like live Shark Tank, the spectrum of pitches was very broad. It was incredible to see the different ideas on campus.”
– Esme Aguliar, SC
DEE POKU
Founder & CEO, The WIE Suite
JULIA CHEEK
CEO and Founder of Everly Health
JULIANNE HOUGH
Emmy Award-winner, Entertainer, Producer, and Entrepreneur
KENDRA SCOTT
Founder & Designer, Kendra Scott + Professor of Practice, UT Austin
KELLY Steckleberg
CFO of Zoom Video Communications
LIZ MATTHEWS
Senior Vice President of Dell Technologies Global Brand & Creative
INGRID VILLARREAL ’23
Student Advisory Board President-Elect, FoundHER Cohort 2020
RASHU JAIN ’22
Student Advisory Board President, FoundHER Cohort 2020
SAMANTHA BRYANT ’21
Student Advisory Board President (2020-2021), Alumni Advisory Board Member
LESLEY ROBINSON
Founding Director, KS WELI
ASHLEY RAYMOND ’20, ’22
FoundHER Program Coordinator, FoundHER Cohort 2020
Meet members of our Student Advisory Board and Alumni Advisory Board who work behind the scenes to make KS WELI programs & events happen.
Our mission is to strengthen the next generation of courageous, creative women leaders who will change the world – in business and beyond.
EVENT PARTNERS
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
We’re excited to bring you Dream to Venture and all its curated content for FREE with the help of our generous sponsors. If you believe in our mission and want to ensure we empower the next generation of women founders, consider donating today.
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Empowering women to lead.
Encouraging the world to follow.
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