Google Encouraging More Women-Led Startups

ByTodd R. Weiss, eWeek, 06-03-2014

Todd R. Weiss

Todd R. Weissv

Google is committing $1 million to 40 groups that work with technology and other startups to encourage them to find ways to bring more women into businesses that are beginning from the ground up.

Google is giving $1 million to 40 global organizations that work with startup companies to encourage them to find ways to bring more women into the fields of business and technology.

The program, called #40 Forward, aims to increase the number of women working within the communities served by the global startup-focused organizations by 25 percent in 2014, according to a March 5 post by Bridgette Sexton Beam, Google's global entrepreneurship manager, on the Google Official Blog.

"In an effort to find new ways to advance female entrepreneurs, this week Google for Entrepreneurs is committing $1 million in aggregate to 40 startup-focused organizations, challenging them to increase the representation of women in their respective tech communities," wrote Beam. "From simply changing the times of events to accommodate busy moms to teaching young girls to see themselves as entrepreneurs, 40 of our partner communities will soon launch new programs and outreach initiatives to encourage women founders."

The #40Forward project will include participating organizations such as 1871 in Chicago, which is launching an accelerator program for women founded or co-founded companies that's more flexible and family-friendly, with a customized plan for each startup; Gaza Sky Geeks in Gaza, which is providing rewards for women attending startup events to demonstrate the economic value of them getting involved in tech to their families; Startup Grind chapters all over the world, which are hosting Women Take the Stage fireside chats featuring successful women business leaders in their communities; and Outbox in Uganda, which is launching a yearlong training to teach young women programming and entrepreneurial skills, according to Beam's post. - See more