The Startup Ladies help minority-owned businesses find board members

Think about pouring your heart and soul, plus hours of work, into founding a company. After accomplishing that, you have to find people with connections and experience to fill your advisory board.

If you’re starting from scratch, how do you find experienced executives who can share resources, give advice and connect you to funders?

The Startup Ladies is launching Project Boardup to connect businesses owned by women, Black and LGBTQ+ founders with experienced businesspeople who can fill their boards.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation gave The Startup Ladies a $40,000 grant to make it happen. Project Boardup will work with Indy Black Chamber of Commerce and the Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce.

If you want to be one of the first entrepreneurs to join the program, fill out this survey. There’s a survey for executives who want to serve on boards, as well.

The idea for the program started when Kristen Cooper, CEO of The Startup Ladies, wrote about how to be a good advisory board member in the Indianapolis Business Journal. She got dozens of emails, and business executives sent her resumes so she could connect them with startups.

In 2023, women received about 3% of the $107 billion invested in startups worldwide. Black women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs, but receive even less funding.

The program will start with an online portal where people can apply and go through training. Then, they will identify and train the advisors on the challenges minority-owned businesses face. Entrepreneurs who want to get involved will learn how to pick a board, then the program will match founders and board members.

Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.

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