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What Our Stakeholders Have to Say About Springboard
Our Alumnae:
"Thank you for the good wishes! Springboard is a key part of our success since it is where we met up with DCM, the VC firm that invested in the Company early on. Without Springboard and the opportunity that it generated for us, we would not be where we are today!"
--Kathleen Chien, 51Job, Silicon Valley 2000
"Springboard is a gift to be sincerely and deeply appreciated. We are incredibly fortunate to have a dedicated group generously giving their time to help women prepare themselves and their companies for the rigors of venture financing"
— Helen Maslocka, MedCool Inc., New England, 2003
"I'm sure you have heard this over and over but the Springboard process has been one of the most incredible experiences for our business to date. Not only were we educated beyond most measures for practically free, had the
wonderful opportunity of meeting and being helped by so many supporters, but then as a finale, were able to present to the largest gathering of VC groups I've seen."
— Margy Ronning, Handsignal, Mid-West 2001 Presenter
— Aprile Pilon, Claragen, Mid-Atlantic 2000 Presenter
"Infraworks [now Pinion Software] is going to be a huge success and Springboard will be a big part of the reason why."
— Joyce Durst, Pinion Software, Southwest 2002 Presenter
"Sprpingboard helped us successfully travel a path towards growth and stability with valuable input and connections at each stage in the company's growth." - Cheryl M. Zimmerman, Far Sounder Inc, New England 2002 Presenter
“Springboard has been a tremendous resource for me and the companies I’ve founded. I
continue to receive invaluable advice and counsel.” – Lauren Flanagan, SCIO Corp. Silicon Valley 2000 Presenter
“Springboard was literally the launch pad for ClairVoyante. Each and every institutional investor that participated in our first round of financing was an attendee at Springboard. I doubt we could have gotten financing without our participation in the Springboard process” – Candice Brown Elliott, ClairVoyante Laboratories, Inc. , Silicon Valley 2001 Presenter
“Presenting at Springboard was an amazing experience. In one setting, it put me in contact with more investors and other entrepreneurs than I could have been in touch with in six months on my own.” – Sara Frankel, BestSelf (SV2000)
"In addition to receiving several qualified inquiries a few days before Springboard, I am very pleased to say that we were truly overwhelmed by the positive response of your attendees to our company and services. We met with at least 7 VC's with genuine interest in pursuing talks to invest in our company. The number and quality of contacts we made would have taken a tremendous amount of time and effort to cultivate while also providing us with some potential new business partners and future vendor tie ins. We would wholeheartedly recommend Springboard events to others -- in both the entrepreneurial and investment communities." – Fay Wood, SatisFusion (MW2001)
“Springboard provided me with a strong network of resources. The coaching and support system is unparalleled in today’s environment for women entrepreneurs and I would strongly encourage women entrepreneurs to participate.” -Kathryn Huber, Market Insite Group (SV2001)
“Any one of the many services that Springboard provides can be of value to an early stage entrepreneur. But it is when you put it all together: the breath of its programs and the caliber of the team that drives this
organization, that you really appreciate how unique Springboard is as an organization.” - Juanita Lott, Bridgestream (SV2000)
“Participating in Springboard was a career high point for me; it challenged me personally and professionally. I believe Springboard boosted my confidence and sharpened my presentation style. The resources offered
were absolutely amazing.”
– Rosemary O’Neill, Infopop Corp. (SV 2001)
“Since its beginnings, Springboard has offered women entrepreneurs the opportunity to profile their high tech companies to an audience many of us would never be able to reach on our own.” – Gerri Sinclair, Ncompass Labs, Inc. (SV2000)
“Springboard was an incredibly valuable experience, not only for the investor contacts and the opportunity to sharpen my presentation, but also for the chance to share my challenges and learn from a peer group of
accomplished women CEOs.”
– Patti White, Inovise Medical, Inc. Silicon Valley Presenter
“I definitely count my Springboard experience as having a major impact. The people I’ve met through Springboard still serve as my advocates, consultants, and champions.” – Diane Hessan, Communispace Corporation, New England Presenter
Our Partners and Affiliates
“Springboard is the only national organization dedicated to accelerating the movement of women-owned businesses into the venture markets. The organization goes beyond “match making” and prepares both the women entrepreneurs and the investors to be most effective in working together. Springboard is transforming entrepreneurial opportunities for women. As a result, women-led businesses are achieving their full potential as an economic force, our economy
is healthier and our society is richer.” – Sharon Hadary, Center For Women's
Business Research
The Investors
"Springboard is a great source of deal flow for our fund. We met iRobot, maker of the award-winning Roomba Robotic FloorVac, at Springboard last year and led its $13 million financing round." - Trident Ventures
"Springboard was one of the most successful and positive outcomes of the merger of entrepreneurship and the private equity explosion of the late 1990's and has had an enduring effect not only on women led businesses but also the entire venture infrastructure as well." --John May, co-founder of the Dinner Clubs and co-author, "Every Business Needs an Angel"
"Once Again I was quite struck by the quality of the entrepreneurs, the thoroughness of the presentations, and the attractiveness of the investment opportunities...these are the deals that I do not ordinarily see." -- Michael Greeley, IDG Ventures
"This is about money changing hands. It is about the opportunity for many of you to be investing and it is the opportunity for these wonderful entrepreneurs to earn and return to those investors." — Myra Hart, Harvard Business School/ Angel Investor
The Sponsors
“Congratulations on putting together a wildly successful [forum]. All of us at McKinsey were proud to be a part of such a first class event.... Thanks again, for your support of our coaching activities and
the recognition you gave us throughout the event."
"Congratulations on a successful alumnae caucus. What a great reminder that success isn't always measured in numbers but in impact. Hats off to you all for the great ideas and hard work!"