TLDR:
- 78% of girls want to be entrepreneurs, but less than 2% of venture capital funding goes to female-only founded companies.
- Danya Herman, a 16-year-old aspiring business founder, created Future Girl Entrepreneurs to connect young creators with female mentors.
In a world where only 2% of venture capital funding goes to female-only founded companies, 16-year-old Danya Herman is making waves with her platform, Future Girl Entrepreneurs. Shocked by the statistics that show only 78% of girls aspire to be entrepreneurs, Danya created a space for young female creators to connect with experienced female mentors. The centerpiece of the platform is a contest for females aged 14-20, where they can submit business ideas and gain access to training on accessing capital. The winners receive mentorship from female VCs and entrepreneurs and have the chance to pitch to a panel of female VCs via Zoom.
Danya’s journey started at 12 when she developed a prototype for a room decorating app but pivoted to focus on teaching potential female business owners how to overcome barriers. She reached out to female entrepreneurs for mentorship and received support from industry leaders like Myra Hart, Maura Connor, and Maria Gotsch. Danya’s impact goes beyond local boundaries as she interned with Fen Ventures in Santiago, Chile, and gave a presentation in Spanish at a VC conference in Patagonia.
Despite her age, Danya’s passion and dedication to empowering young female entrepreneurs shine through. Her story is a testament to the importance of mentorship and support in breaking gender barriers in the business world.
