Entrepreneur

Plum Alley sponsored this post by giving me credit to their online store. However, as someone in the start-up space, this is something near and dear to my heart and I would have written about it with or without it being sponsored. 

Plum Alley has been a destination for online shopping, but that’s just one part of a much bigger picture. They want you to realize your potential and achieve your dreams. Why am I writing about this? Because I want to see people achieve their dreams. I want them to shoot for the moon. To live their life to the fullest, and not looking back to say “if only.”

“If only” is a phrase on the tip of too many tongues, that’s where Plum Alley is helping. How? By crowdfunding.

What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding takes the power of the people and channels it into financial support for Innovative projects. Funders donate for rewards, appreciation or simply to see a project they love come to fruition.

Plum Alley Crowdfunding will enable women creators and entrepreneurs to raise money for their innovations, increasing access to capital. This is important not only for the women involved but to spur innovation overall, creating jobs and growth in our economy. The fact is that women entrepreneurs receive less than 15% of all early stage capital, even though they represent half of the companies founded. Plum Alley exists to change that.

Plum Alley brings to light women’s innovation, whether it takes the form of a product, project or service. Women are inventing across all sectors and we provide an integrated platform to optimize their success by raising funds, providing access to experts, and serving as an online store.

• Commerce: Plum Alley features women entrepreneurs and a curated selection of their products, ranging widely from accessories to home goods to services. We showcase offerings that represent substance and discipline in creation and beauty. To nominate a women entrepreneur or female founded company for Plum Alley, please fill out this form
• Crowdfunding: Plum Alley provides women entrepreneurs and innovators a way to raise money from a broad base of people. Crowdfunding is an efficient and inexpensive way to fundraise, and is a way to increase women’s access to capital. Products funded on Plum Alley crowdfunding can be subsequently sold using our commerce features. Our crowdfunding platform will be live September 2013. To submit a project, please fill out this form.
• Experts: Plum Alley is also providing a seamless way to connect women innovators and expert advisors. Plum Alley’s panel of experts will represent various fields and areas of business needed for success.

When I sit back and think about women receive less than 15% of all early stage capital, I’m not shocked, sadly. What I am is more determined women know about all the options available to them and there are options for them to find the funding they might need as entrepreneurs.

When a woman’s business is successful, she creates her own wealth. Through her creation of wealth, her family and community also receive the economic benefit. Successful women entrepreneurs have the economic power to invest in new women-owned companies and also inspire other women to found their own businesses. Plum Alley’s goal is to facilitate this positive economic cycle.