Panasonic’s Women Connect Group Enriches Experience of Women

According to a Pew Research Center survey, 75 percent of women believe greater change is needed to achieve gender equality in the workplace, compared to 57 percent of their male counterparts. To address the increasing concern about gender equality, major corporations are taking a closer look at their hiring practices and employee resources to promote diversity and inclusion. In an effort to raise awareness at Panasonic Corporation of North America, the company supported the launch of Women Connect, a business impact group to enrich the experience of women within the company. The mission of the group includes fostering inclusion and diversity, career building and demonstrating benefits to recruiting, retention and business development. Membership has grown to over 300 since its inception last year; there are even a few male members. This month, the group will celebrate its 1 year-anniversary. Continue reading Panasonic’s Women Connect Group Enriches Experience of Women

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The 21 hottest women-founded startups to watch in 2017

There has never been a better time to be a woman in the startup world.

There’s no denying we have a long way to go. After all, venture capital firms are made up of mostly men, and some continue to suggest that women aren’t cut out for the tech world at all. And way more VC money is offered to male founders than women.

But more and more women are building multimillion-dollar startups, and venture firms like Forerunner Ventures, BBG Ventures, and Female Founders Fund all focus on companies founded by women.

It’s paying off. 2016 saw female founders launch innovative companies and raise millions to help them grow, while startups in their second or third year of life began gaining ground.

And 2017 will likely be even bigger. Here are some of the most exciting women-run companies to keep an eye on in the coming year.

Parachute wants to make a comfy night’s sleep affordable.

What is it: Parachute is changing how you buy one thing you use every day: your sheets. It produces high-quality bedding from a factory in Italy and then sells it through its website and one store at its headquarters in Venice Beach, California. Parachute bedding has gained a bit of a cult following, and now co-living startups are even advertising that they have Parachute sheets.

Every time a customer buys a set of its Venice line, the company donates a mosquito net to help kids in Africa sleep safer.

Founded: 2014 by Ariel Kaye

Funding: $10.3 million from Upfront Ventures, Joanne Wilson, QueensBridge Venture Partners, and Structure Partners, among others.


Laurel & Wolf connects interior designers with people who want to give their homes an affordable makeover.

Laurel & Wolf connects interior designers with people who want to give their homes an affordable makeover.

What is it: Laurel & Wolf wants to take advantage of a Pinterest-obsessed generation and make it easy and affordable to design your dream home. People searching for a new look can take a survey about their style, upload pictures and information about the space, and post their project. Typically, three to five designers respond with their ideas, so you don’t have to settle on one from the start.

Founded: 2014 by Leura Fine and Brandon Kleinman

Funding: $26.6 million from Benchmark, Charles River Ventures, Tim Draper, and others.


Maven lets you video chat with doctors.

Maven lets you video chat with doctors.

What is it: Maven is a women’s health app that connects you with doctors via video chat, allowing you to ask questions, receive advice, and get prescriptions. Maven was founded by Kate Ryder, who came up with the idea for the app when she was working at a venture capital fund in London. Ryder noticed that her friends were getting pregnant and receiving a lot of misinformation or having trouble finding the right doctor.

Users can connect with doctors, nurse practitioners, and mental health experts through the app.

Founded: 2014 by Kate Ryder

Funding: $4.5 million from Female Founders Fund, Grand Central Tech, BoxGroup, and others.

Read the complete list of start ups on Business Insider.

LinkedIn
The Best Advice 11 Inspiring Women In Tech Would Give To Their College Selves

By: Natalie Au

“You’re not even an engineer — why are you so involved in the movement to advance women in tech?” This is a question I’ve been asked multiple times since starting the Hong Kong chapter of the global nonprofit Girls in Tech earlier this year. The answer is simple: I’m not an engineer, true, but what I am is an advocate for gender equality and sustainable development across different issues and industries in the world. Continue reading The Best Advice 11 Inspiring Women In Tech Would Give To Their College Selves

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Ever Thought About Owning Your Own Franchise?

Nothing lasts forever. Hot brands in franchising don’t stay hot forever. New brands are always entering the marketplace. New ideas for products and services are introduced every year. Some of these new franchise concepts end up succeeding–exploding even. Some of them fade away soon after they’re launched. But, even the hot ones eventually lose their fire. Keep that fact in mind as you’re searching for a franchise you’d like to own. Continue reading Ever Thought About Owning Your Own Franchise?

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ALDI

Leidos

Alight

Alight
 

Robert Half