Women’s Venture Summit Expands Opportunities for Female Founders
News related to:Women's Venture Summit · 2 min read
SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES, October 28, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Women’s Venture Summit, now in its 13th year, is returning to San Diego from November 2 to 5, 2026, with a focus on providing expanded pathways to capital for women entrepreneurs.
This year, the summit introduces new investment opportunities through partnerships with Wefunder, Kiva, and Women in Cloud. Among the highlights is the Women’s Fast Pitch competition, where seven finalists will vie for a growth package valued at more than $55,000. The package includes $25,000 in legal services from Cooley, at least $10,000 investment by two female angel investors, Lex Lewis from Here We Rise and Dr. Silvia Mah of She Invests Capital, $10,000 in marketing support from Maresa Friedman, $10,000 in advisory services from Dr. Silvia Mah, and a company spotlight through Marble Collective.
The summit also features the Women in Cloud’s Frontier Tech Meets Capital event, which will showcase five companies working at the intersection of AI, robotics, energy, health, and blockchain. Investors will have the opportunity to engage in detailed presentations and discussions, gaining confidence to invest in these innovative ventures.
Additionally, the summit will host a Kiva crowdfunding activation, providing two San Diego-based entrepreneurs, Regina King of Soul Scent and Maria-Nicole Marino of Panic Panties, with the chance to pursue crowdfunded loans.
The Women’s Venture Summit has a long history of facilitating capital for women-led businesses, having helped activate more than $200 million in funding since its inception. With women projected to control $34 trillion in U.S. investable assets by 2030, the summit is positioning itself as a key player in turning wealth into meaningful investment and impact.
Ahead of the summit, a virtual Angel Academy will be held on October 29, offering Investing 101 and 102 sessions for both aspiring and experienced investors. Supported by Tidal River Fund and She Invests, the program will feature Dr. Silvia Mah and Chris Gelnow.
The summit will take place at the Cooley campus in La Jolla, San Diego, and is sponsored by The Impact Seat Foundation, Cooley, San Diego Imperial County Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Holland & Knight, First Citizens Bank, Bennett Thrasher CPA, Tidal River Fund, Bizz Bitch, SVAR Accounting & Consulting Solutions, Marble Collective, Edward Jones, Nordstrom, Events.com, Rose Bowlus Law, Red Admiral Ventures, Snell & Wilmer, Foley Hoag, HVM Communications, Knobbe Martens, EyePop.ai, Halogen Ventures, Rising Tide Partners, and Kieretsu Forum Socal.
Women-owned businesses face a significant $1.9 trillion financing gap, according to the International Finance Corporation. The summit’s commitment to providing diverse funding opportunities and building relationships between investors and entrepreneurs is crucial in closing this gap.