The Pipeline Fellowship, the organization committed to changing the face of angel investing and creating capital for women social entrepreneurs at the local level, has added five new cities to its angel investing boot camp for women. Pipeline Fellowship’s expansion into Atlanta, Austin, Miami, Los Angeles, and Seattle comes after successful programs in San Francisco, New York City, and Boston.
Since its April 2011 launch, Pipeline Fellowship’s angel investing bootcamp has trained more than 80 women, who have committed more than $400,000 in investment.  Additionally, Pipeline Fellowship alumnae have continued to invest in startups, joined later stage angel networks, and created their own angel groups, unleashing capital beyond the Pipeline Fellowship investment commitment.
“Entrepreneurs are everywhere–capital isn’t,†says Pipeline Fellowship Founder and CEO Natalia Oberti Noguera. “We’re expanding Pipeline Fellowship’s angel investing boot camp for women after receiving many inquiries from local women–both entrepreneurs looking for capital and individuals interested in learning about angel investing,†she adds.
Pipeline Fellowship trains women to become angel investors through education, mentoring, and practice. Fellows must meet three criteria: one of the accredited investor definitions in the U.S. (i.e., $200,000 in income or $300,000 joint income with spouse for the past two years, or $1 million net worth not including a primary home), an interest in group learning model, and a passion for social entrepreneurship.
“Closing the access to angel funding by and for minorities and women in Atlanta is the final piece in the evolution of our city’s startup ecosystem,†asserts angel investor Rodney Sampson, founder of Opportunity UP/HUB/Ventures and executive in charge of Diversity & Inclusion for ABC Shark Tank, and One Three Media, Mark Burnett and Hearst Corporation’s joint media and production venture. “To this end, Opportunity Hub is pleased to host Pipeline Fellowship in its Atlanta co-working space. Pipeline complements our #BlackAngels’ mission to create more angels of color in an effort to increase the less than one percent of venture capital going to black-owned companies.â€
Natalie Madeira Cofield, CEO of Austin Black Chamber and founder of Walker’s Legacy adds that the “Pipeline Fellowship plays a pivotal role in supporting and cultivating the funding ecosystem for women entrepreneurs. As Austin continues to rise as a center for innovation and entrepreneurship, Pipeline Fellowship’s presence will help increase access to capital for local womenÂ-owned startups.â€
“As an angel investor for more than 16 years, I fully am encouraged by Pipeline’s launch in Seattle,†notes Susan Preston, general partner of CalCEF Clean Energy Angel Fund and SeattleÂ-based Pipeline Fellowship mentor. “Companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing have created a great pool of potential angel investors and I believe in Pipeline Fellowship’s ability to engage more women in the investing community.â€
Women entrepreneurs get to present at a Pipeline Fellowship Pitch Summit for a chance to secure funding in exchange for an equity stake. Each Pipeline Fellow commits to invest $5,000 in the same woman-led for-profit social venture at the end of the program.
Candidates interested in becoming Pipeline Fellows are encouraged to apply by Monday, June 2, 2014: http://pfapply.seamlessdocs.com/f/bootcamp