We built Stella Foundation on the belief that women entrepreneurs deserved better resources to launch and scale, more rigorous & practical education to thrive and more access to capital to gain funds. Our collective efforts only strengthened our mission and clarified our vision to “get to even” by building a conSTELLAtion of collaborators, community builders, exceptional founders and the funders who invest in them. I am personally beyond proud as the founder of Stella of the journey we have been on, the lives we have touched, the companies we have served and the impact we have made. It’s all of us working together in unison to make the magic happen.
The last 12 months we have been busy rebuilding and expanding our galaxy of support:
Our CEO, Flossie Hall, and COO, Kara Smith, have built a team of 9-strong to continue to build operational support to continue our impact
Philanthropists like The Impact Seat Foundation and more recommitted their support of our goals and vision to continue growing programming and engaging our stakeholders through our virtual community
Corporate partners like Cooley and more continued to sponsor our access to capital events like the Women’s Fast Pitch, Women’s Venture Summit and the Oxytocin tour
Our community platform reached nearly 1,000 members who engaged in 8 monthly masterclasses, 20 virtual coworking sessions, hundreds of 1-on-1 and group mentoring sessions with our 200+ mentor network and 100+ introductions were made to investors, experts and industry leaders for entrepreneurs to thrive in their actionable goals.
We encourage entrepreneurs & investors to be spectacularly Stella-r. For entrepreneurs, be resolute in standing by the blessings you provide to your customers. This demands the courage to make hard impactful choices as building blocks contributing to the foundation of your vision for your business. The entrepreneurial journey is a testament to your courage, resilience, and the belief that your products and services make a huge impact. For investors, keep on funding deserving, determined and gritty founders who are making this world a better place through their innovations. Build trust through transparency and reciprocity with other values-aligned investors who will walk the mindful investor journey with you.
For Stella, the future is so bright. Even though Q4 2022 and 2023 were THE hardest era for us as an organization over our 12-year history, we had to rebirth from the ashes of difficult tactical decisions that had to be made and strategic direction that had to be pivoted. We are more driven than ever to continue the good fight for economic equality for diverse women entrepreneurs and support the growing number of women investors as they focus on their own wealth impact collectively. We are a strong conSTELLAtion, watch us thrive!
Stella’s Mission is to inspire, equip, and propel diverse female founders to successfully launch, grow, and sustain their businesses while cultivating a thriving network of investors to increase equality for women-led startups. Founded in 2012, Stella connects women founders and investors to the right resources–at the right time–in their journey. From ideation to funding to exit, women founders and investors look to Stella for its powerful constellation of support comprising an inclusive community, courses, access to capital events, advisory services, and funding opportunities.
To Get To Even: Equal representation of female founders and funders across the venture table.
50%+ OF COMMUNITY ARE FIRSTTIME BUSINESS OWNERS
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The stars have aligned.
Our inclusive constellation is comprised of over 10,000 women who converge with a shared purpose: to uplift, empower, and advocate for one another fostering collaboration among female founders and funders alike. The free digital community, provides a safe space for women from diverse backgrounds and industries to exchange insights, share resources, and offer guidance to one another, transcending geographic boundaries and providing meaningful connections. Through mentorship, networking events, masterclasses, and education, Stella champions inclusivity and equality, striving to level the playing field for women in entrepreneurship.
1K+ MEMBERS
300+ EDUCATION MODULES
100+ HOURS OF VIDEO
Scan to join our community
69+ WORKSHEETS
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HOSTS INCLUDED:
Justin RenfroCameron Rogers
Karen DeschainePatrick Phelan
HOSTED BY STELLA STAFF
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HOSTED BY STELLA STAFF
Our founders, whom 97% identify as female, come from all walks of life. Showing more than half are married, while 51% of our members have children.
Stella's founders are highly educated; over 35% hold a 4year degree with nearly an additional 50% holding a Master’s Degree or higher.. Members cite that their number one need is access to capital and financial support.
Stella serves communities worldwide, with a special interest in underserved communities. It meets women in their own "backyards" via virtual and in-person programming.
Our Stella members have various entities but traditionally come to us with support for their LLC, transition to C-Corp, or existing C-Corp.
As Stella supports founders at all stages, the companies in the Stella ecosystem are traditionally just starting out with no employees or are scaling and in search of funding with 1-5 employees.
Between business and personal lives, female founders historically experience heavy demands on their time and schedules which means they lack the bandwidth or resources to attend in-person trainings.
The majority of entrepreneurial support programs are focused on large cities, leaving suburban and rural areas pulling for options that fit them where they are. Stella’s community consists of nearly 50% suburban and rural demographics collectively, which is why we strive to build accessible, nationwide offerings.
Project + Time Management
Project Management
Time Management + Goal Setting
People Operations + Wellness
Cultivating Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Work
Imposter Syndrome: What it is and How to Overcome it
Employee Health and Wellness
Employee Ethics
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Resiliency
Stress Management
Mentorship
Communication and Empathy
Sales
Customer Discovery
Buyer Personas
Sales Leadership Leadership Leadership Ethics
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Entrepreneurship
Getting Started
Legal
Financial
Marketing
Operations + Leadership
Pitching
Marketing
Business Branding
Buyer Personas
Marketing 101
Marketing Analytics
Email Marketing 101
Introduction to Digital Marketing
SEO
Social Media Marketing 101
Social Media Marketing 201
Website Marketing
Product Marketing
Pitching Lab
8 modules offered prior to access to capital events
Launched in 2015, YLAI is an annual exchange program sponsored by the US Department of State that empowers emerging business and social entrepreneurs from across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. 280 young business and social entrepreneurs from 37 countries are matched with businesses and organizations across the United States.
Stella was proud to partner with YLAI for the 4th year, welcoming two incredible founders, Diana and Marcela. They joined alongside our accelerator program, gaining 1:1 and group mentorship from Stella's founder, executive team, and network of mentors. Besides the two fellows assigned to Stella, 11 other fellows from the YLAI program were welcomed in and took advantage of Stella’s office hours.
Sponsored by the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the American Councils for International Education Russian Business Leader provides promising young professionals from Russia with the opportunity to gain practical experience in and exposure to innovation ecosystems. Participants are placed in intensive 5–6-week fellowships in non-profit organizations, private sector businesses, and government offices across the United States for an individually tailored professional development experience.
In 2023, with the goal of launching a global startup in the field of travel and active leisure, Stella Foundation hosted Elizaveta Grazhdaninova, an American Councils for International Education Russian Business Leader fellow. During her time with Stella, Elizaveta immersed herself in the world of California startups, utilized the opportunity to meet and work with Russian founders from other cities, and learned invaluable skills to amplify her startup.
Marcela works in the Education sector at Fundación Escuela Taller de Tumaco, leading as a cultural manager in the education and culture sector. Coming into the YLAI Fellowship, Marcela’s top business challenge was finance. Through the fellowship, she improved her management skills, learned strategies, gained experience and grew connections with other organizations.
Diana is the co-founder and Executive Director of Diversa, an organization that supports Latin American communities in addressing their technological and productivity challenges through co-creation and local innovation. Through the fellowship, she sought to continue expanding her contributions to collaboration between universities and society, catalyzing innovation in Latin American territories.
As a Product Manager and Founder of Arabian Sun Tours, Elizaveta launched an agency providing outdoor activities services in Dubai, partnering with service providers, setting up a website, marketing and sales. She gained valuable experience in e-commerce, traveltech, and entrepreneurship.
Stella’s ConSTELLAtion hosts 2 annual residency programs to serve our founder and funder communities: an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program and an Angels-inResidence (AIR) program.
The EIR program serves as a dynamic incubator for seasoned entrepreneurs to share their expertise, mentor emerging startups, and explore new ventures. By embedding themselves within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, Stella’s EIRs foster a culture of creativity, resilience, and knowledge exchange, fueling the growth and success of the next generation of disruptors and innovators.
The Angel-in-Residence program is a valuable initiative designed to nurture and empower aspiring angel investors as they navigate the complexities of early-stage investing. The program provides a structured framework for participants to gain handson experience, refine their investment strategies, and build meaningful connections within the startup ecosystem through mentorship from seasoned angel investors, educational workshops, and access to deal flow.
Working as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) with Stella has been an incredibly enriching experience for me. The sense of community and the bond with fellow founders have been truly amazing. Being part of this supportive network allowed me to connect with experienced mentors who have guided me through various challenges, offering invaluable insights and wisdom. What sets Stella apart is the opportunity to share my own journey and personal experiences with other founders, fostering deep connections that go beyond just business relationships. The connections I've made here are genuine, and I believe they will last a lifetime, serving as a strong foundation for growth and success in my entrepreneurial journey. FLIP
Being an EIR for Stella has been a tremendously rewarding experience. The women in the cohorts are incredible business leaders and creative thinkers who are hungry for knowledge and growth. The EIR program has allowed me to share my knowledge while continuing to grow my business and be supported by the Stella Community. For anyone looking to give back to women in business, Stella is the perfect place for volunteering, investing, and growing your female entrepreneurs community.
Stella Labs is an accelerator program that serves to propel early-stage startups to success by providing them with a 16-week, tailored program aimed at rapid growth and development. Run by Stella’s industry experts and a team of seasoned mentor subject matter experts, Stella Labs offers a structured curriculum encompassing education, 1:1 and group mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities. The culminating live pitch event, Demo Day, attracts over 100 attendees per cohort resulting in a prize package for the top pitch.
By compressing years of learning into a few months, the program empowers founders to overcome imposter syndrome and challenges, seize opportunities, and scale their ventures more efficiently, ultimately contributing to the vibrant ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship. 1 COHORT
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Jen Athanacio SageSpace
Demo Day Winner
Pitched at Small Business Summit Series: Capital Connections hosted by Hello Alice
April Caldwell fayVen
$20K from Warrior Rising bizjournals.com 23 Tampa Bay
Startups to Watch in 2023 Spectrum News 9 feature
Rebecca Smith
Thrifty
$20K from Warrior Rising
Lianne Dobson
Gemini Naturals
Fearless Fund
BeautyMatter NEXT
Summit grant recipient
Military Families Magazine feature
Devon Keakulina DeAngelo, Landng Inc.: Our primary goal upon joining the Stella Labs Accelerator was to enhance our network of trusted advisors. Stella facilitated valuable connections with top professionals spanning the realms of technology, law, finance, graphic design, and beyond. If you're a female-led startup in its early stages, look no further than Stella Labs; it's the program you've been looking for. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Stella team for their unwavering support!
Jen Athanacio - SageSpace: It's difficult to put into words how much Stella Labs has meant to me. As an early-stage founder, I was like a baby deer new to the world of entrepreneurship. In a few short months with the extensive curriculum library, weekly calls, and countless mentor meetings, I have a completed pitch deck, launched my brand's social media, and have a path to continued success toward my MVP. SageSpace wouldn't be able to launch next month without the support and guidance from Stella Labs.
Lisa McCarthy - Affirmations Mirror: I am grateful for Stella and the accelerator! They walk with you through so much of what you need, to be prepared to pitch to investors, or whatever your business needs. The knowledge you gain will take you that much closer to your dreams coming true. If you are thinking of applying....Do it, you won't regret it!
Patty Berg - The Wishing Tree Company: Stella Labs is the most comprehensive and actionable program anywhere for women entrepreneurs. It goes far beyond the fundamentals with rich resources and valuable connections to light the way forward.
Ellen Stone - Tiny Home Central: Being part of Stella Labs has been transformational for me and my startup. As an entrepreneur, on good days, there is a never-ending list of tasks that keep me on a treadmill. On the challenging days, the risk of getting frozen by overwhelming because of how much there was to do was seriously real. Stella has given me the confidence and strategic tools to organize, strategize, and level up to the next stage of my business. Thank you, Stella!
Stella’s mentors play a pivotal role in supporting our community on their journey towards success. Seasoned professionals and often successful entrepreneurs themselves, provide invaluable guidance, wisdom, and support to the emerging business leaders. Through regular meetings, workshops, and one-on-one sessions, our community receives strategic advice, business refinement, and strategic connections to assist in overcoming challenges. Beyond practical assistance, mentors also serve as sounding boards, offering encouragement and motivation during the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.
Vidya Dinamani Ad Astra Ventures + Product Rebels
Jaci Sander Stella Foundation
Kara Smith Stella Foundation
Anastasia Mikhalochkina Lean Orb
Sophia Babbitt How Women Lead
Flossie Hall Stella Foundation
Julius Alejandro Village Up San Diego
Elizabeth Arnold Flip App
Angie Schultz Opposable Thumbs Marketing
Silvia Mah She Invests, Stella Foundation
Amy Tilson-Lumetta Stella Foundation
Karen Deschaine Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Stella Angels is our exclusive, vibrant network of active accredited investors who review deals together, conduct due diligence, and invests in women-owned, earlystage startup founders to grow the women’s economy.
Our minimum check size is $5K for SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) and increases depending on investor interest. Since we are not a fund, all of our angels choose to participate on a deal-by-deal basis.
November 30th, 2023
Intimate meet and greet with guests from California, Washington, Florida, Colorado, and New York.
The main goals of Stella conferences are to boost female founders' access to capital and to grow the number of female investors who invest in female-led startups. Each summer, Women's Fast Pitch selects 26 underrepresented founders for a chance to win a $10k investment. Stella's signature annual event, Women's Venture Summit, has been attended by nearly 7,000 attendees over ten years.
WBENC
Team Retreat in San Diego
43N Finals - Buffalo
LG Innovation Fest
Hello Alice Meet the Media
NY Tech Week
DC Startup Week
US Chamber Small Business Summit, DC
University of Buffalo
Pitch Workshop
Nasdaq CDFI Panel
Buffalo Startup Week
Show Her the Money
Premiere in NYC
Oxytocin Tour is Stella’s road trip across America! Aptly named after a hormone that triggers feelings of love, protection, empathy, and trust, the Oxytocin Tour allowed us to meet and serve new women across the U.S.and invite them into our network.
As a national organization, we make a goal to visit cities that represent clusters within the conSTELLAtion. Founders and investors alike are invited to contribute to these one-day events filled with thought leadership from our community partners, Stella programming, and community-building to support local engagement in Women’s Fast Pitch and Women’s Venture Summit.
The 2023 tour included Nashville, TN; Buffalo, NY; New York City; Washington, DC; and San Francisco, CA with 2024 plans set for Los Angeles, CA; Rochester, NY; New York City; Pittsburgh, PA; and more!
Women’s Fast Pitch is a series of five regional access-to-capital events taking place across America. Finalists advance to compete at the Women’s Venture Summit for a $10K investment. Women’s Fast Pitch receives over 150 applicants to fill 26 spots (5 per region plus an audience-choice wild card). Twenty investor judges ask questions and provide commentary during the live-streamed Women’s Fast Pitch virtual series each summer.
Stella’s annual Women’s Venture Summit is an unmatched event that builds bridges between female founders and investors (including aspiring investors!).
Now in its 11th year, the goals of the conference are to boost female founders’ access to capital and to grow the number of female and male investors who invest in femaleled startups. Women’s Venture Summit is one effort that has helped Stella facilitate $200+ million in fundraising dollars for women-led companies! We’ve created an immersive two-day experience that will inspire, empower and equip you to become a changemaker who makes giant leaps for womankind.
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The Stella Summit far exceeded my expectations. I wish it was a 5-day boot camp, to be honest! So much information to digest in a short period of time, however, it worked into my schedule perfectly!
Angela DouglasThis event was one of the highlights of my 2023. It was an AWESOME event where I really got to connect (as in, truly connect) with female founders and investors. I'm very grateful for all of you putting this together and can't wait for this year's event!
Andrea Stephany
Did you know that less than 5% of venture capital in the United States goes to companies with female, Black, and Latino CEOs? Founder's of Color Showcase aims to change this! Five BIPOC-led startups from across the United States took the opportunity to pitch in front of 200 impact-driven investors in-person in Las Vegas, NV for a chance at funding. Meet the startups who were named finalists in the 2023 Founders of Color Showcase co-hosted by Stella alongside a coalition/network of investors advocating for more capital to get into the hands of deserving diverse founders. Since its inception, this event spurred nearly $1.2+ million in investments to BIPOC-led startups.
Scan to view our 2023 Women's Venture Summit Impact Report
Our sponsors play a pivotal role in contributing to the trajectory Stella. Beyond financial assistance, sponsors provide invaluable mentorship, guidance, and access to networks that are often crucial for female entrepreneurs navigating traditionally male-dominated industries. By investing in Stella, sponsors not only contribute to their immediate development but also foster a culture of inclusivity and empowerment within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Stella collaborates with more than 40 funds, 16 community partners, and 12 corporate sponsors who share the organization's mission of helping increase the number of women who launch, scale, and grow their businesses.
Stella counts on its partners to amplify its message and fiscally support its mission of creating equal opportunities for women in business.
Scan to view the 2024 Stella Prospectus
Help them carry forth their own initiatives for women and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Provide a conSTELLAtion of support to founders and investors in the startup ecosystem.
Do meaningful, challenging work year-round; the kind of work it takes to effect positive change for women across the globe.
Impressions: 60k
Posts Reach: 26k
Press release pickup
Featured Women’s Fast Pitch Finalists
Impressions: 86k Posts Reach: 43k
Event announcement at top of Daily Business Report
Featured Women’s Fast Pitch Finalists
Impressions: 102k Users Reached: 44k
Website feature
Featured Women’s Fast Pitch Finalist, Debbie Dickinson
Televised segment
Sept. 28, 2023
Featured Stella's CEO Flossie Hall and Women’s Fast Pitch Finalists, Julie Gordon White, CEO MenoWell, and Debbie Dickinson, Co-Founder & CEO Thermaband.
900,000
San Diego adults 18+ each week BROADCAST REACH
Silvia Mah
Founder & President
Managing Partner,
Andrea Giralt
Board Director
Executive VP Manufacturing and Supply Chain, Vessel Health
Anna Diaz
Board Director
Hydrostasis
Principal, Dowling & Yahnke
Stella CEO, Flossie Hall, was named a finalist for San Diego Business Journal’s CEO of the Year Award.
To support a pivot into a national spotlight, 2023 was a year of strategic hires for Stella ensuring that the company has the right talent in place to capitalize on opportunities, drive innovation, build a strong remote culture, and contribute to long-term goals.
Expand our educational offerings to include investor-specific offerings.
Continue collaborating with global partners to maintain and expand a cohesive support ecosystem for female founders.
Launch Alumni program for Stella Labs accelerator.
Continue to obtain mass media exposure for our members to elevate their businesses, products, and services.
Continue to blaze trails, create pathways, and increase opportunities for funding for female founders.
Continue our Advocacy work toward Legislative Change.
Continue to add discounted resources and perks to support our founders in business.
We are proud of the work we have done over the last decade and are grateful to those who support the fight for equality for women across the venture table. As we continue to expand our offerings globally, we will continue to lean on our incredible ecosystem of participants, team members, and partners to make it all happen.
Our eleventh year is shaping up to be our best yet as we expand Stella’s national presence. We cannot wait to show you what's in store for 2024. As women, we are truly stronger together, shoulder to shoulder.
Host our annual Women's Fast Pitch & host the 11th anniversary of our annual Women's Venture Summit.
Host in-person events to create access and nurture opportunities for both founders and investors.
Graduate our second EIR cohort and usher in our third cohort.
Host two additional Stella Labs cohorts with completion at Demo Day.
Host 3 additional Stella Angel events.
Prepare Stella Angels membership for 2025 launch.
Expand Stella’s national presence.
Stella is a true conSTELLAtion. We could not do the work that we do without the support of our corporate and community partners, our fearless team, our board of advisors, and our founders. We want to give a special thank you to the following:
Our Stella Team, who put in the work, day in and day out, supporting founders and funders side by side. Our team is the lifeblood of the work Stella does. For women, by women.
Our Community Partners, who support Stella in all that we do, and together, we work to bridge the gaps needed for female founders globally.
Our Donors & Sponsors, without whom none of our work here at Stella would be possible. As a 501(c)3, we lean on incredible donations to support the work, provide the services and keep us running. We thank YOU truly.
Our conSTELLAtion of members, founders, and investors. Thank you for trusting Stella as your guidepost. We promise to continue to serve you with educational content, programs, events, services, and a team dedicated to your success. We will not let you down. We will continue to fight for you, with and alongside you, shoulder to shoulder.
we thank you for your continued support in our programs
