Author: Kristen Otto

Equalize is a pitch competition designed to take national action around the disparity of women academic inventors forming university startups. Applications for the 2022 virtual mentor program and in-person event (to be held in St. Louis, Missouri on June 30, 2022) are due November 10, 2021. Share your enthusiasm and help us recruit the 2022 […]

Equalize pitchers will share their entrepreneurial journeys live on Clubhouse August 25. >> Join us!

Equalize pitchers will share their entrepreneurial journeys live on Clubhouse August 17. >> Join us!

The AIM-HI Accelerator Fund’s Women’s Venture Competition is a first-of-its-kind program that provides funding, coaching and networking opportunities to women-led oncology start-ups. Subject to due diligence and negotiation, the winning company of 2021 Women’s Venture Competition will receive a total of $1 million in investment from AIM-HI and co-investors. Learn more: aim-hiaccelerator.org/womens-venture-competition

Tara Butler, a venture capitalist in medical devices and diagnostics, will mentor Anjelica Gonzalez of Yale University. Wayne Embree of Rev 1 Ventures will mentor Susann Brady-Kalnay, Case Western Reserve University. Entrepreneurial biotech company executive Anil Goyal will mentor Hong Chen, Washington University in St. Louis. Elise Miller Hoffman, General Partner at Cultivation Capital, will […]

Event Date Applications Due November 10, 2021   Application Review November 11 — 19, 2021   Finalists Interviews November 22 — December 3, 2021   Pitchers & Mentors Announced* December 17, 2021   January 2022 1st Mentor/Pitcher Meeting   February 2022 2nd Mentor/Pitcher Meeting   March 2022 3rd Mentor/Pitcher Meeting   April 2022 4th Mentor/Pitcher […]

Julie Cherrington, a Life Science Executive, will mentor Ruchi Gupta of Northwestern University. Karen Hong of Novo Ventures will mentor Angelique Bordey, Yale University. Nancy Hong of RiverVest Venture Partners will mentor Ashley Brown, North Carolina State University. Jay Lichter of Avalon Ventures will mentor Moshmi Bhattacharya, Rutgers University. Jay Parrish of Arch Ventures will mentor Sylvie […]

Equalize is a virtual mentor program and pitch competition designed to take national action around the disparity of women academic inventors forming university startups. Twelve women academic entrepreneurs were selected for the Equalize 2021 cohort. Mentorship and educational sessions begin in March, and the program will culminate with a virtual pitch competition on September 22, […]

Applications for the 2021 cohort closed January 31. Finalists will be notified by February 12. 32 Applications21 Universities20 States + 1 International University of Wisconsin University of South Alabama University of Nebraska University of Minnesota University of Michigan University of Kentucky* University of Iowa University of Gothenburg University of Arkansas University of California – Davis […]

Pitch applicants were invited to attend an information session before applications are due January 31. Panelists included 2020 pitchers and concluded with an open Q&A session. Tuesday, January 268 a.m. PST / 10 a.m. CST / 11 a.m. ESTZoom Webinar Recording

Equalize 2021 is a pitch competition designed to take national action around the disparity of women academic inventors forming university startups. Share your participation with your network using graphics listed by platform below. “I’ll be there!” Graphics Instagram (.jpg) Twitter (.jpg) LinkedIn (.jpg) Facebook (.jpg) Mentor Graphics Instagram (.jpg) Twitter (.jpg) LinkedIn (.jpg) Facebook (.jpg) […]

Pitch applicants are invited to attend an information session before applications are due January 31. Panelists include 2020 pitchers and will conclude with an open Q&A session. Tuesday, January 268 a.m. PST / 10 a.m. CST / 11 a.m. ESTZoom Webinar Recording

Equalize is a virtual mentor program and pitch competition designed to take national action around the disparity of women academic inventors forming university startups. This mentorship and education program culminates in a one-day virtual pitch event on September 22, 2021. Applications are due Sunday, January 31, 2021. The program selects, coaches, and promotes academic women inventors with startup technologies […]

Equalize is a virtual mentor program and pitch competition designed to take national action around the disparity of women academic inventors forming university startups. This mentorship and education program culminates in a one-day virtual pitch event on September 22, 2021. Applications are due December 31, 2020. The program selects, coaches, and promotes academic women inventors with startup technologies […]

Equalize 2021 is a pitch competition designed to take national action around the disparity of women academic inventors forming university startups. Flyer (.pdf) Flyer (.jpg) Share your excitement around this event by posting on your social media channels. Equalize Graphics  Icon (.jpg) Logo (.jpg) 1200×628 (.jpg) 1080×1080 (.jpg) 1920×1080 (.jpg) “I’ll be there!” Graphics Instagram […]

People’s Choice Awards Diagnostics & Medical Devices: Kacey Marra, University of Pittsburgh Therapeutics: Judith Sebolt-Leopold, University of Michigan Overall Winners by Judge Voting Diagnostics & Medical Devices: Sunyoung Kim, Louisiana State University School of Medicine & Health Sciences Center Therapeutics: Sandhya Kortagere, Drexel University >> Watch full event via YouTube.

Dennemeyer is a proud sponsor of Equalize 2020. Read more about their commitment to women innovators via their IP Blog, Dennemeyer Insights. Answers provided by Victoria Friedman (pictured) Managing Partner, Dennemeyer & Associates Q: What is your advice for a woman researcher who does not see herself as an inventor? A: Give yourself the permission to […]

A sincere thank you to our dedicated sponsors who continued to support Equalize 2020 despite the cancellation of our symposium and pitch event in St. Louis, Mo. Presenting Sponsor Additional Sponsors REGISTER TO ATTEND ZOOM WEBINAR — JUNE 25   ‘Proud Sponsor’ Graphics FacebookLinkedInTwitter

Due to travel limitations and social distancing requirements of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Equalize will move to a virtual platform. Keynote speech by Elizabeth Dougherty, USPTO, will kick off Equalize 2020 pitch competition. Twelve women will pitch, 10 minutes each Welcome reception, symposium and awards dinner are all cancelled. Please register to receive Zoom […]

Friday, May 22 is the registration deadline to attend the Equalize 2020 morning symposium, afternoon pitch competition and awards dinner. At this time (Monday, March 9), we are not cancelling Equalize 2020. We are, however, working on contingency plans. We realize it is hard to plan travel due to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, Equalize 2020 registration is open.

In fall 2019, 12 pitch finalists were selected from 57 applicants. Seven applicants who were not chosen to pitch will attend Equalize 2020 as Equalize Visiting Entrepreneurs. These seven women will attend the symposium and pitch competition, private kick-off gathering and unique networking opportunities throughout the event. Registration fees have been waived for these entrepreneurs.   […]

Therapeutics Session  Jay Parrish of Vir Biotechnology, Inc. will mentor Barbara Ehrlich, Yale University.Technology: A new target for treatment of Wolfram Syndrome Nancy Hong of RiverVest Venture Partners will mentor Yiping Han, Columbia University.Technology: Novel therapeutics to treat familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) Jay Lichter of Avalon Ventures will mentor Sandhya Kortagere, Drexel University.Technology: A disease […]

Twelve finalists were selected from 57 applicants. Equalize 2020 will run two, parallel pitch sessions: Diagnostics & Medical Devices and Therapeutics.  >> Download flyer (.pdf) Diagnostics & Medical Devices Session Reetuparna DasUniversity of MichiganStartup: SequalTechnology:Ultra-rapid molecular diagnosis of cancer Melanie JoyUniversity of ColoradoStartup: Katharos, Inc.Technology: Extracorporeal device for optimizingphosphate control in hemodialysis Sunyoung KimLouisiana State […]

With overwhelming response for the event’s first year, applications for the 2020 cohort closed November 15, 2019. Finalists will be notified by January 3, 2020. 57 Applications 45 Startups 36 Universities 21 States *indicates multiple applicants Boston University Case Western Reserve University Columbia University Drexel University* Harvard University Johns Hopkins University Louisiana State University School […]

Due to minor technical errors, the application will remain open ONE MORE DAY until Noon CST November 18, 2019. >> Apply to pitch.

Washington U launches pitch competition to support women entrepreneurs — techtransfercentral.com By Jesse Schwartz There’s a new pitch competition launching in St. Louis next year to support academic women entrepreneurs, a group that is significantly underrepresented in the commercialization universe. Hosted by Washington University in St. Louis and branded as “Equalize 2020,” the competition will […]

It’s no secret that there’s an enormous funding and support gap between startups founded by men and women. According to PitchBook, companies founded solely by women only received 2.3% of the total capital invested in venture-backed American startups last year. Washington University in St. Louis is committed to supporting faculty, students and staff wherever they are on […]

Elizabeth Dougherty, Eastern Regional Outreach Director at the United States Patent & Trademark Office will present “The State of Women Inventors in America.” Register to Meet us in St. Louis! Then, share ‘Meet me in St.Louis’ image via social media: > LinkedIn > Twitter > Facebook

Polsinelli is an Am Law 100 firm with more than 875 attorneys in 21 offices nationwide. Recognized by legal research firm BTI Consulting as one of the top firms for excellent client service and client relationships, the firm’s attorneys provide value through practical legal counsel infused with business insight, and focus on health care, financial […]

Registration is open and filling up fast! If you are coming to St. Louis June 24-25, 2020, please share your excitement on social media to spread the word about this new event. Facebook “I’ll be there” graphic (.jpg) Linkedin “I’ll be there” graphic (.jpg) Twitter “I’ll be there” graphic (.jpg)  

Equalize 2020 is a pitch competition and symposium designed to take national action around the disparity of women academic inventors forming university startups. We’re thrilled to partner with Osage University Partners to address this need. As speakers, panelists and pitch participants are announced, we will feature them here. Please share your excitement around this event […]