As venture funding for women dips below 2% amid political and economic uncertainty, San Diego’s Women’s Venture Summit (WVS) returns this September to deliver the message that the path forward is being built by women themselves.
From September 23–25, the Stella Foundation will host the 12th annual Summit, convening founders, investors, and advocates for three days of programming designed to accelerate women’s access to capital. Since its inception, WVS has facilitated more than $250 million in funding for women-led ventures, a track record that underscores this year’s theme, Building Boldly. Resources are shrinking, but women entrepreneurs continue to rise.
A Platform for Capital and Change
Keynote speakers underscore the Summit’s mix of capital, culture, and leadership. Lauren B. Leichtman, Co-Founder of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners and the world’s first woman private equity billionaire, will reflect on scaling both wealth and impact. Cindy Gallop, founder of MakeLoveNotPorn, brings her unapologetic voice on equity and inclusion. Vlada Bortnik, CEO and Co-Founder of Marco Polo, will share lessons from building purpose-driven technology at scale. Andrea Holland, executive coach and strategist, will round out the lineup with insights on leading through high-stakes moments.
But WVS is more than a speaker series. Workshops will dig into alternative capital pathways for founders, syndicate structures for investors, and practical financial tools for both sides of the table. Curated meetups and networking lounges create rare opportunities for first-time investors to connect with fund managers, and for founders to get face time with decision-makers.
“In a year where political and economic headwinds are dismantling resources, funding, and programs for women, we’re choosing to do the opposite,” said Flossie Hall, CEO of the Stella Foundation. “Women’s Venture Summit doubles down on women, providing the capital, connections, and knowledge they need to get funded. This summit isn’t just an event, it’s a bold response to the moment we’re in.”
Spotlight on Innovation: Women’s Fast Pitch
One of the most anticipated events each year is the Women’s Fast Pitch, a national competition spotlighting innovative women-led startups. Regional competitions have narrowed the field to five winners, plus one wildcard, who will compete live in San Diego for more than $50,000 in grants, investments, and in-kind support.
The semifinalists reflect both the breadth of women’s innovation and the urgency of the problems they are tackling. In Cambridge, Massachusetts, Erin Dawicki developed LymeAlert, the first at-home tick testing kit that delivers results in under 20 minutes, offering peace of mind to families, pet owners, and outdoor workers who might otherwise face weeks of uncertainty. In Baltimore, pediatric emergency physician Dr. Therese Canares founded CurieDx, which turns a smartphone into a diagnostic tool for conditions like strep throat and pink eye. By reducing unnecessary antibiotics and enabling at-home testing, her company is pushing the boundaries of telehealth.
In Minnesota, Clare Richards created Impacks, which has already partnered with hundreds of schools to provide customizable supply kits that simplify back-to-school shopping and give back to communities. On the West Coast, Berkeley-based founder Ashley Keyes is tackling the inefficiencies of renting with Rely, a platform that uses a digital “renter passport” and AI-powered tools to reduce fraud and increase transparency between landlords and tenants.
In Ojai, California, Cindy Convery is addressing healthy aging with PureWild Co., a life sciences nutrition company producing marine collagen products backed by clinical research to improve joint health and bone density. And in San Diego, physician Andrea Munoz has reimagined one of the most outdated tools in women’s healthcare. Her company, MVI Medical, created the Rosa Spec, a patented pelvic exam device designed to reduce pain, trauma, and exam time.
“The women selected for this year’s Fast Pitch are pushing boundaries and solving real-world problems with vision, grit and innovation,” said Hall. Past participants have gone on to secure venture funding, national media coverage, and acquisitions, making Fast Pitch a launchpad as much as a competition.
Momentum Amid Headwinds
The broader context for WVS is sobering. Despite women founding businesses at record rates, venture capital for all-female founding teams fell below 2% in 2024. Political shifts and economic tightening have further strained support systems for women entrepreneurs.
Yet WVS has proven impact: since its inception, the Summit has facilitated more than $250 million in capital for women-led ventures. It is supported this year by The Impact Seat Foundation, Comcast Lift Labs, Cooley LLP, Holland & Knight LLP, and She Invests, reflecting a coalition committed to rewriting the rules of venture.
Dr. Silvia Mah, Founder and Chair of the Board of the Stella Foundation, frames it this way: “When women invest in women, we create exponential impact. WVS is the catalyst where innovation, capital, and purpose intersect, and where the cycle of empowerment truly accelerates.”
A Rallying Point
The Women’s Venture Summit arrives at a critical inflection point. On one side are structural barriers, such as shrinking resources, entrenched bias, and political volatility. On the other is a growing network of women founders and investors, determined to chart a new course.
By combining capital access, community, and the bold ideas of entrepreneurs like this year’s Fast Pitch semifinalists, WVS 2025 is positioning itself not only as a conference, but as a rallying point for a movement.
For women founders and investors seeking momentum, San Diego in late September is where the future of venture will be debated, contested, and, if the organizers have their way, rebuilt. Women entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners can still purchase tickets to the Summit.
