The WICxTOP100 B2B Founder Spotlight Campaign Is Launched: Helping Women Tech Founders Navigate Financial Chaos & Economic Turbulence

As a women tech founder, I have been experiencing the effects of the current financial chaos caused by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Many investors are hesitant to invest, customers are freezing their spends, and it’s becoming increasingly challenging for women tech founders to make ends meet. Unfortunately, women founders have been hit particularly hard by this economic turmoil. However, there is hope amidst all this chaos, as president of Women In Cloud organization, we launched the WICxTOP100 B2B Founder Spotlight campaign to inspire and help women tech founders build their Cloud brand, engage with investors and customers, and invest in their go-to-market strategy.

According to a recent report by Pitchbook, in the first quarter of 2022, the number of VC deals globally has dropped by 9.4% compared to the same period in 2021. The report also highlights that the amount of VC investment has declined by 23.9% YoY. This data paints a grim picture for women tech founders who are already underrepresented in the startup ecosystem.

However, the WICxTOP100 B2B Founder Spotlight campaign is a powerful initiative that aims to help women tech founders navigate this challenging time. Here are some ways in which this campaign is helping women tech founders combat the financial chaos:

1. Brand Building: The campaign provides women tech founders with an opportunity to showcase their brand as a B2B cloud-ready solution. This exposure can help women tech founders to stand out in a crowded market and attract more customers and investors.
2. Investor and Customer Engagement: The campaign provides an opportunity for women tech founders to engage with investors and customers through a variety of PR and branding activities. According to a recent study by McKinsey, companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 25% more likely to have above-average profitability than those in the bottom quartile. This data highlights the importance of gender diversity and inclusion in driving business success.
3. Access to World Class Coaching by Industry Leaders: The campaign provides women tech founders with coaching and mentoring opportunities offered by industry leaders from Accenture, Avanade, Insight, and other top firms. This coaching can help women tech founders refine their product, optimize their market fit, and ultimately grow their business.
4. Invitations to Cloud Hyperscaler Programs: The campaign offers red carpet access to Cloud Hyperscalers GTM programs such as Microsoft’s Buildfor2030, Google’s Innovator Program, and Avanade’s IWD Hackathon, which can help women tech founders to network with industry leaders and potentially secure partnerships with some of the biggest players in the industry.
5. Support: The WICxTOP100 B2B Founder Spotlight campaign is a community of women tech founders who support and uplift each other during these challenging times.

As a women tech founder, I am thrilled to see the WIC organization launch this powerful initiative to help women tech founders navigate the financial chaos caused by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. By participating in this campaign, women tech founders can take their brand to the next level, engage with investors and customers, invest in their go-to-market strategy, and ultimately grow their business.

According to a report by Boston Consulting Group, companies founded or co-founded by women receive less than half of the amount of funding as those founded by men. This disparity is even more significant for women of color, who receive just 0.2% of VC funding. It’s clear that the startup ecosystem has a long way to go in terms of gender diversity and inclusion. However, campaigns like the WICxTOP100 B2B Founder Spotlight are helping to level the playing field for women tech founders.