The Paley Center for Media in partnership with Springboard Enterprises
has announced a nationwide call for applications for ALLTHINGSMEDIA—the
first venture capital forum to showcase women-led media companies. This
unique forum offers women entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase their
businesses to an audience of angel, venture, and corporate investors.
The ALLTHINGSMEDIA Venture Capital Forum is a new project of the Paley
Center’s She Made It: Women Creating
Television and Radio initiative (shemadeit.org),
launched in 2005 to identify and recognize women who have made an
indelible mark on the world of media.
“Over the last three years, She Made It
has recognized the contributions of 150 remarkable women who’ve
broken boundaries in all aspects of the media, from the development of
content to the launch of major businesses,”
said Pat Mitchell, president and CEO of The Paley Center for Media. “With
ALLTHINGSMEDIA we’re looking to support women
in the industry in a new way, by helping them get access to the capital
and contacts they need to fuel exciting new businesses in all areas of
media.”
The launch of the ALLTHINGSMEDIA Venture Capital Forum was celebrated on
both coasts, with receptions at The Paley Center for Media in New York
on March 13 and at Sun Microsystems in Silicon Valley on March 20.
At the New York reception, Kay Koplovitz, Paley Center trustee and
chairman of venture-catalyst Springboard Enterprises, spoke about the
origins of the forum and their vision for the future of ALLTHINGSMEDIA.
“ALLTHINGSMEDIA brings together today’s
media leaders with the entrepreneurs who are working on the next
generation of media,” said Kay Koplovitz. “Together
these two groups will work toward a common goal: to promote the work of
talented women-led ventures in the media sector. Since its inception in
2000, Springboard has helped some 360 companies to raise over $4 billion
in growth capital to fuel their businesses; we look forward to helping
many more with ALLTHINGSMEDIA.”
At the Silicon Valley event, Sun Microsystems CEO and President Jonathan
Schwartz addressed an enthusiastic audience of entrepreneurs, digital
leaders, and media enthusiasts.
“We're proud to support the Paley Center and
applaud the launch of the ALLTHINGSMEDIA Forum and the exposure and
funding it will provide for women-owned businesses,”
said Shari Slate, chief diversity officer of Sun Microsystems.
ALLTHINGSMEDIA is open to media-sector businesses with a woman in a key
management position who holds a significant equity stake in the company.
Emerging media and entertainment businesses in all sectors are eligible,
including television, radio, print, digital media, mobile, video games,
search, social networking, e-commerce, online advertising, outdoor,
animation, software, and others. Further details and application forms
can be found online at: www.springboardenterprises.org/vcf/atm.
The deadline for applications is May 5, 2008.
Applications will be reviewed in May and June by the Forum Committee—which
includes such notable business leaders as David Eun, Vice President of
Content Partnerships, Google; Scott Kurnit, Chairman, Kurnit, Inc.;
Geraldine Laybourne, Founder, Oxygen Media; Alan J. Patricof, Managing
Director, Greycroft, LLC; Heidi Roizen, CEO, SkinnySongs; Jessica
Schell, VP, NBC Universal, Digital Media; and Ann Winblad, Cofounder &
Managing Director, Hummer Winblad Venture Partners. Successful
applicants will then attend coaching sessions led by experienced
business leaders to hone their presentations prior to the forum, which
will be held on October 30, 2008.
The partner sponsor of ALLTHINGSMEDIA is Maybach. The promoter sponsors
are: American Express, Covington & Burling LLP, Google, Merrill Lynch,
Mintz Levin, NBC Universal, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sun Microsystems,
and The Theodore & Renee Weiler Foundation. Supporters: MediaShare 3000
and SoftBank Capital.
Venture-Catalyst Springboard Enterprises is the go-to organization for
information about and support for emerging growth ventures led by women.
Springboard educates, showcases, and supports women entrepreneurs as
they seek equity capital and build their businesses. The 360 companies
that have been showcased at Springboard forums have raised over $4
billion in equity, grants, and corporate investments to date. (www.springboardenterprises.org)
The Paley Center for Media, with locations in New York and Los Angeles,
leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social
significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the
professional community and media-interested public. Drawing upon its
curatorial expertise, an international collection, and close
relationships with the leaders of the media community, the Paley Center
examines the intersections between media and society. The general public
can access the collection and participate in programs that explore and
celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the personalities, and the
leaders who are shaping media. Through the global programs of its Media
Council and International Council, the Paley Center also serves as a
neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and
debate about the evolving media landscape. Previously known as The
Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center was founded in 1975 by
William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry. For more
information, please visit www.paleycenter.org.
At the center of She Made It is a unique collection of television
and radio programming created by women. This landmark initiative is
creating a permanent record of the vital contributions female television
and radio creators and executives have made to our culture. Over 1,500
hours of programming have been collected to date, compiled both from the
Paley Center’s existing collection of more
than 140,000 programs and from new acquisitions. The She Made It
archives are available for viewing and listening at both Paley
Center locations in New York and Los Angeles. Public events highlighting
the work of leading women in the industry and an interactive website (www.shemadeit.org)
support this valuable collection.
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