Colleen D Egan

The Josephine Collective is a women-led group of angel investors co-investing small amounts (as little as $1,000 per deal) in early-stage startups across the United States. We help make angel investing accessible for all, but we are especially focused on helping women and people of color diversify their strategies and ease into a part of the investment world that can generate incredible returns. We do this by using a unique structure that allows us to invest in high potential startups with the lowest possible fee structure. For Investors Unlike an angel syndicate or venture fund, investors do not give the Josephine Collective funding to invest. Instead, we meet founders, learn about their visions, their market opportunities, their guiding principles and present them to our group of investors who individually decide whether they want to participate in an investment. When there is enough interest to meet the minimum check size, we make an investment in the startup, coming on as a single line on the cap table. This allows the Josephine Collective to: Access hot deals that individual investors may not be able to reach on their own. Protects founders from having too many investors on their cap tables (which creates both legal and financial burdens on both sides). Keep our operating costs very low, as we do not have to spend thousands on special purpose vehicles for each deal. Join our Angel Group For Founders We are a group of at least 51% women investors and people of color, bringing unique personal, professional, and funding perspectives to each deal we consider. For founders who care about representation on their cap tables, we are an excellent partner. But we’re more than just money. Many of our angels are founders, seasoned startup employees, service providers, and industry veterans with deep domain expertise to help connect you with the mentorship, talent, and potential customers you need to grow.

The Women in Entrepreneurship Institute (WEI) is the nation’s first comprehensive Institute for women founders. Launched in July 2018, the Institute supports women entrepreneurs through academic research and programs as well as initiatives that invest in the success and sustainability of women-owned businesses.

The Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC) is a 501(c)(6) member-driven nonprofit that harnesses the power of research and innovation to expand and enrich the states economy. Created by the State of Illinois 30+ years ago, ISTC forges public-private partnerships among industry, research institutions, federal labs, and government to increase investments in research and technology, develop talent, promote awareness and policies, and drive job growth in Illinois. As the only organization representing the full range of science and technology activity in Illinois, the mission of the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition is to cultivate innovation and technology-based economic development in Illinois. The ISTC serves as an impartial convener and broker around federal grant opportunities and other partnerships, catalyzes new initiatives that fill gaps in Illinois​ research and innovation pipeline, and champions the states tech economy through advocacy and data-driven reporting. In 2012, ISTC created its 501c3 affiliated organization, the Illinois Science and Technology Institute (ISTI) which set out to bridge the gap between classroom content and real world context by providing structured programs that connect students with mentors in a professional capacity. Two educational programs grew from this charge. The STEM Challenge program launched with an aim at high dosage, high impact mentorship. Through our STEM Challenge program, we partner Illinois high schools with the states most innovative companies over 4-6 months to explore, create, and build solutions to authentic industry problems. The Mentor Matching Engine operates as both a virtual platform and a program for independent student research. MME focuses on skills-based volunteering and matches mentors with students based on the mentors’ professional expertise. Two new pilot include The 6 x 3 Project and Teacher Externships, the first formal program of its kind in Illinois

The Josephine Collective is a women-led group of angel investors co-investing small amounts (as little as $1,000 per deal) in early-stage startups across the United States. We help make angel investing accessible for all, but we are especially focused on helping women and people of color diversify their strategies and ease into a part of the investment world that can generate incredible returns. We do this by using a unique structure that allows us to invest in high potential startups with the lowest possible fee structure. For Investors Unlike an angel syndicate or venture fund, investors do not give the Josephine Collective funding to invest. Instead, we meet founders, learn about their visions, their market opportunities, their guiding principles and present them to our group of investors who individually decide whether they want to participate in an investment. When there is enough interest to meet the minimum check size, we make an investment in the startup, coming on as a single line on the cap table. This allows the Josephine Collective to: Access hot deals that individual investors may not be able to reach on their own. Protects founders from having too many investors on their cap tables (which creates both legal and financial burdens on both sides). Keep our operating costs very low, as we do not have to spend thousands on special purpose vehicles for each deal. Join our Angel Group For Founders We are a group of at least 51% women investors and people of color, bringing unique personal, professional, and funding perspectives to each deal we consider. For founders who care about representation on their cap tables, we are an excellent partner. But we’re more than just money. Many of our angels are founders, seasoned startup employees, service providers, and industry veterans with deep domain expertise to help connect you with the mentorship, talent, and potential customers you need to grow.

GET Cities existed to increase the power and influence of historically excluded people in tech with a focus on gender so that the industry reflects and addresses the needs of all lived experiences.

DePaul’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center is a partner to DePaul Universitys nationally ranked academic entrepreneurship program in the Driehaus College of Business. The Center serves as an entrepreneurial hub for DePaul students, faculty and alumni, as well as the broader Chicago business community. As an integral part of the​ Chicago entrepreneurship ecosystem, the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center advise​s, inspires, and connects student entrepreneurs from many backgrounds and interests. We’re the place where: - Students can find real-world guidance in starting or growing a business - Chicago-area startups and other companies can find employees and interns - Seasoned entrepreneurs can connect with students to advise and mentor them as they launch new ventures Our programs and events are designed for students from throughout the university, and many are open to DePaul alumni as well as the wider Chicago business community.

The Women in Entrepreneurship Institute (WEI) is the nation’s first comprehensive Institute for women founders. Launched in July 2018, the Institute supports women entrepreneurs through academic research and programs as well as initiatives that invest in the success and sustainability of women-owned businesses.