Rebecca Hart

One of the driving goals of Next Wave Impact is to increase diversity in angel investing and high growth entrepreneurship. Our first pilot programs sought to narrow the gender gap in angel investing by providing nearly 200 women a unique learning opportunity that allowed them to build a diversified portfolio of investments, receive mentoring by women who are experienced angel investors, and an education & training program around angel investing. We completed two pilot programs: a US program in partnership with Portfolia and Go Beyond Investing and a Europe program in partnership with Go Beyond Investing and the European Business Angel Network. The Angel Capital Association also partnered with us on the education and training piece, which was supported by the Kauffman Foundation. Second funds are now underway in both the US and Europe. We have also set up a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, the Next Wave Foundation, which will focus on building out the education and training programs, as well as a global network of women investors and entrepreneurs (and the men who support them). The Next Wave Network is a global movement to increase women’s participation in angel investing as an asset class. It has been developed to provide an enriching investment experience; including an investment portfolio in start-ups, an education of the investment process, and the development of a global angel community of successful business women across the US, Europe, Africa,Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.

One of the driving goals of Next Wave Impact is to increase diversity in angel investing and high growth entrepreneurship. Our first pilot programs sought to narrow the gender gap in angel investing by providing nearly 200 women a unique learning opportunity that allowed them to build a diversified portfolio of investments, receive mentoring by women who are experienced angel investors, and an education & training program around angel investing. We completed two pilot programs: a US program in partnership with Portfolia and Go Beyond Investing and a Europe program in partnership with Go Beyond Investing and the European Business Angel Network. The Angel Capital Association also partnered with us on the education and training piece, which was supported by the Kauffman Foundation. Second funds are now underway in both the US and Europe. We have also set up a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, the Next Wave Foundation, which will focus on building out the education and training programs, as well as a global network of women investors and entrepreneurs (and the men who support them). The Next Wave Network is a global movement to increase women’s participation in angel investing as an asset class. It has been developed to provide an enriching investment experience; including an investment portfolio in start-ups, an education of the investment process, and the development of a global angel community of successful business women across the US, Europe, Africa,Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is the leading professional organization serving the communications community through a network of more than 400 professional and student chapters in the U.S., Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Puerto Rico. Guided by its Code of Ethics, PRSA empowers its members to succeed at every stage of their careers through a wide breadth of premium professional development programs, exclusive networking events and leadership opportunities. Signature events include the Anvil Awards and ICON, the premier annual gathering for communications professionals and students. For more information, visit www.prsa.org.