Events
Learn, Connect,
Grow Together
Webinars, workshops, pitch practice, and in-person gatherings for women founders.
Upcoming
Ayana Events
October 2026 · Ayana is Active At Both
Explore All Events at Tech Week
Los Angeles · Oct 12–18, 2026
LA Tech Week
Browse the official LA Tech Week events calendar — powered by a16z, featuring hundreds of founder, investor, and community events across the city.
Austin, TX · Oct 26–30, 2026
Austin Tech Week
Register for Austin Tech Week and explore all official programming and satellite events — including Ayana's Invested workshop on the Women in Tech Track.
Ecosystem Events
Partner & Community Events
Women founder and fundraising events across LA, SF, NYC, Austin, Ann Arbor & more — through November 2026.
Pitch & Pour: Women Founders Fundraising Night
An intimate pitch practice and investor feedback night for women founders actively raising pre-seed and seed rounds. Structured feedback from active angel investors over cocktails.
Women Founders Network 14th Annual Fast Pitch
The Women Founders Network Fast Pitch is a premier pitch competition and showcase for women-led startups. Finalists pitch live before investors and judges at UCLA. One of LA's top annual events for women entrepreneurs raising capital.
Capital Ready: Fundraising Bootcamp for Women Founders
A half-day bootcamp covering term sheets, valuation, and investor outreach strategy for women-led startups preparing to raise their next round.
Angel Investor Office Hours for Women Founders
Rotating 1:1 office hours with a panel of active angel investors — bring your deck and get direct, actionable fundraising feedback.
San Diego Women's Pitch Slam
A competitive pitch showcase for women-led startups in San Diego, with cash prizes and warm investor introductions for finalists.
Ann Arbor SPARK: Women in Tech 2026
A half-day women in tech summit presented by Ann Arbor SPARK at Washtenaw Community College. Features speakers, panels, and networking for women in tech, founders, and entrepreneurs in the Ann Arbor and greater Michigan startup ecosystem.
Women's Capital Summit 2026 — NYC
The WBC Women's Capital Summit returns to New York City for two days designed to connect women entrepreneurs with capital, resources, and strategic relationships. One of the most prominent gatherings for women business owners and investors on the East Coast.
Funded Female Founders III — SF Tech Week
Startup Grind's Funded Female Founders series returns during SF Tech Week, bringing together women founders who have successfully raised capital to share insights, connect with investors, and inspire the next generation of women-led startups.
SF Tech Week: Sip & Social with Women in VC
VentureCrush and Lowenstein Sandler co-host a Sip & Social during SF Tech Week bringing together women in venture capital for an evening of networking, conversation, and community.
All Raise: LA Tech Week Mixer for Female Founders & Investors
All Raise's LA chapter hosts a mixer during LA Tech Week focused on female founders and investors. Open to allies committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech.
Startup Valley NYC Pitch & Investor Networking Night
Startup Valley's recurring NYC pitch and networking night brings together early-stage founders and investors for 5-minute founder pitches, investor Q&A, and open networking. Runs monthly — upcoming dates: Sep 30 and Oct 21.
SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship 2026
An annual celebration of the Southern California entrepreneurship ecosystem, highlighting startup founders, innovators, and ecosystem builders across LA and Orange County.
Austin Small Business Expo 2026
Austin's premier small business conference brings together 2,000+ entrepreneurs, founders, and business owners. Features networking, workshops, and exhibitors across industries — a strong connector event for Austin-area founders.
13th Annual Women's Venture Summit — San Diego
The Women's Venture Summit is a 4-day flagship conference for women founders, investors, and operators. Now in its 13th year, WVS has helped facilitate over $200 million in fundraising. Held on the Cooley/Joya Kitchen campus in La Jolla, CA.
Women Founders Happy Hour — Ann Arbor
A casual evening networking mixer connecting Michigan-based women founders with local investors and ecosystem builders.
Series A Readiness Workshop
A working session for women founders targeting a Series A raise — covering metrics storytelling, data room prep, and investor targeting.
Fundraising
6 upcomingPitch practice, investor office hours, and sessions to sharpen your raise.
Women Founders Pitch Practice & Investor Feedback – October
Monthly pitch practice session for women founders at pre-seed and seed stage. Get structured feedback from investors and fellow founders. Bring your 3-minute pitch deck — all stages welcome.
Pitch & Pour: Women Founders Fundraising Night
An intimate pitch practice and investor feedback night for women founders actively raising pre-seed and seed rounds. Structured feedback from active angel investors over cocktails.
Women Founders Network 14th Annual Fast Pitch
The Women Founders Network Fast Pitch is a premier pitch competition and showcase for women-led startups. Finalists pitch live before investors and judges at UCLA. One of LA's top annual events for women entrepreneurs raising capital.
Capital Ready: Fundraising Bootcamp for Women Founders
A half-day bootcamp covering term sheets, valuation, and investor outreach strategy for women-led startups preparing to raise their next round.
Angel Investor Office Hours for Women Founders
Rotating 1:1 office hours with a panel of active angel investors — bring your deck and get direct, actionable fundraising feedback.
San Diego Women's Pitch Slam
A competitive pitch showcase for women-led startups in San Diego, with cash prizes and warm investor introductions for finalists.
Community
18 upcomingDinners, meetups, and gatherings to connect with fellow founders.
Women's Venture Summit 2026
Stella Foundation's 12th Annual Women's Venture Summit — an unmatched event that builds bridges between female founders and investors. Features pitch competitions through Women's Fast Pitch, keynotes, panels, and deep-dive networking sessions. Speakers include Lauren B. Leichtman (Forbes' first woman private equity billionaire) and Cindy Gallop. Nearly 400 women founders and investors attend annually.
Women Who Mean Business – Online Networking
Structured monthly online networking for women in business. Held on the 4th Friday of each month, this virtual event provides a focused environment for introductions, collaboration, and community building among women entrepreneurs.
Ann Arbor SPARK: Women in Tech 2026
A half-day women in tech summit presented by Ann Arbor SPARK at Washtenaw Community College. Features speakers, panels, and networking for women in tech, founders, and entrepreneurs in the Ann Arbor and greater Michigan startup ecosystem.
Women Founders Networking Dinner – Los Angeles
An intimate dinner for women founders and investors in Los Angeles. Curated conversation, warm introductions, and community building in a private setting. RSVP required — limited seats.
Women's Capital Summit 2026 — NYC
The WBC Women's Capital Summit returns to New York City for two days designed to connect women entrepreneurs with capital, resources, and strategic relationships. One of the most prominent gatherings for women business owners and investors on the East Coast.
Funded Female Founders III — SF Tech Week
Startup Grind's Funded Female Founders series returns during SF Tech Week, bringing together women founders who have successfully raised capital to share insights, connect with investors, and inspire the next generation of women-led startups.
SF Tech Week: Sip & Social with Women in VC
VentureCrush and Lowenstein Sandler co-host a Sip & Social during SF Tech Week bringing together women in venture capital for an evening of networking, conversation, and community.
LA Tech Week 2026
Major week of tech, startup, VC, and founder events presented by a16z and partners. Hundreds of events across the city spanning Santa Monica, Venice, DTLA, and more. One of the most important gatherings for founders, investors, and operators on the West Coast.
All Raise: LA Tech Week Mixer for Female Founders & Investors
All Raise's LA chapter hosts a mixer during LA Tech Week focused on female founders and investors. Open to allies committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech.
Women in Tech LA – Founders Networking & Pitch Nights
Recurring Founders Club / Business Minds style networking and elevator pitch nights for women in tech and startups across LA. Multiple October dates across Echo Park, Santa Monica, and other LA venues. Great for visibility, investor connections, and practicing your pitch in a supportive environment.
Startup Valley NYC Pitch & Investor Networking Night
Startup Valley's recurring NYC pitch and networking night brings together early-stage founders and investors for 5-minute founder pitches, investor Q&A, and open networking. Runs monthly — upcoming dates: Sep 30 and Oct 21.
SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship 2026
An annual celebration of the Southern California entrepreneurship ecosystem, highlighting startup founders, innovators, and ecosystem builders across LA and Orange County.
Grace Hopper Celebration 2026
World's largest gathering of women technologists, with 25,000+ expected attendees. Exceptional for visibility, talent connections, and investor conversations. Covers career development, technical programming, and the future of women in technology across all industries.
Austin Small Business Expo 2026
Austin's premier small business conference brings together 2,000+ entrepreneurs, founders, and business owners. Features networking, workshops, and exhibitors across industries — a strong connector event for Austin-area founders.
13th Annual Women's Venture Summit — San Diego
The Women's Venture Summit is a 4-day flagship conference for women founders, investors, and operators. Now in its 13th year, WVS has helped facilitate over $200 million in fundraising. Held on the Cooley/Joya Kitchen campus in La Jolla, CA.
Save the Date: Women's Entrepreneurship Day
Save the date — join us for Women's Entrepreneurship Day in South Bend, Indiana. More details coming soon.
Women Founders Happy Hour — Ann Arbor
A casual evening networking mixer connecting Michigan-based women founders with local investors and ecosystem builders.
Save the Date: Ayana at SXSW
Save the date — Ayana Foundation is coming to SXSW 2027 in Austin, TX. More details coming soon.
Founder Development
6 upcomingWebinars and workshops to build your skills and grow your company.
Ayana Founder Development Workshop – Seed Round Mechanics
Deep-dive workshop on seed round mechanics: SAFEs vs. priced rounds, cap table basics, and what investors actually look for at seed stage. Interactive session with Q&A.
Golden Seeds Information Sessions – October
Continued angel capital education for women founders. Short 30-minute virtual sessions on angel investing basics, Golden Seeds' process, and how to determine if angel funding is the right path for your company.
Female Founder Office Hours – Fundraising Strategy (October)
Open office hours for early-stage women founders on fundraising strategy. Sign up for a 15-minute slot covering deck structure, investor targeting, and term sheet basics.
Ayana Founder Development Workshop – Investor Storytelling & Narrative
Workshop focused on crafting a compelling investor narrative. Learn how to structure your story, communicate traction, and answer hard questions with confidence. Includes live pitch feedback.
Invested: Ayana Founder Readiness Workshop — Austin Tech Week 2026
Ayana Foundation's pilot founder readiness workshop, an official Women in Tech track session at Austin Tech Week 2026. Over a facilitated 90-minute lunch, founders name what kind of investment they need next — capital, capacity, connection, visibility, or structure — and leave with language for the ask itself. Empowered by Ayana Foundation, facilitated by Kristi Straw of Lighthouse Leadership Consultants, and organized in partnership with Austin Women in Tech.
Series A Readiness Workshop
A working session for women founders targeting a Series A raise — covering metrics storytelling, data room prep, and investor targeting.
Event Recap
Feel the Energy
Get a glimpse of what happens when women founders come together — the connections, the energy, and the momentum that defines every Ayana event.
Ayana Rising @ SXSW 2026
Community
Suggest an Event
Know of a great event for women founders? Share it with the Ayana community and we'll add it to the calendar.