Page 32 - San Diego Woman Magazine POWER WOMEN ISSUE

Power Women

‘The Future is Female’ is More

Than a T-Shirt Slogan

How Three San Diego Women Are Neutralizing Bias and Accelerating Change in Business

By April Enriquez
Photos By Nikkie Achartz of Snap Savvy Strategies

startup founders are poised to
raise capital, be more effective
leaders and efficiently in-
crease their existing revenue.
The founders also receive a
$20,000 investment from Ad
Astra Ventures.
“We’re using our expertise
to create change in our corner
of the universe,” said Dinama-
ni. “Gender equality is much
bigger than one vertical, but
we hope that doing our part
will create a ripple effect that
stretches far beyond business.”
Before launching Ad
Astra Ventures, the trio served
on countless panels together,
collaborated over early-stage
investment funds and more.
San Diego’s startup scene founding Solana Beach-based At first, they were discouraged
“Despite all the challenges brought three distinctive Ad Astra Ventures, which – and even annoyed – because
we face,” Hilary Clinton women together: Vidya Di- translates to “to the stars” in of the lack of female founders
said, “I remain convinced namani, co-founder of Prod- Latin. They founded Ad Astra at pitch nights, in incubators
and at funding events, but
Ventures with a simple vision:
uct Rebels, Allison Long Pet-
that yes, the future is tine, founding partner of Seed to get even. instead of talking about it over
female.” San Diego, and Dr. Silvia Mah, “After working togeth- yet another cup of coffee, they
startup investor and scientist. er for many years, we knew decided to do something.
A phrase that’s been They knew they were doing our collective calling was to “We learned a lot about
around since the 1970s, and great work to affect change in champion equal representa- what it takes to get there
was reignited by Clinton, is the business community, but tion of women and minorities [growing a successful startup],
prompting action globally. It’s something big was missing. starting companies, having a and we were ready to create
more than buying a t-shirt “Investing capital into seat at the table, and getting change in a much bigger way,”
emblazoned with the slogan, female-led businesses is some- funded,” said Mah. "Further, Dinamani remarked.
though. It takes emotional thing, but it's not everything,” we knew we shared the same Dinamani brings product
endurance. It takes a commit- said Mah. “We wanted to do values of integrity, impact, and expertise as well as leadership
ment to make the world a bet- more, so we decided to com- action, and could each bring working within corporate
ter place through actionable bine our unique experiences something different to the America; Long Pettine has
programs and solutions that to better equip female found- table," added Mah. a deep understanding of the
are challenging yet attainable. ers for exponential growth.” The organization provides startup funding ecosystem
It takes a special group of peo- One year ago the trio with 12-week business accelerator with nearly 15 years in venture
ple to pull off a mission like more than 30 years of com- programs for revenue-gen- capital; and Mah brings expe-
this – and it’s happening right bined business experience put erating female-led startups. rience across multiple fields
now in San Diego. their commitment to work by Upon exiting the program, including entrepreneurship,

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