Empowering Female Entrepreneurs and Investors
Today, women dominate clinical and business roles across the dental industry — they know and understand the dental industry’s needs, challenges, and opportunities better than anyone else. So why are they often left in the shadows when accessing venture capital?
Women-founded/led companies receive less than 2.5% of venture capital funding. This statistic is even more staggering in the dental industry. Despite being the backbone of clinical care, women are often sidelined when securing the capital necessary to bring their innovative ideas to life. Recognizing this disparity, Women in DSO® has partnered with Dental Innovation Alliance (DIA), to launch the Entrepreneurship Corner, a new initiative designed to empower women and men equally as both entrepreneurs and investors. DIA is a venture capital firm that funds, advises, and propels the success of early-stage companies building the future of dentistry and health through technology. We hope that this partnership reshapes the landscape of dental innovation by engaging more women.
The Entrepreneurship Corner is not just a response to this imbalance. It is a bold step toward redefining who gets to lead in dental innovation. It is built on the premise that empowering women to become successful entrepreneurs and savvy investors is not just beneficial for women but essential for the future of the dental industry. The topics discussed are also relevant for women who are supporting technology companies at various levels of their careers.
A Two-Fold Approach
The Entrepreneurship Corner offers two distinct curriculums: one focused on entrepreneurship and the other on investing. Both are designed to be practical, accessible, and deeply impactful.
The entrepreneurship curriculum will:
- Help women cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, a critical step in identifying opportunities and driving innovation
- Share how to develop robust business plans, conduct thorough market research, and navigate the financial and legal nuances of starting and scaling a business
- Equip women with the skills necessary to lead successful ventures and prepare them for potential exit strategies
The investor curriculum is equally comprehensive and will:
- Guide participants through the complexities of early-stage and late-stage investment
- Cover the basics of different types of investors, from angel investors to venture capitalists to corporate backers
- Offer insights into evaluating startups and understanding the risks and rewards associated with various investment stages
As Dr. Aman Kaur, the founder and president of Women in DSO®, aptly shares, “We know a lot about the salary gap, but another important issue is the wealth gap. Women leaders in dentistry have just as much to offer and need to be equipped with the right tools and opportunities, so they can make money with their money, bounce back from failures if they happen and become confident investors.”
Learning by Doing
What sets the Entrepreneurship Corner apart is its emphasis on actionable learning. Each module includes a 15-20 minute video followed by an “assignment” designed to help participants apply what they’ve learned in real-world scenarios to prepare themselves for entrepreneurship as well as investing. The curriculum features insights and expertise from leaders across the dental and investment industries, bringing real-world expertise directly to participants. Learnings are built from their experience and strategies that go beyond textbook knowledge. Participants will gain practical advice and actionable tips that they can immediately put into action and see results.
Building a Community of Leaders
As this group of investors and entrepreneurs work together, these relationships will develop into a community that can continuously help others with their expertise and lessons. It will provide these innovative leaders the opportunity to discuss their successes and setbacks, exchange ideas, and provide each other with the encouragement and advice needed to navigate the often challenging paths of entrepreneurship and investing. It will create space for participants to connect, share their experiences, and learn from one another.
A Vision for the Future
Women across the dental industry already possess expertise and ideas; they just need the tools and support to bring them to fruition. Confidence is often a product from knowledge; by combining education with practical application, the Entrepreneurship Corner aims to dismantle the barriers that have historically kept women from accessing the capital and investment opportunities they deserve.
This initiative is about creating a new vision for the dental industry — where women are not just participants, but also are leaders in innovation and investment. Through the partnership of Women in DSO® and DIA, the Entrepreneurship Corner is an invitation to all progressive leaders in the dental field to come, be empowered, and change the future of dentistry together.
