Female-owned businesses have long played an incredibly important role in our economy, but women still face more challenges than men in the business world. Dell wants to help female founders around the world succeed, and to that end the company launched the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network, or DWEN in 2009.
DWEN offers a range of resources for female entrepreneurs, and in the past year it has become even more useful. Earlier this year, DWEN transitioned to a fully virtual community, essentially meaning that it’s easier than ever to connect with other like-minded entrepreneurs -- something that could be incredibly useful given the fast-changing nature of business.
Unfortunately, women still face unique challenges in business. In 2020 for example, only 2.8% of venture capital went to female-founded startups according to Fast Company, proving just how hard it is for these businesses to acquire funding. That’s not to mention the fact that female founders have to contend with social expectations, building a support network around them and their business, and more. In fact, according to Inc, 48% of female founders report that a lack of advisors has limited their professional growth.
DWEN aims to take on these issues head on, and the transition to a fully virtual service is a big part of that. Traditionally, DWEN has held events for a limited number of people and business types, but now the organization is holding virtual summits that can be attended by an unlimited number of people, across a range of different businesses.
DWEN is available in a huge number of countries around the globe, and spans all kinds of different industries -- from health care, to IT, to education. Not only that, but there are a growing number of local chapters that are hosting virtual meet-ups, and with over 26,000 members, there are a ton of other entrepreneurs and DWEN Champions, comprised of Dell technologies employees and partners that members can meet and learn from. That number is only expected to grow -- especially considering the fact that it had only 5,000 members just a few months ago.
DWEN.com is also home to a range of educational resources, including podcasts, opportunities for mentorship, and more -- all aimed at helping women navigate. So far, the company has held podcasts on a range of topics, including funding, managing teams remotely, staying resilient as an entrepreneur, and more. Content on the website comes from well-established businesses and organizations, including Fast Company and Intel, but most importantly from entrepreneurs themselves. You’ll also get access to funding resources, special offers to DWEN members on Dell products for your business and the opportunity to discuss your company IT infrastructure with dedicated Dell Technologies advisors.
Ready to bring your business to its full potential? DWEN offers a foundation for the growth of that business, and is absolutely worth signing up for. You can sign up for DWEN for yourself straight from the website.
