There are a disproportionate number of women and minorities in leading or supporting roles within venture investment sized start-ups.  Historically, companies owned by women and minorities have received less than 5% of total venture capital investments over the past 40 years and minorities have only accounted for 3.7% of entrepreneurs in venture scale start-ups.  We believe that minorities and women are an untapped resource of valuable innovation leadership.

Springworks, a San Francisco based organization, focuses on creating pathways for under-targeted groups to have a greater role in the innovation community.  Since 2009 the founder, Jorge M. Calderon, has established a combination of programs and initiatives that actively identify, develop, inspire and provide resources for a range of students and professionals.  Springworks manages the Springworks Scholars Program, WE Generation (WE-Gen) and Urban Jelly.  The Scholars Program is an opportunity for exceptional business school students from less represented backgrounds to receive additional support as they develop into the next generation of leaders in the innovation economy.  Through “generational linking”, WE-Gen is building a global network of women interested in growth entrepreneurship through a university affiliated chapter model.  Urban Jelly teaches an integrated computer science and entrepreneurship curriculum to low-income high school students who then put their learning into practice by running their own school affiliated web development company.

If you have an interest in being part of our programs or helping support our organization, please contact us: info@springworks.org