Applications close 15th April 2010

London - 8th March 2010: Astia, the premier Silicon Valley venture accelerator for women-led high growth companies, will host its Second European Investor Forum on 24th June 2010, following its ‘Doing it Right’ London Programme which takes place from 4th-7th May this year.  Known for its greater than 58% funding success rate, the eleven-year-old organisation is already achieving exceptional results in the UK, having launched here just last year. The success of Astia’s clients is credited to the broader Astia Community that sources, selects, and advises the companies that qualify for Astia’s prestigious programme.

“Astia has truly cultivated the networks required to source and showcase the next leaders in innovation and it continues to demonstrate the investment opportunity hidden in women entrepreneurs,” commented Prashant Shah, Hummer Winblad Venture Partners and Astia Board Chair.

“Our involvement in the Astia ‘Doing it Right’ programme and Investor Forum in London has been fundamental to our business,” commented Elinor Olisa, Co-Director and Founder of Degree Art.com, a UK-based online portal for buyers interested in acquiring art from emerging artists.  “We recommend Astia without a moment’s hesitation.  It is a one-of-a-kind program that is absolutely packed with essential guidance, lessons, networking opportunities and support.”

The ‘Doing It Right’ programme is open to select companies pursuing high growth, primarily from the high-tech, life science, media and clean-tech sectors.  Participant companies receive access to a robust community of investors, entrepreneurs, corporations, and value-add service providers.  Astia has cultivated a network of both men and women who lend their expertise and networks to accelerate the success of the companies. 

“These are exceptional companies with innovative technologies, what they need is access to individuals with prior experience and funding,” notes Sharon Vosmek, CEO, Astia.  “At Astia, we offer both in an environment rich with opportunities for the entrepreneurs to learn and develop relationships that deliver real results for their businesses.”

Sponsored by key corporations including Microsoft, Cisco, Morrison & Foerster, Osborne Clarke, and Silicon Valley Bank, Astia is endorsed by The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and presented in collaboration with The Next Women.

Jane Houghton, Head of Member Services at the BVCA today commented: “Astia’s success in the US is being replicated in the UK. We are delighted to be a part of this highly transformative programme for the second year running.”

Applications for the Astia 2010 London programme close on 15th April. To register please go to http://www.astia.org/apply

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For further information, please contact Isabel Fox, IF Communications on 07703 477818/ izzy@if-communications.com

About Astia
Astia is a global non-profit organization that provides innovative programs to exceptional women-led start-ups.  Head-quartered in San Francisco, Astia delivers programs for entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, New York, London and, from 2010, India.  Astia is well positioned to work with start-ups around the world as they access capital, grow their businesses, and develop the leadership of the founding team.  The Astia model of engaging a community of experts to the benefit of the select start-ups it serves has resulted in an exceptional success rate; since 2003, 60% of companies that have participated in the Astia Investor Forums have secured funding or an exit within one year of presenting, raising more than $600 Million and achieving 17 exits, including 2 IPOs.  For more information: www.astia.org

Astia UK/EU Advisory Board
Linda Bernardi, Bernardi Leadership Institute • Liz Bolshaw, Lymehound • Simone Brummelhuis, The NextWomen • Graham Combe, Nature Publishing Group • Sherry Coutu, Cambridge Angels • Natalie Diep, Morrison & Foerster LLP • Maria Dramalioti-Taylor, Protos Capital • Sarah Eaton, GLE Growth Capital • Jenny Fielding • Isabel Fox, IF Communications • Rowan Gardner, BioLauncher Ltd • Melissa Geffert, Opal Telecom Limited • Sally Goodsell, Finance South East • Jane Houghton, BVCA • Bindi Karia, Microsoft • Dr. Geoff Lawton • Sue Lawton • Lars Lindstedt, Microsoft • Nicola Maguire, Reed Smith LLP • Alex Ritchie, Make Your Mark • Mike Sables, Tenon Group PLC • Jeff Skinner, London Business School • Andy Tsao, SVB Financial Group (UK) Ltd • Dominique Valentiny • Catherine Williams, Osborne Clarke

Astia European Sponsors
Osborne Clarke • Morrison & Foerster • Microsoft • Reed Smith LLP • SVB Financial Group • Angelsoft • IF Communications • Three Guineas Fund • Fenwick & West • Iron Creative • Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo P.C. • Moss Adams • Cisco • Deloitte • Wells Fargo • Intuit

About The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association
The BVCA - the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association - is the industry body for the UK private equity and venture capital industry. The BVCA has over 450 member firms, representing the overwhelming number of UK-based private equity and venture capital firms and their advisers.

About The Next Women
The Next Women is the first award-winning online Women’s Business Magazine and Networking Forum, with a focus on start-ups and growing businesses, led, founded or invested in by women. It brings news on business, events, funding and tech from a female angle and interviews and profiles Female Internet Heroes, making them notable and quotable. The NextWomen interviews female start-up entrepreneurs, female internet heroes and business experts, concentrating on the process of founding a business, finding capital and overcoming business challenges. Its international network of high-growth female entrepreneurs, female and male investors and supporting business consultants, constitutes an eco-system to do business, get support and inspiration and to create value and sustainable businesses. The NextWomen run Pitching & Funding events – Dragon’s Den for women-led companies – Kitchen Dinners for leading entrepreneurs and high profile networking events.