History & Impact
In 2012, Dr. Silvia Mah saw a problem she couldn’t ignore: women—especially women of color—were being shut out of the startup funding process. Despite their groundbreaking ideas and scalable businesses, they faced systemic barriers to capital, connections, and mentorship. Determined to break down these barriers, she launched a three-day bootcamp in San Diego designed to help female founders navigate pre-seed fundraising and prepare for investor conversations. Today, Stella Foundation serves thousands of women entrepreneurs and investors globally, helping them access education, funding opportunities, and an unmatched support network to scale their businesses.
From a Local Bootcamp to a National Movement, Stella Has Been Empowering Female Founders & Investors Since 2012.
The Mission
Stella Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that every woman entrepreneur has access to the resources, mentorship, and capital she needs to succeed. We connect founders and investors at the right time, in the right way—because when women thrive, we all win.
Join the Stella Community & Become Part of the Movement
The Problem We’re Solving: The Funding Gap
Women Still Receive Only 2% of Venture Capital.
Despite women launching 40% of new businesses, they receive just a tiny fraction of venture funding.
98% of all venture capital goes to male founders
In 2019, 2.8% of VC dollars went to
all-female founding teams
By 2023, that number dropped to just 2.0%
Women of color receive even less
Black women founders secured just 0.27% of VC funding, and Latinas received 0.37%.
Why This Matters
Stella is changing the equation—not just for female founders, but for the entire investment ecosystem.
The Stella Foundation has been an absolute game-changer for our startup. Since joining their 2024 Spring Winter cohort, we’ve experienced remarkable growth—both in visibility and in validation within our industry. Their unwavering support goes far beyond mere introductions: they connected us with key investors, brought fresh perspectives to our business strategy, and even became one of our valued customers. In fact, partnering with them to power their Women’s Venture Summit in 2024 was a true highlight, showcasing just how committed Stella Labs is to championing female founders. Their dedication, expertise, and genuine care have been instrumental in helping us reach new milestones, and we couldn’t imagine a better partner on our entrepreneurial journey.
Stella Angels Participant
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Become an investor, mentor, or founder in the Stella network.
Our Impact: Real Change, Real Results
Join The conSTELLAtion
Want to be part of the movement? Whether you’re a founder looking for funding, an investor looking for deals, or a champion for women’s entrepreneurship—Stella is your launchpad.
It’s time to fund more women, create more exits, and build the future of entrepreneurship—together. Join the Stella Community & take the next step
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