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Resources & Tips for Future Female Entrepreneurs

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Berkeley chapter.

Pandemics inspire creativity. It’s no secret that new businesses, especially nonprofits and etsy stores, have been popping up left and right. Whether it’s because you lost your job due to COVID or you wanted to curb your boredom at home, starting a business is difficult work, so it’s important to use as many resources as possible. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

#1: Find a mentor

Mentors are the best people to bounce ideas off of and turn to for business advice. LinkedIn is the best way for you to connect with potential mentors. The best LinkedIn advice I’ve learned is to always add a note after you send a connection request. It feels more personal and they’ll be more likely approve your acceptance.

#2: Listen to a business podcast or read an entrepreneurial book

The FemExec podcast, hosted by yours truly, is all about amplifying the stories of female small business owners to encourage aspiring female business professionals. We invite women from all different industries to share how they got their small business off the ground. Some great books to read are also Good to Great by James Collins and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

#3: Get a business certification

Hubspot and LinkedIn learning are great ways to increase your knowledge of the industry space you are in and give your business more credibility! There are many places to also get your company officially recognized as a woman-owned business, and, if it applies, a person of color-owned business.

two women sitting at table signing papers
Photo by Gabrielle Henderson from Unsplash

#4: Source seed funding

People reward new small businesses, especially if they are innovative or have a specific niche in a major industry. If you are a college student, Dorm Room Fund is a great way to pitch your business to many investors. If you are a female and had a pre-existing business (pre-pandemic) that took a hit due to the pandemic, Luminary is also providing funding.

As a fellow female business owner, it’s been amazing to source out these opportunities and share with others in the same boat. Female business owners, be proud of what you’ve created amid one of the toughest times in the world. Use the resources and tips available around you. Our community is strong and powerful.

Aakruti Desai

UC Berkeley '24

Aakruti Desai is currently studying business at UC Berkeley. Her past experiences include being CEO of Studenteer.org and Forward Apparel. She is the host of the FemExec Podcast, published Dear Fellow Immigrant Kids, available on Amazon, and is the CEO of Marketfly.net
Samhita Sen

UC Berkeley '21

Samhita (she/her pronouns) graduated in December 2021 from UC Berkeley with a double major in Communication/Media Studies and Sociology. At any given moment, she may be frantically writing an essay, carelessly procrastinating by watching Claire Saffitz on YouTube or spending time with people she loves.