Organization · Community
Women Founders Network
Women Founders Network (WFN) is a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to educating women and girls about entrepreneurship and investing. They empower female founders through programs like the Fast Pitch Competition, which connects them with capital and mentorship.
Overview
What Women Founders Network does
What Women Founders Network is
Women Founders Network (WFN) is a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to educating women and girls about entrepreneurship and investing. They empower female founders through programs like the Fast Pitch Competition, which connects them with capital and mentorship.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports community and event host capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Community
- Founded
- Founded in 2013
- Approximate age
- About 13 years
- Structured capabilities
- Community · Event host
- Last reviewed
- April 1, 2026
Official channels
Find Women Founders Network elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Women Founders Network as a community
Community overview
Women Founders Network (WFN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2013. It is based in Los Angeles, California, and focuses on providing education on entrepreneurship and investing to women and girls. The organization aims to empower female founders and investors through various programs and initiatives.
Community focus
Women Founders Network invests in female entrepreneurs by providing access to capital, visibility, and mentoring. Their initiatives include the annual Fast Pitch competition, which offers cash grants and professional services to women-led startups. WFN also runs educational programs such as the Junior Venture Capitalist Program for high school girls and the Due Diligence Analyst Program for college women, aimed at fostering the next generation of women in venture capital and investing.
Member value
Members gain access to educational programs, mentorship opportunities, and networking events designed to empower women in entrepreneurship and investing.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Students
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- community and bootcamp
- Selection criteria
- open
- Regions
- United States
Community activity
- Annual events
- 1
Events and activity
Recurring events include the annual Fast Pitch competition where female founders pitch for cash grants and professional services, a panel discussion titled 'Trailblazing Women Investors' focused on startup fundraising, and the WFN Alumni Dinner for Fast Pitch alumni to connect with investors.
Notable members
Notable portfolio companies from the Fast Pitch competition include Cloutboost, FemSync, Rely, and SparkAI. Key team members include Darya Allen-Attar (CEO & Co-Founder), Renee LaBran (Co-Founder), Kim Christensen (Program Director), and Amy Rice (Youth Education Manager).
Capability profile
Women Founders Network as an event host
Event focus
Women Founders Network invests in female entrepreneurs by providing access to capital, visibility, and mentoring. Their initiatives include the annual Fast Pitch competition, which offers cash grants and professional services to women-led startups. WFN also runs educational programs such as the Junior Venture Capitalist Program for high school girls and the Due Diligence Analyst Program for college women, aimed at fostering the next generation of women in venture capital and investing.
Format narrative
The organization hosts various events including the annual Fast Pitch competition, panel discussions, and intimate dinners for alumni to connect with investors.
Participant value
Attendees gain access to valuable resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities that empower them in their entrepreneurial and investment journeys.
Format and cadence
- Event types
- pitch-night
- Recurrence
- annual
- Modality
- in-person
- Startups can present
- Yes
Availability
- Registration state
- Accepting
- Next event location
- Los Angeles, California
Audience and fit
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
- Regions
- United States
Speakers and past editions
Speakers
Notable speakers include Darya Allen-Attar, CEO & Co-Founder, and other team members involved in the programs.
Past editions
Notable portfolio companies from the Fast Pitch competition include Cloutboost, FemSync, Rely, and SparkAI.
Common questions
What to know about Women Founders Network
Upseed classifies Women Founders Network under the Community organization type. Its current public profile includes community and event host capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 1, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.