>> AS BOSTON AS IT GETS.
SAMUEL ADAMS BY A SIGN OF THE TECH EVOLUTION.
>> IT IS REALLY ABOUT SUSTAINABLE CITIES, SOCIAL CITIES AND SMART CITIES.
>> THEY TEAMED UP FOUR YEARS AGO WITH A MISSION -- >> BRING TECHNOLOGY INTO THE PUBLIC REALM IN A WAY THAT IS USEFUL.
>> FIRST OF A BUILT THE BENCH, MEANT TO BE A SOCIAL STOP FOR CHARGING DEVICES.
THEN CAME THE SIGN.
>> IT IS MORE LIKE A SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM.
>> ALSO CONTENT CAN BE CHANGED ANYTIME, UPLOADED LIKE A SOCIAL MEDIA POST.
PERFECT FOR PROMOTING LOCAL BUSINESSES OR OFFERING REAL-TIME TRANSIT INFORMATION.
THE SIGNS ARE UP IN 100 U.S.
CITIES.
>> WE WANT TO BE WHERE THERE IS A NEED FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND A NEED TO REALLY BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
>> IT WAS BORN AT M.I.T.’S MEDIA LAB.
FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS TEND TO BE IN THE ORIENTED.
>> THEY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THEY ARE FOCUSING ON IMPORTANT CHALLENGES.
IF YOU LOOK AROUND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, BOSTON DOES WELL IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF FEMALE INVENTORS.
>> THERE ARE DISPARITIES COMPARED TO THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS.
>> A PLACE WHERE WE SEE A GAP IS IN WOMEN STEPPING UP AND CREATING INNOVATION DRIVEN ENTERPRISES.
COMPANIES THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT GROWTH POTENTIAL.
THAT CAN REALLY HAVE A GLOBAL IMPACT.
THOSE REQUIRE DEEP TECHNICAL SKILLS.
UNTIL RECENTLY THERE HAS NOT BEEN AS MUCH PARITY OF WOMEN TRAINED IN ENGINEERING AND THE LIFE SCIENCES.
WE ARE SEEING THAT TODAY.
>> FUNDING CAN BE A CHALLENGE, ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF BOSTON.
WOMEN MAKE UP HALF THE RESIDENTS BUT ONE DOLLAR OUT OF EVERY $23 IN BANK LOANS GOES TO WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.
3% OF VENTURE CAPITALIST INVESTMENT GOES TO BUSINESSES LED BY WOMEN.
>> MOST OF THE PARTNERS HAVE BEEN MEN.
IT IS EASY FOR THEM TO INVEST IN BUSINESS LEADERS WHO ARE LIKE THEM.
>> ENTER X FACTOR VENTURES, A WOMEN BY WOMEN, FOR WOMEN.
>> IT GREW OUT OF A MOVEMENT WE WERE DOING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> THE FEMALE COFOUNDERS KNOW THE STRUGGLE.
THEY ARE ALL SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS.
COMPANIES THEY CONSIDER MUST HAVE ONE FEMALE FOUNDER.
>> YOU ARE GETTING THIS AMAZING NETWORK OF WOMEN WHO HAVE SCALED COMPANIES TO 80, 900 EMPLOYEES AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CAPITAL TO TRAIN YOU ON HOW YOU CAN DO THIS.
>> SOMETHING APPEALING TO THIS PERSON WHO HAS BEEN TALKING TO ASK FACTOR.
>> JUST AS IMPORTANT AS BUILDING SOURCES TO FUND FEMALE COMPANIES IS CREATING FEMALE ECOSYSTEMS THAT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO LEAN ON ONE ANOTHER AND HELP EACH OTHER.
>> SHE LAUNCHED AN ARTISAN WINE COMPANY WITH HER HUSBAND.
>> IT IS HARD TO RAISE MONEY AT A FEMALE-LED COMPANY.
ON TOP OF THAT, I AM A FEMALE FOUNDER IN A VICE INDUSTRY.
IT IS A LEARNING CURVE.
>> THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES ON QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY.
THEY USE ALTERNATIVE PACKAGING.
NO BOTTLES, JUST KEGS, BOXES AND CANS.
THEY WANT TO BE A LEGACY WINE BRAND FOR THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST GENERATION DRINKING MORE WINE THAN BEER.
>> ALREADY IN 13 STATES, IT IS SOLD ONLINE, OR AT RETAILERS, AND RESTAURANTS.
>> WE ARE IN CAMBRIDGE.
COMMONWEALTH KITCHEN.
THANK YOU.
THE WIND BY THE GLASS IS THE LAST UNBRANDED SPACE.
WHEN YOU ORDER A BEER, YOU ORDER A HARPOON OR A SAM ADAMS.
THE BRAND.
>> I HAVE NEVER HAD WINE FROM A CAN.
CHEERS.
IT IS REALLY GOOD.
>> LOCAL INVESTORS OFTEN FAVORED TACK AND BIOTECH COMPANIES.
THERE IS A BIG POTENTIAL ELSEWHERE.
>> WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO FOUND COMPANIES THAT ADDRESS PROBLEMS THEY ENCOUNTER.
OFTEN TIMES THAT HIS PHYSICAL PRODUCTS.
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PAYOFF IS LARGE.
IT IS GOING TO TAKE BOSTON TO REFRAME WHAT THEY THINK OF AS SUCCESS AND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.
>> PROFESSOR MURRAY SAYS BOLD IDEAS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED EARLY ON.
>> THIS IS ABOUT NURTURING YOUNG WOMEN TO BELIEVE THEY ARE CAPABLE OF TAKING A RISK AND BEING AUDACIOUS AND THAT IT IS FINE TO ASK FOR MONEY AND IT IS FINE TO HIRE PEOPLE AND FIRE
PEOPLE.
THESE ARE NOT THINGS THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN AS COMFORTABLE.
FOR MANY YOUNG WOMEN, AS THEY ARE FOR THE UNMANNED.
I THINK THAT IS CHANGING.
ANTHONY: SINCE THEY LAUNCHED IN JUNE, THEY HAVE FUNDED 20 COMPANIES, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.
THEY ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS.
SHAYNA: NEW CUSTOMERS ARE GETTING CREATIVE WITH THEIR SIGNS.
ONE SIGN IS OFFERING 20% OFF OF LUNCH TO CUSTOMERS WHO BRING IN PHOTOS OF THEIR SIGN.
THERE YOU GO.
ANTHONY: GEORGE LEWIS USED TO BE IN FINANCE.
NOW HE’S IN THE FEED BUSINESS.
>> THE ONLY REMAINING FEMALE IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.