Harvard Undergraduate Women in Entrepreneurship 2025 Female Founder's Circle
The Harvard Undergraduate Women in Entrepreneurship (WiE) Female Founder Circle, proudly sponsored by Brex and Gunderson Dettmer, is an exclusive gathering of the top 30 female student founders in the country.
Now in its second year, this annual event is designed to bring together high-caliber female student founders who have demonstrated traction in their startup journey. Every participant will benefit from high-quality workshops, panels, and networking opportunities tailored to scaling ventures and navigating the challenges of being a female student founder.
This year’s event will feature product-focused workshops, founder-led discussions, and a pitch competition with funding opportunities for selected startups. Attendees will engage with leading female entrepreneurs and investors to gain actionable insights on product development, growth strategies, fundraising, and leadership.
Pitch Competition & Exclusive Legal Support from Gunderson Dettmer
For the 10 Pitch Competition Presenters, Gunderson Dettmer is offering a Legal Resource Package to help support their ventures. This includes:
- A complimentary 45-minute consultation with
Gunderson Dettmer to discuss legal needs, fundraising strategy, and long-term goals
- Support for the pitch competition winner, including: discounted Gunderson rates, a deferred billing arrangement until the company raises a debt, convertible security, or equity financing.
Additionally, the first-place winner of the pitch competition will receive a monetary, non-dilutive grant to support their startup!
To give you a better sense of last year’s event, here’s a video sizzle reel showcasing highlights from our inaugural 2024 Female Founder Circle, which featured inspiring talks from incredible female founders, including Dr. Rana el Kaliouby and Cindy Gallop. If you are a female student founder with a growing startup and measurable traction, this is an opportunity to build your network of powerful female entrepreneurial leaders while gaining valuable insights and support. We encourage you to apply!
Location: Harvard University
Date: Saturday, April 5th, 2025
Eligibility: Female student founders (undergrads, grads) with measurable traction
Applications are due Friday, March 14th at 11:59 PM EST.
If you have any questions about the application process, please reach out to Daniela Andrade at
[email protected] or Sahar Maisha at
[email protected].Brex – The modern spend platform designed to help founders and finance leaders maximize simplicity, efficiency, and control. Over 30,000 companies, including 1 in 3 US venture-backed startups, use Brex to make every dollar count.
Gunderson Dettmer - The preeminent international law firm with an exclusive focus on the innovation economy. Their clients drive innovation. Their investments create institutions. Their ideas transform the world.
Who is eligible to apply for the Female Founder Circle?
This event is open to female student founders at all levels of higher education, including undergraduate, business school, law school, master’s, and PhD programs. If you are currently enrolled in a college or university and have demonstrated traction with your startup, we encourage you to apply!
If I am applying as part of a team of female founders, should we submit one application or separate applications?
Each founder must submit their own individual application. Your responses should be tailored to highlight your personal contributions to the startup, ensuring we understand each founder’s role and impact.
Is the cost of transportation to and from the event covered?
Harvard Undergraduate Women in Entrepreneurship does not cover travel expenses for this event. However, last year, some students were able to secure funding through their university’s entrepreneurship center. Additionally, we encourage founders to explore creative solutions such as reaching out to local VCs or investors to see if they would be willing to sponsor part of the trip.
What kind of traction do you look for in applicants?
We are looking for high-caliber female student founders who have made measurable progress in their startup journey. This can include but is not limited to a functional MVP or launched product, revenue generation or active users, prior investment (grants, angel, or VC funding), pilot programs or partnerships, and/or significant user research and validation.
Can I still attend the event if I am not selected to pitch?
Yes! All accepted Female Founder Circle attendees will participate in workshops, panels, and networking sessions, regardless of whether they pitch in the competition. Only a select group of founders will be invited to pitch at the event, and we will notify them by mid-March.
Will meals be provided at the event?
Yes, breakfast and lunch will be provided for all attendees at the event. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know in your application so we can accommodate your needs.
