Did you know that only 4% of venture capital funding goes to women entrepreneurs? Did you also know that in 2016, there were over 11.3 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. that employed nearly 9 million people and generated over $1.6 trillion in revenues?br /

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So why the disconnect? But more importantly, what would you do if faced with experiencing this social injustice?br /

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In steps Vicki Saunders.br /

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With her globally recognized company called SheEO, serial entrepreneur Vicki Saunders is on a crusade to disrupt and reimagine the venture funding model for women-led companies around the world using a philosophy she calls radical generosity. How does it work? Up to 1,000 women in each region contribute $1,000 which creates a one million dollar fund. The money is then loaned out to up to 10 women-led ventures at 0% interest, paid back over 5 years and reinvested perpetually. Vicki's big-picture calculation: a billion dollars going to 10,000 female entrepreneurs every year, in perpetuity. Take that Sand Hill Road.br /

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On this episode, Vicki shares her purpose filled journey leading up to this point, why venture capital and traditional funding models have mostly failed women, an inside look at the sheEO strategy, several success stories from her portfolio, and even key principles from her popular book, Think Like a SheEO. All this and more on today’s episode.br /

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Now, That’s Unusual.br /

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Visit www.thatsunusualpodcast.combr /

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ABOUT VICKI SAUNDERSbr /

Vicki Saunders is the founder of SheEO, Inc., a global initiative designed to radically transform how we support, finance and celebrate female entrepreneurs who are creating a better world. SheEO provides a platform in which generous women Activators act as advisors, early customers, suppliers, connectors and follow-on investors to set up emerging female entrepreneurs for immediate and accelerated growth.br /

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Saunders is a serial entrepreneur, award-winning mentor, and leading advocate for entrepreneurship as a way to create positive transformation in the world. She has co-founded and run four ventures in Europe, Toronto and Silicon Valley, including Zazengo, The NRG Group, and Impactanation. Saunders was selected as a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum, and she speaks regularly at events such as the Women of Influence Series in Canada, the Tallberg Forum, and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs.br /

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Saunders is passionate about designing new forms of financing to support businesses building a better world, and she has been a committed mentor to over 1000 businesses over of the course of her career.br /

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To read all show notes and resources for this episode please visit: www.drgautamgulati.com/ep032br /