Visa and Girl Starter Team Up to Empower Female-led Startups

Recently, Visa did something pretty special to commemorate International Women’s Day.

The major card issuer announced its third annual Everywhere Initiative with a particular focus on female entrepreneurship and a sponsorship of Girl Starter, a tech company that offers platforms to amplify girls in entrepreneurship and business leadership.

Visa is lending its hand to turn the limelight on women in technology, by inviting women entrepreneurs to participate in Visa’s Everywhere Initiative and also by sponsoring an upcoming episode of the all new TLC series, “Girl Starter.”

“The sponsorship of Girl Starter continues to move the needle on our commitment to empowering women in the workplace,” said Lynne Biggar, chief marketing officer, Visa. “At the same time, it allows us to bring even more start-up-led innovation into the fold at Visa, ultimately creating better business solutions for all of our clients and partners.”

“At Girl Starter we believe in supporting young women who have an entrepreneurial spirit and are fostering change in the world around us,” said Jeannine Shao-Collins, CEO and co-founder of Girl Starter. “We’re thrilled to be working with Visa, an established brand that is not only innovating the future of payments but also the future of the workforce by promoting universal acceptance of everyone, everywhere.”

The actual kick-off for the third annual Everywhere Initiative in North America celebrates female entrepreneurship with a live pitch competition in Austin, Texas. Five women-helmed start ups will pitch ideas that leverage Visa APIs to help merchants grow their businesses. The event will be held tomorrow, March 11th in Austin at Visa’s Everywhere Lounge.

The start-ups include BeautyLynk, CNote, Loop & Tie, Soko, and Traveling Spoon.

The event is sure to thrill, and the live competition will be judged by Visa executives, cast members of the upcoming TLC network series, “Girl Starter” and Ingrid Vanderveldt, chainman and CEO of Empowering a Billion Women by 2020.

In addition, all participants will receive an annual membership to the EBW2020 One Club, and the winner will receive an annual membership to the EBW2020 One Club, and the winner will get $25,000 and the opportunity to run a pilot program with Visa.