--- title: "Octane Foundation for Innovation Highlight Part I: Women Leaders of Octane" description: Read about the four goals that this initiative has and why it is so important to keep moving the needle in this area. image: https://blog.octaneoc.org/hubfs/14-ConnectingConsumers-1300-2.jpg --- [![Octane](https://blog.octaneoc.org/hubfs/Octane_December2019/Images/Octane.svg)](https://octaneoc.org/) - [Accelerate](https://octaneoc.org/launchpad/) - [LaunchPad SBDC Accelerator](https://octaneoc.org/launchpad/) - [Pitch Presentation Template](https://octaneoc.org/launchpad/#template) - [Our Alumni](https://octaneoc.org/launchpad-alumni/) - [Apply](https://info.octaneoc.org/launchpadapply) - [Grow](https://octaneoc.org/octane-enterprise-solutions/) - [Events](https://octaneoc.org/events-programs/) - [Aesthetics Tech Forum](https://octaneoc.org/aesthetic-technology-summit/) - [Tech Innovation Forum](https://octaneoc.org/tech-innovation-forum/) - [Ophthalmology Tech Forum](https://octaneoc.org/ophthalmology-technology-summit/) - [High Tech Awards](https://octaneoc.org/high-tech-awards/) - [Cardiovascular Tech Summit](https://octaneoc.org/cardiovascular-tech-summit/) - [Medical Innovation Forum](https://octaneoc.org/medtech-innovation-forum/) - [Programs & Calendar](https://octaneoc.org/events-programs/#calendar) - [Partner](https://octaneoc.org/partner/) - [Partner with Us](https://octaneoc.org/partner/) - [Octane Partners](https://octaneoc.org/octane-partners/) - [Become a Member](http://register.octaneoc.org/membership) - [Mission](https://octaneoc.org/mission/) - [What We Do](https://octaneoc.org/mission/) - [Community Initiatives](https://octaneoc.org/octane-foundation-for-innovation/) - [Women Leaders of Octane](https://octaneoc.org/octane-foundation-for-innovation/#women-leaders) - [Non-Profit Accelerator](https://octaneoc.org/octane-foundation-for-innovation/#npa) - [LaunchPad Accelerator](https://octaneoc.org/octane-foundation-for-innovation/#launchpad) - [STEAM Ahead](https://octaneoc.org/octane-foundation-for-innovation/#stem-fellows) - [Next Wave](https://octaneoc.org/octane-foundation-for-innovation/#orange-movement) - [Team](https://octaneoc.org/mission/#team) - [Board & Advisors](https://octaneoc.org/board-advisors/) - [Careers](https://octaneoc.org/careers/) - [News & Blog](https://blog.octaneoc.org/) Latest [Events](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/events) [Med Tech](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/med-tech) [Tech](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/tech) [Innovation](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/innovation) [Octane News](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/octane-news) ## [Winners Announced - The 2022 High Tech Awards](https://blog.octaneoc.org/hta-2022-winners) by [Natalie Matsumoto](https://blog.octaneoc.org/author/natalie-matsumoto) on September 29, 2022 [Read more](https://blog.octaneoc.org/hta-2022-winners) - CATEGORIES ### Subscribe to Email Updates [Foundation for Innovation](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/foundation-for-innovation) | 1 min read # Octane Foundation for Innovation Highlight Part I: Women Leaders of Octane Written by [Cara Davidoff](https://blog.octaneoc.org/author/cara-davidoff) - - - Each week, Octane will be highlighting one of our five key initiatives as part of [Octane Foundation for Innovation](https://octaneoc.org/octane-foundation-for-innovation/). If you missed last week’s post, you can [read it here](https://blog.octaneoc.org/an-introduction-to-octane-foundation-for-innovation). In week two of this six-part series, we are featuring the [Women Leaders of Octane](https://info.octaneoc.org/womenleaders).  The mission has four core goals which are noted below.  In 2018 Octane launched this new initiative, Women Leaders of Octane, which focused on two very important opportunities within our technology and life science regional ecosystem. Forbes research in 2018 indicated that less than 3% of venture funding is received by women- founders. Additionally, in 2017, McKinsey & Company research stated that women continue to be hired and promoted at lower rates than men, and at senior levels, the gap in promotions is more pronounced for women of color. Octane was staggered by these statics and saw them as an opportunity that Octane can influence and impact, so we took action with women and men leaders in Southern California. Our specific mission with this initiative is focused on four core outcomes: 1. To increase the number of women-operated companies in SoCal that go through Octane’s LaunchPad Accelerator, an award-winning **pro bono** resource 2. To increase the capital available to women-operated companies in SoCal 3. To support women in their career development and growth by providing access to resources and power networking opportunities 4. To connect women leaders with public and private Board opportunities As Octane continues to expand and move towards our goal, we are finding ways in which we can shed light on the statistics and goals we are looking to achieve. We have featured women leaders throughout our Signature Event keynote sessions, hosted networking events to provide thought leadership and foster new relationships, increased our pipeline of women-operated companies applying for LaunchPad, and expanded our network of investors that can fund women-operated companies. Our Women Leaders of Octane Committee is working diligently on creating new programming, developing strategic partnerships, and building out our Board engagement program for 2020.   ### Related Categories [Foundation for Innovation](https://blog.octaneoc.org/tag/foundation-for-innovation) ### [Cara Davidoff](https://blog.octaneoc.org/author/cara-davidoff) Popular [Start Up](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/start-up) [Business Resource](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/business-resource) ## [Why Brand Strategy Is So Important For Startups](https://blog.octaneoc.org/why-brand-strategy-is-so-important-for-startups) [Read more](https://blog.octaneoc.org/why-brand-strategy-is-so-important-for-startups) Popular [Business Resource](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/business-resource) ## [The Importance of a Human Capital Management Strategy](https://blog.octaneoc.org/the-importance-of-a-human-capital-management-strategy) [Read more](https://blog.octaneoc.org/the-importance-of-a-human-capital-management-strategy) Popular [Orange County](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/orange-county) ## [City of Hope: Advancing World-Renowned Cancer Treatment and Research in Orange County](https://blog.octaneoc.org/city-of-hope-advancing-world-renowned-cancer-treatment-and-research-in-orange-county) [Read more](https://blog.octaneoc.org/city-of-hope-advancing-world-renowned-cancer-treatment-and-research-in-orange-county) ## Accelerate Your Capital Funding Strategy LaunchPad is a Top-5 SBDC in the nation, offering pro-bono expertise help you prepare to raise capital.  [Apply to LaunchPad SBDC](https://info.octaneoc.org/launchpadapply) ### Let Us Know What You Thought about this Post. Put your Comment Below. ### You may also like: [Innovation](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/innovation) [Octane News](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/octane-news) [Foundation for Innovation](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/foundation-for-innovation) ## [Interview: Bill Carpou, Octane CEO & Benjamin Glenn at LSI's Emerging Medtech Summit](https://blog.octaneoc.org/interview-bill-carpou-octane-ceo-benjamin-glenn-founder-of-a-matter-of-innovation) Octane CEO, Bill Carpou, sat down for a discussion with Benjamin Glenn, Founder of A Matter of Innovation at LSI’s Emerg... [Octane News](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/octane-news) [Foundation for Innovation](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/foundation-for-innovation) ## [Nearly True Tales of Innovation: Bill Carpou, CEO and Board Member of Octane an LSI 2021](https://blog.octaneoc.org/nearly-true-tales-of-innovation-bill-carpou-ceo-and-board-member-of-octane-an-lsi-2021) Bill Carpou, Octane CEO, is interviewed by Ben Glenn at the 2021 LSI Conference in Newport Beach, California. In this vi... [Non-Profit Accelerator](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/non-profit-accelerator) [Foundation for Innovation](https://blog.octaneoc.org/topic/foundation-for-innovation) ## [Octane Announces Fall 2021 Cohort of the Non- Profit Accelerator](https://blog.octaneoc.org/octane-announces-fall-2021-cohort-of-the-non-profit-accelerator) September 20, 2021. Aliso Viejo, California. Octane, Southern California’s leading accelerator announced today its Fall ... ## **Contact Us.**   i[nfo@octaneoc.org](mailto:info@octaneoc.org) 949.330.6564 [Get In Touch](https://octanestaging1.wpengine.com/) © 2020 Octane - - - - - Search for: - [Incubator](https://octaneoc.org/incubator/) - [LaunchPad Accelerator](https://octaneoc.org/launchpad/) - [Growth & Consulting Services](https://octaneoc.org/grow/) - [Events & Programs](https://octaneoc.org/events-programs/) - [Partners](https://octaneoc.org/partner/) - [Our Mission](https://octaneoc.org/mission/) - [News & Blog](https://blog.octaneoc.org/) - [Privacy Policy](https://octaneoc.org/privacy/)