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Message from the CEO
3000 Points of Light... and counting!
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This year so very many of you contributed to the success of the organization and to the companies we serve. Thank you to each and every one of you.
Reflections on 2012
Last week was a great example of the work you have made possible - we showcased three exceptional entrepreneurs to the investment community on both coasts: Asmau Ahmed, CEO and Founder, Color Modules; Hilary DeCesare, CEO and Founder, Everloop; and Erika Trautman, CEO and Founder, FlixMaster. Top venture capitalists and angel investors attended the two forums hosted by Andreessen Horowitz in Silicon Valley and StarVest Partners in New York. Notable attendees included Alloy Ventures, Asset Management Ventures, XG Ventures, Citi Ventures, HBS Alumni Angels, Sandhill Angels - and many more networked and enjoyed some holiday cheer while considering the investment opportunity these women present.
Looking to 2013 & Beyond
Astia has enjoyed a 13-year history of taking bold moves to advance women-led innovation. From incubator to global programming, Astia has delivered on its promise to build an international community that supports and propels women-led ventures. As we enter into our 14th year, we take the time to both celebrate the successes, as well as reflect upon what we might do better. It is this reflection that has ignited an exciting new journey for Astia -- one that includes increased community engagement, widespread impact and a stronger ability to help women-led high-growth ventures win.
Astia Fund: An investment vehicle that will directly invest in Astia companies.
Astia Global Entrepreneur Program: Astia's signature global entrepreneur program, including the one-week bootcamp and 3-month advisory period, offered exclusively to Astia-funded ventures.
Astia Angel Network: Astia Angel is a global network of female and male angel investors that invests in woman-led, high-growth ventures. Members support the Astia mission by participating in the community and investing in Astia companies.
Astia Access: Global programming that will provide access to community and expertise and at all levels of the entrepreneurial life-cycle.
Wrapping it all neatly in a bow
In closing, let me reiterate the important role you play in delivering on the promise of the Astia mission. If you have not already considered an end of year donation - now would be a great time to reinforce your support through a generous contribution. Every donation helps and every dollar counts.
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As we say at Astia - Astia is a community, Astia is you!
Warmest holiday wishes from the entire Astia Team,
Sharon, Catherine, Patty, Carolyn, Amy, Jane, Evie, Raquel, Marie & Jorge
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Astia Investor Forums
In December, Astia held two Investor Forums hosted by Andreessen Horowitz in Silicon Valley and StarVest Partners in New York City. Three Astia companies presented and over 80 investors attended the events.
The presenters included Asmau Ahmed (CEO and Founder of Color Modules) who was introduced by Scott Kupor (COO and Managing Partner of Andreessen Horowitz) in Silicon Valley and Jeanne Sullivan (General Partner of StarVest Partners) in New York City; Hilary DeCesare (CEO and Founder of Everloop) who was introduced by Andy Russo (angel investor) in Silicon Valley and New York City, and Erika Trautman (CEO and Founder of FlixMaster) who was introduced by Jim Katzman (angel investor) in Silicon Valley and Adam Quinton (angel investor) in New York City.
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Astia Monthly Screening Days
As we move forward on our new path, Astia Monthly Screening day will become our primary vehicle for reviewing companies that have applied to Astia, as opposed to our previous, thrice-yearly screening days. We plan to hit the ground running in the New Year with an Astia screening day in Silicon Valley, New York and London on February 7th, 2013 from 10am-2pm. Please save the date, and we look forward to providing you with more details as the day approaches. |
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Astia Welcomes New Team Member, Marie Trexler
Marie Trexler will join Astia in the New Year as Director of Entrepreneurial Services. Marie started up and led investments for Good Capital's Social Enterprise Expansion Fund, a double bottom line venture fund, where she remains on the Board of Advisors. Her current activities include consulting with startups and serving on non-profit boards including StartOut (advances entrepreneurship within the LGBT community) and Emerge CA (recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office).
Previously, Marie headed business development for Intel Corp's largest business unit, the Digital Enterprise Group. The core of Marie's venture investment experience comes from seven years at Intel Capital, Intel's multi-billion dollar strategic investment arm, where she ran investment teams in both the US and Europe focused on making venture capital investments in high tech startups.
With more than 60 venture investments under her belt, Marie was also responsible for starting up Intel Capital's investment program in Eastern Europe where she identified and consummated Intel's first equity investment, as well as first acquisition, in Russia. Prior to Intel, Marie built her emerging markets private equity and banking experience at the International Finance Corporation (World Bank), Slovak American Enterprise Fund, ING Barings and EurAmerica Capital. She graduated from Dartmouth College and earned an MBA from the University of Virginia.
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Astia Angel to Hold First Member Meeting in Bay Area
Astia Angel will hold its first member meeting in the Bay Area on Thursday January 24th. Astia Angel is global network of female and male angel investors that invests in women-led, high-growth ventures. For more information on joining Astia Angel please contact Amy Gips, Founding Managing Partner, at amy@astia.org or 415-531-8539.
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Indisys Closes $5 Million Round with Intel Capital
 Intelligent Dialogue Systems (INDISYS), the Natural Language and Intelligent Conversation company, has recently closed a US$5M round of funding led by Intel Capital, along with participation from Inveready SCR. INDISYS provides natural language and dialog management solutions that enables functional, social and emotional virtual intelligence, context awareness and flexible, human-like conversational abilities. Indisys is the first Spanish company ever funded by Intel Capital.
Read more here >>
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Avaxia Biologics, Inc. Raises $6.4 Million in Series B
 Avaxia Biologics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing gut-targeted therapeutics, announced today that the company raised $6.4 million in a Series B financing. The round was led by existing investor Cherrystone Angels and new investor Golden Seeds. Also participating in the round were existing investors Beacon Angels, Boston Harbor Angels, Launchpad Venture Group, Mass Medical Angels, and North Country Angels; new investors the Beta Fund, Granite State Angels, the Keiretsu Forum, and Maine Angels; and individual investors.
Avaxia plans to use the proceeds to fund a first-in-human Phase 1b clinical trial of its oral anti-TNF antibody, AVX-470, for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. As a gut-targeted therapeutic, AVX-470 is designed to act locally in the gastrointestinal tract to suppress inflammation and treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. In November 2012, Avaxia announced that its investigational new drug (IND) application was cleared by the FDA, and patient enrollment is expected to begin in early 2013.
Read more here >>
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Astia's Investor Advisory Council
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