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Springboard’s Dolphin Tank is a pitch event that brings the power of our collective community to women entrepreneurs innovating in technology. Our Dolphin Tank events showcase exciting women-led companies and provide them with the opportunity for connections, capital, and insight from our audience of investors, advisors, and industry leaders.
Join Springboard Enterprises and Dolphin Tank partners Wells Fargo, the Kauffman Foundation, and OneKC for Women, for an exciting pitch event featuring women founders and entrepreneurs, expert panelists, and interactive audience participation!
When and Where
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
5:00 PM CT – 8:00 PM CT
Polsinelli Offices
900 W 48th St, Kansas City, MO 64112
Please note: This will be an in-person event
We’re Showcasing Women in Tech!
Does your company have at least one woman founder, entrepreneur, or executive in a key leadership position? Do you advise one? Pitch your company at Dolphin Tank!
Don’t wait! Applications are due February 14, 2023.
Criteria for presenting companies:
- Applications are open to women entrepreneurs in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa.
- The company must have at least one woman founder or in a key leadership position.
- Areas of focus that include, but are not limited to enterprise-focused tech solutions.
- Demonstrated innovation in your industry and traction in your market.
- Seed stage to growth stage.
- Must be able to present in Kansas City, MO on February 28, 2023
Apply by February 14 2023
Meet our Panel
Judith Goldkrand SVP at Wells Fargo
Judith Goldkrand, a Senior Vice President with Wells Fargo, is the National Women’s Segment Leader and National Asian Segment Leader. Judith has more than 25 years of experience in banking including Corporate Finance, Private Banking, and Business Banking. She is a board member of the Women Presidents’ Organization and the Chair of the Foundation of the Women Presidents’ Organization. Judith is the Vice Chair of the board of Equal Rights Advocates and is chair of the development committee. She is on the board of Women Business Collaborative and a co-chair of the Advisory Council. Judith is also a member of the advisory board of the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson and an advisory board member of Enterprising Women. In addition, Judith is a member of the Wexner Gender Summit. Judith is a past board member of National Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federations of North America, is a past board member of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco and a past president of Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco. She is a former board member of Pacific Community Ventures and chair of the loan policy committee. She is a Wexner Heritage Fellow alumna and a graduate of Yale University. Judith is passionate about women’s leadership and influence, diversity, equity and inclusion, and the growth of women-owned businesses. In 2016, Judith was honored with the President’s Award from the Women Presidents’ Organization. Most recently, Judith was awarded the Industry Leadership Award by Professional Business Women of California.
Aviva Ajmera CEO of SoLVE KC
Aviva founded SoLVE with the mission to help Kansas City businesses grow. Offering a unique, hands-on approach to business consulting, SoLVE’s clients are both B2B and B2C. They range from $600M national corporations to $500M regional companies, and also include local small business owners and start-ups. Aviva supports clients across numerous industries including Consumer Product Goods, Construction, Publishing, Wealth Management, Higher Education, IT, Manufacturing, CCRCs and non-profit organizations.
Margo Shepard Advisor & SVP of Investments at The Shepard Wealth Management Group
Through a long-term investment approach, Shepard helps high-net-worth clients develop and implement strategies to support their financial and life goals. She is a Private Wealth Financial Advisor and has provided guidance to individual and institutional investors since 1981. She helps to ensure that her clients receive the advice and service needed to help them preserve and grow their wealth across generations.
Bryan Shannon Managing Director at Trevipay
Bryan is a proven sales leader and executive with a strong track record of helping businesses drive sales, grow market shares, and increase revenue through strong leadership, effective communication, and business development. Outside of his profession, Bryan is also a non-profit board member, business advisor and advocate for small businesses.
Debra Ellies Ph.D CEO of OssiFi Inc
Dr. Ellies founded OssiFi Inc, and has worked to develop the unique business strategy, with a de-risked efficacious orally available drug and a spinal fusion synthetic device that will promote bone. Dr. Ellies has also written several international key scientific manuscripts and has over a dozen issued and filed patent applications. Debra continues to be a prolific entrepreneur in the life sciences.
Meet our Moderator
Evelyn Torres VP of Brand and Community, Springboard Enterprises
Evelyn is a seasoned marketing professional with Fortune 500 and Big Four experience. Her specializations are brand management, transforming insights into stories, innovation transformation, and digital/social strategy. Evelyn brings her expertise from marketing global corporations to Springboard Enterprises to grow our impact in the community. She is recognized as a leader in the marketing industry and has been named one of the “Top 20 Professionals Under 40 in Miami” by Brickell Magazine. She’s a contributor to British Airways Magazine, The Club, and Modern Luxury. Evelyn has also been featured in The South Florida Business Journal, The Sun Sentinel, Medium.com, Racked, BIKINI.com, Kitchn.com, and Brickell Magazine. She is an advocate for diversity and women entrepreneurs. She’s also passionate about improving children’s literacy in the United States. Pre-pandemic she was a volunteer for United Way Reading Pals. She currently splits her time between New York and Miami.
Meet our Entrepreneurs
See our Event Look Book
About Dolphin Tank
Dolphin Tank participants will have access to learning opportunities, mentorship, and access to capital via: Funding Your Small Business, Pitching to Investors, and Equity Prep classes offered by the KCWBC. Funding Your Small Business is a one-hour workshop providing an understanding of debt and equity funding. Equity seekers are encouraged to take the next step with pitching to investors an orientation workshop. Debt funding candidates may be interested in a microloan or banker referral or one-on-one counseling with KCWBC’s Client Services Manager for potential financial preparation. Pitching to Investors is a two-hour orientation that introduces the business owner pursuing equity funding with terminology and the process that is necessary to attract investors. Equity Prep takes a deeper dive into raising equity funding. The program helps entrepreneurs get ready for several pathways, including Digital Sandbox, Dolphin Tank, Angel Investors, and Demo Days.
Springboard Enterprises values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as essential to our mission and more broadly to a thriving, equitable, and just global community. We encourage women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds to apply.
How Dolphin Tank Works
While the venues and audiences may vary, every Dolphin Tank shares these core elements:
- Entrepreneurs and their companies are selected via an application process.
- Presenters deliver a three-minute pitch addressing a challenge or unique opportunity.
- Solutions, connections, strategies, and opportunities for investment are crowdsourced from the audience.
Event Partners
If you are interested in sponsoring, please email:
Rachel Rong, Director of Operations for Springboard Enterprises at [email protected].
