Exponent Women

What Exponent Women does

Exponent Women is a privately held, membership-based professional networking organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in New York City. The company operates as Exponent Women, LLC, an LLC domiciled in the USA, and is led by six founders drawn from the financial services ecosystem: Amy Weisman (Sterling Investment Partners), Marilyn Adler (Mizzen Capital), Justine Mannering (Stifel), Nanette Heide (Duane Morris LLP), Michelle Vanhellemont (Accordion), and Cortney Stapleton (Bliss Integrated Communications). Its purpose is to connect women dealmakers across private equity, investment banking, M&A advisory, law, and entrepreneurship, addressing the limited networking opportunities available in the male-dominated financial services industry.

The organization runs a platform-plus-events model centered on the annual Exponent Exchange flagship conference (held since 2018, capped at 200 attendees), supplemented by virtual coffee sessions, regional networking events in NYC, Chicago, London, and Washington D.C., specialized ESG impact investing programming, social Sip & Shop events, and the Momentum Series for young professionals. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization uses standard web (Squarespace-based website at exponentwomen.com), email (Constant Contact), and video conferencing (Zoom) infrastructure, with social engagement concentrated on LinkedIn. Co-developed programming with the NYSE (Women in Leadership series) and an exclusive partnership with Kayo Conference Series for the M&A Summit round out the distribution mix.

Exponent Women generates revenue primarily through $350 annual individual memberships and a multi-tier corporate sponsorship program for events, with tier levels ranging from Visionary Sponsor (e.g., Datasite) and Founder Sponsor (Troutman Pepper Locke, HighWire) down to panel-level and cocktail reception sponsorships. Sponsors include professional services firms (BDO, Crowe, Moelis, Alvarez & Marsal, DLA Piper, Duane Morris), investment banks (Houlihan Lokey, Jefferies, Cowen, William Blair), private equity firms (Apollo, Blackstone, Ares, Odyssey, Sterling, Watermill), and other financial services (BlackRock, Citizens, Alliant, DealCloud, Stax, Owens Group, Trewstar, Fund Finance Partners). Individual membership provides access to virtual events, exclusive coffee sessions, member directory visibility, and discounted in-person event access. The customer base is described as one of the largest collectives of women dealmakers on the East Coast, with member firms spanning PE, banking, law, and advisory.

Name

Exponent Women

Legal name

Exponent Women, LLC

Website

https://exponentwomen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Exponent Women is a membership-based networking organization founded in 2017 in New York that connects women dealmakers across private equity, investment banking, M&A, and law through an annual Exchange conference, virtual coffees, regional events, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Networking Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Networking & Matchmaking Events (1:1/Group Networking) (MPAGAOAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA), Virtual Trade Shows & Expos (Digital Booths, Lead Capture) (MPAGAOAB)

Keywords

• Professional networking services
• Women dealmaker community
• M&A industry events
• Private equity networking
• Investment banking events

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership subscription providing access to virtual events, coffee sessions, member directory listing, and networking opportunities. Cost is $350 for 12 months.
2. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors fund events at various tiers (Visionary, Motivator, Pillar, Influencer, Cocktail Reception, Panel sponsors). Sponsors receive branding, visibility, and access to members at events.
3. Event Registration Fees: Non-members pay for some events (e.g., $65 for Chicago networking). In-person events available to members at discounted rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Exponent Women is a membership-based professional networking organization for women dealmakers in private equity, investment banking, and M&A. It sells an annual individual membership ($350/12 months) that provides access to virtual and in-person networking events, member directory listings, virtual coffee sessions, and discounted entry to its flagship Annual Exchange conference. Corporate sponsorship packages (Visionary, Motivator, Pillar, Influencer, Cocktail Reception, Panel tiers) provide additional revenue.

Product overview

Exponent Women is a membership-based networking organization for women dealmakers in private equity, investment banking, and M&A. The organization operates a platform-plus-events model centered on its annual Exponent Exchange conference, supplemented by regular Virtual Coffee sessions, the Momentum Series for young professionals, and Sip & Shop social events. The core product is the Exponent Women Membership ($350 annually), which provides complimentary access to virtual events, exclusive coffee sessions, featured member profiles, and discounted access to in-person programming. All offerings facilitate networking, deal-making connections, and professional development among women in finance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exponent Women Membership Annual individual membership priced at $350 for 12 months, providing complimentary access to virtual events, exclusive virtual coffee sessions, a discount code for five network contacts to attend virtual events, a featured profile on the Members page, official Exponent Member status, premier networking opportunities, and access to exclusive content. In-person events are available at discounted rates for members.
• Exponent Exchange Annual Conference Flagship annual conference bringing together women dealmakers for educational panels, keynote speakers, and networking. Sold out at 200 attendees in 2018 and 2019; subsequent editions held virtually in 2020 and 2021, then in-person at Apella, NYC in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Targets women professionals in private equity, investment banking, M&A, law, and advisory.
• Momentum Series Program designed for young professionals in dealmaking that brings participants together across all career levels through virtual panels and curated topical networking, aimed at supporting the next generation of female dealmakers.
• Virtual Coffee Sessions Regular virtual networking sessions featuring expert-led panels on topics such as AI in Private Equity, deal sourcing trends, and executive presence, providing ongoing education and networking between major Exchange events. Available to members with complimentary access.
• Sip & Shop Events Intimate social networking events combined with retail experiences, such as gatherings with fashion designers, often featuring charitable components supporting women's causes. Designed to foster informal connections among members.
• ESG Impact Investing Events Specialized events focusing on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing topics, bringing together PE professionals to discuss ESG measurement and impact.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200 women dealmakers attending annual Exchange events
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Crowe LLPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCrowe LLP serves as a Motivator Sponsor for Exponent Women events. Crowe leaders including Chris Chandler, Patrice Muller, and Doug Schrock participate as speakers in Exponent events on topics including AI in Private Equity and audit/financial services.
• Troutman Pepper LockecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTroutman Pepper Locke is listed as a Founder Sponsor, supporting the organization's mission and events.
• HighWirecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHighWire is listed as a Founder Sponsor, supporting the organization's mission and events.
• Kayo Conference SeriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKayo is a Partner organization. Exponent co-founders speak at Kayo events including the M&A Summit. Exclusive partnership for events like the 2025 M&A Summit in Boston. Members receive 20% discount with code EXPONENT20.
• DatasitecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDatasite serves as Visionary Sponsor for Exponent events. The company provides M&A technology platforms and supports the Exponent Exchange events.
• Stax LLCmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerStax LLC serves as Influencer Sponsor. A strategic consulting firm focused on M&A and private equity advisory services.
• DealCloudmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDealCloud serves as Cocktail Reception Sponsor. Provides deal management platform for financial services.
• AlliantmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlliant serves as Healthcare Panel Sponsor and annual sponsor. Insurance and advisory services firm serving private equity.
• CitizensminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCitizens Bank serves as a sponsor for Exponent events.
• JefferiesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerJefferies serves as event sponsor. Investment bank with active private equity practice.
• Houlihan LokeymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHoulihan Lokey serves as annual sponsor. Investment bank with active M&A advisory practice.
• BDO USAmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBDO USA serves as Keynote Luncheon Sponsor and annual sponsor. Professional services firm providing audit, tax and advisory services.
• Moelis & CompanymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMoelis & Company serves as Rooftop Reception Sponsor and event supporter. Investment bank providing M&A advisory.
• Apollo Global ManagementmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerApollo serves as Pillar Sponsor and supports Exponent events. Private equity firm.
• Owens GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOwens Group serves as Pillar Sponsor and event supporter. Insurance and risk management firm serving private equity.
• TrewstarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrewstar serves as sponsor for Exponent events. Executive search firm.
• Duane Morris LLPmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDuane Morris LLP is an annual sponsor. Law firm with active private equity practice. Co-founder Nanette Heide is a partner.
• DLA PipermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDLA Piper serves as B2C Breakout Panel Sponsor in 2023 and annual sponsor. Law firm serving private equity.
• Alvarez & MarsalmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlvarez & Marsal serves as sponsor for What's Driving Value panel. Professional services and advisory firm.
• Fund Finance PartnersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFund Finance Partners serves as sponsor for Fundraising for Female Founders panel. Member Anastasia Kaup is a partner.
• Summit Leadership PartnersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSummit Leadership Partners serves as sponsor for Human Capital Strategies panel. Member Corinne Mason is affiliated.
• NYSEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYSE partners with Exponent for Women in Leadership series events. NYSE representatives including Stephanie Ruhle and Carolyn Saacke participate.
• Mergers & Acquisitions (The Middle Market)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry media partnership. Editor Mary Kathleen Flynn moderates panels. Organization featured in M&A coverage.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kayo Conference Series: Conference series operator focused on middle-market M&A and PE dealmakers. Directly comparable because Exponent is an official partner and co-hosts events like the M&A Summit; both serve the same audience of PE/IB dealmakers through curated networking events.
• PEWIN (Private Equity Women Investor Network): Non-profit network advancing women in private equity. Directly comparable to Exponent because both focus exclusively on women in PE dealmaking through networking, content, and events targeting similar sponsors (PE firms, fund finance, advisory).
• The Pipeline: Women-in-finance networking organization focused on private equity and venture capital. Directly comparable to Exponent because both target senior women in PE/VC deal ecosystems through curated programming and networking, often overlapping in member base.

Broad incumbents

• ACG (Association for Corporate Growth): Largest global community of middle-market M&A professionals. Comparable to Exponent because both serve dealmakers through events, networking, and content; however, ACG is a much larger, established, mixed-gender organization with chapters nationwide.
• Ellevate Network: Large professional women's network offering events, mentorship, and content for women in business. Comparable to Exponent in operating a membership-based women's professional network, but broader than dealmakers and serves a wider cross-industry audience.
• Chief: Membership-based private network for senior women executives. Comparable because both monetize through annual memberships and curated events, and serve similar senior-level women professionals — though Chief focuses on C-suite across industries rather than dealmakers specifically.
• Watermark: Women's executive organization producing events and conferences for women leaders. Comparable to Exponent's event-driven, membership-style model, but Watermark serves a broader cross-industry executive audience rather than finance dealmakers specifically.
• 100 Women in Finance: Global membership organization for women in the finance industry. Comparable to Exponent because both serve women in finance through events, networking, and educational programming targeting similar member demographics (PE, hedge funds, banking).

Others

• Mergers & Acquisitions (The Middle Market): Industry publication covering middle-market M&A. Comparable to Exponent as an ecosystem player covering the same dealmaker audience; serves as a media partner rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• 85 North (formerly 85 Broads): Global women's professional network with strong finance roots. Comparable to Exponent in offering events and networking for senior women in finance, though broader in scope and historically affiliated with Goldman Sachs alumni.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exponent_women
• Xx.com/exponent_women

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Exponent Women