Women's Capital Connection

What Women's Capital Connection does

Women's Capital Connection (WCC) is a regional nonprofit angel investor network founded in January 2008, headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, and serving as the equity-investment arm of the OneKC for Women alliance. WCC connects accredited women angel investors—now numbering more than 120 since launch—with women-led startups and early-stage companies primarily in the Kansas City metropolitan area, screening from a pipeline of over 1,000 women-led venture inquiries that has produced 33 funded portfolio companies and roughly $5 million in cumulative private capital deployed. The organization runs a structured set of educational programs including the four-part 'Making Sense of Capital' lunch series (delivered in partnership with Polsinelli's Venture Capital practice) and the five-week 'Equipped for Equity' pitch-preparation intensive, alongside pitch and networking events such as Dolphin Tank (with Springboard Enterprises) and Venture Lounge.

WCC's core operating model is community-led: it curates deal flow, prepares entrepreneurs for investor presentations, and facilitates syndicated investments among its member investors, often co-investing with Mid-America Angels. There is no underlying software platform disclosed; the product surface is human-mediated programming and events. Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed and pricing is not applicable, as WCC functions as a nonprofit investor network rather than a fee-for-service entity. Recognized exits include the EyeVerify nine-figure acquisition by Ant Financial (Alibaba) in 2016 and a 2019 UK VC $10M buyout of WCC's TomboyX shares (approximately 2x return), with the 2023 co-investment in PMI Rate Pro marking the most recent disclosed deal activity. WCC is governed by its member investors and operates with an 11–50 employee footprint; a planned 2026 leadership transition moves founder Sherry Turner to an advisory role with Erin Cole (Women's Employment Network) as successor across the alliance.

Name

Women's Capital Connection

Legal name

Women's Capital Connection

Website

https://womenscapitalconnection.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women's Capital Connection is a Kansas City-based nonprofit angel investor network founded in 2008 that connects 120+ accredited women investors with women-led startups, having funded 33 companies with roughly $5 million deployed and produced exits including EyeVerify and TomboyX.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angel Investing Network

NAICS

Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239), Miscellaneous Intermediation (52391)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gender Lens / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Funds (FSANAJAM), Private Capital Introducers (PE/VC/Private Credit) (FSAEAMAE), Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

Keywords

• Angel investor network
• Women entrepreneur funding
• Equity capital programs
• Investor education workshops
• Pitch training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lenexa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Angel Investor Membership: WCC operates as a network of accredited angel investors who contribute capital to women-led ventures. The organization facilitates investment deals where members pool resources to fund portfolio companies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Women's Capital Connection is a regional network of accredited angel investors that identifies, evaluates, and funds women-led startups and early-stage ventures in the Kansas City region and across the United States. The organization delivers angel investment facilitation, deal-flow management between entrepreneurs and its 120+ women members, and complementary educational programs that prepare entrepreneurs for the equity investment process.

Product overview

Women's Capital Connection (WCC) is a regional network of accredited angel investors and the equity investment arm of the OneKC for Women alliance. Rather than a single unified software product, WCC offers a portfolio of educational programs and networking services including Making Sense of Capital (a four-part series on angel investment), Equipped for Equity (a five-week pitch refinement program), Venture Lounge networking events, and Dolphin Tank pitch events. These programs work together to connect women entrepreneurs with angel investors and provide them with the capital, resources, and connections needed to succeed.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Angel Investment Network Services Core regional network service connecting women entrepreneurs with accredited angel investors across the Kansas City region and the U.S., including deal flow management, investor presentations, mentoring, and equity capital deployment. Since 2008, the network has grown to 120+ women investors who have funded 33 companies with nearly $5 million in capital.
• Making Sense of Capital A four-part educational lunch series for entrepreneurs and investors covering angel investment process fundamentals including business entities, convertible debt, priced rounds, valuations, and deal structures. Delivered in Spring and Fall sessions with Polsinelli attorneys as instructors.
• Equipped for Equity: Mastering the Pitch and Investment Process Intensive five-week cohort program for a small group of 6-8 entrepreneurs focused on refining pitch decks and gaining deep understanding of the equity investment process, including how to determine the right type of equity and identify suitable investors.
• Dolphin Tank Pitch event showcasing women entrepreneurs innovating in technology, providing opportunities for connections, capital, and insight from a community of investors, advisors, and industry leaders in Kansas City. Co-hosted with Springboard Enterprises.
• Venture Lounge Exclusive networking event bringing together company founders, angel investors, fund managers, and resource organizations in a casual atmosphere to share insights and explore collaborations around women-led ventures.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful exit of EyeVerify to Ant Financial (Alibaba) in a nine-figure deal
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OneKC for Women AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCC is the equity investment arm of the OneKC for Women alliance, which includes Women's Employment Network, Women's Business Center, and WE-Lend. Formed in 2009 to provide comprehensive services for women from employment to entrepreneurship to business funding. The alliance serves the 11-county Kansas City metro area.
• Springboard Enterprises (Dolphin Tank)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOneKC for Women partners with Springboard's Dolphin Tank program to host pitch events showcasing women entrepreneurs in Kansas City. The events bring together founders, investors, advisors, and industry leaders for connections and capital opportunities.
• Kansas City Women in TechnologyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership announced October 2017 to expand options and provide additional resources for women in the Kansas City community. Kansas City Women in Technology brings technical and coding skill development while WCC provides capital connections.
• PolsinellicoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAttorneys from Polsinelli's Venture Capital division conduct the 'Making Sense of Capital' educational series covering business entities, convertible debt, priced rounds, valuations, and deal structures. Polsinelli also provides office space for Dolphin Tank events.
• Kauffman FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation endorsed the OneKC for Women alliance and has been a supporter since 2009. Lesa Mitchell, VP Advancing Innovation, praised the alliance as a smart strategic move for the organizations.
• U.S. Small Business AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBA District Director Gary Cook expressed full support for the OneKC for Women alliance, stating partnerships of this kind provide seamless delivery of services for the Kansas City community.
• Greater Kansas City Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsed the OneKC for Women alliance, noting donors are pleased to see organizations work more efficiently through collaboration.
• Women's Employment Network (WEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of OneKC for Women alliance, WEN provides job-search training, resources, individualized coaching, and financial education for women in the Kansas City metro area. WEN's CEO Erin Cole will take over from Sherry Turner in April 2026.
• Iowa Center for Economic SuccessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Iowa Center for Economic Success modeled their 'Iowa Angel Network' after Women's Capital Connection, seeking to replicate WCC's model of bringing women together to invest in women-owned businesses.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Springboard Enterprises: Accelerator/curator connecting women-led growth companies with investors through selective cohort programs and Dolphin Tank pitch events. WCC actually hosts Springboard's Dolphin Tank KC, evidencing direct model and mission overlap in surfacing women founders to capital.
• Pipeline Angels: National gender-focused angel investing network that pools capital from individual investors into women-led and non-binary-led ventures. Operates an investee-readiness curriculum alongside deal syndication, mirroring WCC's combined education + angel network model.
• Mid-America Angels: One of the largest angel networks in the Midwest and a core co-investment partner of WCC across EyeVerify, TomboyX, and PMI Rate Pro. Directly comparable as an organized angel network sourcing and syndicating regional deals.
• Golden Seeds: Angel/early-stage investment platform dedicated to women-led companies, pooling capital from a member base of women and men investors. Closely aligned with WCC in investor composition, gender-lens thesis, and stage focus.
• Astia: Global network connecting high-growth women entrepreneurs with investors and advisors. Comparable to WCC as a curated matchmaking/community layer facilitating investment into women-led ventures.

Broad incumbents

• Female Founders Fund: Early-stage venture fund investing in women-founded companies. Same gender-lens thesis as WCC but operates as a capitalized institutional fund across a broader geography rather than a regional member network.

Regional players

• Queen City Angels: Established regional angel network in the Midwest operating a member-driven investment model. Comparable to WCC in structure and regional orientation, though without WCC's explicit gender-lens filter.
• Iowa Center for Economic Success: Regional economic development organization that explicitly modeled its Iowa Angel Network after Women's Capital Connection. Comparable as a regional gender-lens angel network built on the WCC playbook.

Others

• Angel Capital Association: Trade association for accredited angel investor groups in North America. WCC's portfolio company EyeVerify was nominated by Mid-America Angels for ACA's Luis Villalobos Award, evidencing membership/participation in this ecosystem body.

Emerging players

• Portfolia: Gender-lens investing platform running thematic funds (including female founder and women-led venture funds) where individual investors co-invest in curated deals. Comparable to WCC's syndication and community-building approach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/onekcforwomen
• Facebookfacebook.com/OneKCforWomen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments5 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Women's Capital Connection