Regional women-in-business report, annual award show success, room for growth

Women-led emerging growth companies in the Philadelphia region raise on average more than $10 million per company — called “significant outside capital” — according to a report released last week by WIN, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA and the Wharton Small Business Development Center.
The May 7th reception, where the report was discussed at BFTP’s offices in the Innovation Center of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, came along with other news for Pennsylvania women in business.
Gov. Ed Rendell saluted the honorees of the state’s 14th annual “Best 50 Women in Business” list, at a Harrisburg reception held Monday.
“Pennsylvania applauds the vital contributions that women entrepreneurs and leaders make to their communities and to the economic development of our state,” Fast Eddie said.
The report, called the Women-Led High Growth Business Report and lauded as among the first of its kind in the country, summarized the results of a survey and concurrent focus group of high-powered females in the region held last month .

Many of them may have also been among the 50 women recognized on this year’s list from the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development (which has a great Web site, by the way).
Of those 50 women honored, 19 hail from Southeastern Pennsylvania, according to a press release from the state. Two were from Bucks County, four from Chester County, two from Delaware County, five from Montgomery County and six from Philadelphia — see at right.
The list was dominated by representatives of marketing and public relations firms. Though Maria Rodale, of Lehigh County and founder of a health and environmental news Web site, was honored, none of the women from the five-county Greater Philadelphia region represented the technology community, a lingering absence not explicitly highlighted by last week’s report.
Its authors say their study shows “the strengths and accomplishments of women entrepreneurs in our region,” highlighting what makes successful female business growth and identifying resources and approaches to further the impact of women in business.
On May 20th, report co-sponsor WIN, an organization of women committed to advancing entrepreneurship in the Greater Philadelphia region, will host a CEO Forum where further discussion will be held about the survey findings and implications. It’s being held in Philadelphia’s nerve center — Plymouth Meeting.