Manifesto

YFE Vision
The vision for the platform stems from the feedback from the community as we’ve grown. Young women who own a business do not see themselves as at a disadvantage. We want to connect with one another for support and for fun. We’re always looking for new ways to improve ourselves and our businesses and use our passions and talents to make the world a better place. In 2013 you will see YFE focusing on the live stream events, working towards better supporting our in person meetups, and virtual community to meet those needs.

What are young, female entrepreneurs?
More literally you are a YFE if you are: In your 20s/30s, you are female, and are someone “who undertakes a commercial risk for profit” (Oxford Dictionary). On a more visceral level YFEs are multifaceted, social, fashionable, busy, knowledgeable, passionate, and philanthropic.

What do young, female entrepreneurs want?
Success on their own terms, to feel validated, to help, make money, expand their reach, feel inspired, to share, to grow, to change, and to love.

Entrepreneurship is not for everyone and it looks different to many different people. YFE is not here to sell you on the idea of owning your own business, but to act as a medium for support to those who are already in the process of ownership. YFE as a support group and incubator is not all about Jenn (the Director), it’s not a coaching club, it’s not a men vs. women society, it’s not a non profit, it’s not locally focused, and it’s not a website you can just add a profile to. As young, female entrepreneurs we are a community of like minded people that help and encourage one another; YFE acts as a facilitator.

Why are young, female entrepreneurs different from their male counterparts?
We have different issues when it comes to health, different takes, needs, and wants when it comes to fashion, we have and use our emotions in different ways in business and in personal affairs, and societal pressures are at times gender biased.

While YFE has and always will, like mentioned previously, be a support group and incubator you will see YFE evolving this year as it did last. Young women who are entrepreneurial have a wide array of schedules, geographic locations, and are in different stages of their business making in person meetings difficult at this time for YFE to arrange.  Therefore, to serve Young Female Entrepreneurs’ purpose events will continue to be online via a web conferencing environment and via Twitter chats.

Support and incubation comes from those meetings, but also from active participation within the website. You don’t have to wait until the end of the month or every other week to connect with other people like you. Do it when you can. Contribute a blog post or Podcast, add a comment, or reach out to someone who has through your own means. YFE is a support group and incubator by providing a sounding board, inspiration, fun, promotion, discussion, networking, and answers.

To sum this up, how are you a member of Young Female Entrepreneurs? What does this all mean? It means that you 1. do something 2. show up and 3. contribute. I feel like adding a hashtag to the end of that sentence like #thatisall, but alas on Twitter I am not.