NextSeed, a Houston-born crowdfunding platform connecting local business owners with investors, is looking for Dallas area female founders to highlight in its inaugural event in North Texas. 

NextUp Female Founders Dallas will include a marketplace and pitch competition featuring female entrepreneurs at Victory Plaza. The May 12 pop-up marketplace will bring together local female artists, bakers, designers, and more to sell their products and network with fellow entrepreneurs.

Afterwards, a select group of women-owned businesses will participate in a pitch competition where they will compete to win a three-month pop-up lease at Victory Plaza.

In 2014, NextSeed started in Houston to both give local business owners access to debt financing and allow residents to support businesses in their community with investments beginning at $100. As of March, the company said $8 million had been raised on its platform for 30 small businesses including The Dumpling Bros, Leela’s Raw Bar, and abv establishment in Dallas.

The crowdfunding platform NextSeed was founded by Abe Chu (left), Bob Dunton, and Youngro Lee. [Photo courtesy of NextSeed]

Noticing the disparities in capital access for women, NextSeed hosted its first Female Founders event in Houston last year. 

“Substantial amounts of research clearly show that women and minority entrepreneurs are largely underserved by traditional banks, and our platform is playing a small part in attempting to change that,”said Bob Dunton, NextSeed co-founder and chief technology officer, in a statement.

The upcoming Dallas pitch competition will be judged by a panel of local female entrepreneurs including Courtney Sinelli, co-founder and executive vice president of Which Wich; Leah Frazier, founder of Diamond Icon Consultants, Think Three Media, and Inspire N Style Magazine; Tillie Borchers, director of investments at Civitas Capital; Stacy Barton, director of leasing at Trademark, and Julie McCullough, a creative entrepreneur. 

“Main Street small business owners aren’t placed in the spotlight very often, but when you look behind the scenes, you start to see that many of the most innovative businesses in this country were founded by women. We’re excited to celebrate that,”said NextSeed Chief Financial Officer Tae Mi Lee in a release. 

The deadline to apply for the Dallas pitch competition is April 30. Applications can be found here. 

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