Youth Education

A Message from our Founder

Darya Allen-Attar, Founder and Executive Director of Women Founders Foundation, provides an overview of the Junior Judges program and goals:

Junior Judge Program

The Junior Judge program is Women Founders Foundation’s flagship program, which takes place during summer and fall each year. It aligns with the Women Founders Network Fast Pitch, a yearly competition in Los Angeles for women entrepreneurs. Since 2014, the Junior Judge program has educated more than 100 girls in grades 6-12 about entrepreneurship through fun and educational events to meet women CEOs and startup founders, workshops teaching the fundamentals of business, and their participation in the annual WFN Fast Pitch Event as “venture capitalists for a day” to vote for their favorite company and present a sponsored cash award to their winner.

The Junior Judges walk away from the experience feeling confident, inspired, and motivated, knowing there is a strong community of women available to support them in achieving their goals.

To learn more about the Women Founders Network and the annual

Fast Pitch competition, please visit https://www.womenfoundersnetwork.com/.

2021 Junior Judge Program

Applications for 2021 are closed. Please join our mailing list to be notified when applications open for 2022.

Who can apply?

Age

We welcome any girl who is in 6th grade (currently, as of the 2020-2021 school year) through 12th grade to apply to the program between May 1 and July 1. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of our programs.

Geography

Though it is expected that all of our programming will take place online in 2021, should in-person meetings for small groups become viable, we will explore that option in the late summer and fall. We accept applications from across the United States, but note that if we have the opportunity to hold in-person events they will take place in the greater Los Angeles, California, region (including the required Fast Pitch on October 26).

Participation Fee & Waivers

There is a $50 fee to participate if girls are accepted into the program, which covers all expenses including one ticket to the fast pitch in October (normally a $75 value). If the cost is a barrier to participation, we can offer fee waivers on a case-by-case basis.

Equipment & Materials

Participants will need a reliable internet connection and device to participate in the program this year. We strongly encourage participating in virtual meetings with a web camera so we can create as authentic an experience as possible!

If accepted into the program, Junior Judges will be notified and sent a welcome packet via email.

About the Program

Given the coronavirus pandemic, the Junior Judge program moved online in 2020 and hosted virtual programming for the Junior Judges between July and October 2020.

Due to continued restrictions as of spring 2021, the program will remain virtual in 2021 unless otherwise notified. Events and meetings will take place via Zoom video.

In addition to participating as a "venture capitalist for a day" at the WFN Fast Pitch competition on October 26, 2021 Junior Judges will have the opportunity to “meet” women CEOs and entrepreneurs throughout the summer and fall via virtual meetings on Zoom to learn their experiences starting companies across a range of fields. In 2021 we will also launch a one-on-one mentoring opportunity for all Junior Judges.

Important Dates

Please note the following 2021 dates for Junior Judge programming (all events are virtual unless otherwise noted):

Tuesday, July 20, 4-5:15pm PT: Introductory event for selected Junior Judges and "Meet the CEO" with Samantha Patil of Well Traveled
Tuesday, July 27, 3-5pm PT: Dolphin Tank with Springboard Enterprises and Women Founders Network to meet the Top 5 Finalists for the WFN 2021 Fast Pitch
Thursday, August 19, 4-5pm PT: Meet the CEO with Galit Strugano of Girlactik Cosmetics
Saturday, Oct. 2, 10am-12pm PT: Jr. Judges Meeting
(required participation) Tuesday, October 26, 5-9pm PT: Women Founders Network Fast Pitch Competition