The name SparXX – in addition to being a tribute to ASU’s Sparky – is also a tribute to the XX chromosome and captures the sentiment of women’s entrepreneurship programs across the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area: to spark women’s entrepreneurial passions and accelerate their success as business owners.
Programs + Activities
The SparXX 20 program is business education tailored for women business owners in revenue of under $1,000,000 annually. SparXX 20 businesses will participate in 24 hours of workshops and have the opportunity to develop mutually beneficial relationships with other women business owners. A graduation event in the spring will celebrate the success of the SparXX 20 participants. All workshops will be held at SkySong and led by ASU faculty members who are experts in the area they will be teaching. The application deadline for the spring cohort will be February 23, and the workshops will be held from March 22nd to April 25th. Tuition for this program is generously covered by our program sponsor. Accepted applicants will be required to pay a $250 materials fee, and a catered dinner will be included with each workshop.
SparXX Community Workshops engage both women and men, ASU students, faculty, staff, and community members alike in a series of breakfast and dinner workshops. From December 2015 to May 2016, there will be 12 workshops on entrepreneurial and business topics that are frequently requested. Participants may attend 1 workshop or all 12, depending on their needs.
SparXX Scholars are women entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs who have demonstrated the dedication and perseverance to pursue their businesses. SparXX Scholars receive a number of benefits, including reduced fees to participate in women’s entrepreneurship programming. Some also receive academic scholarships at ASU.
Applications are currently closed for SparXX scholarships.
The Women and Entrepreneurship Course is a one-credit hour ASU course that focuses on sharing the perspectives of women entrepreneurs. A variety of topics are covered in the course, including negotiation, securing capital, leading teams, managing workplace culture and more. Students will explore some of the unique challenges women face when approaching entrepreneurship. Speakers will include women and men tech entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, small business owners and venture capitalists. The course is available during fall 2015 as AFR 394, APA 394, JUS 394, or WST 394 and is offered on Wednesdays from 4:30-6:20 p.m.
SparXX Educational Series is a series of educational sessions focused on supporting women with their entrepreneurial pursuits. A variety of topics are covered in the workshop series, including negotiation, securing capital, leading teams, managing workplace culture and more.
SparXX Dinner Series is an educational and networking program for women business owners. Through the program, women participate in a speed mentoring program, a full-day workshop focused on accelerating business success and an intimate and private dinner with interesting, diverse expert guests who will focus their collective creativity and experience to explore, discuss and provide counsel on women business owners’ challenges.
SparXX Accelerator is a women’s cohort in the Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative, an accelerator that provides ASU student entrepreneurs with up to $20,000 in funding, office space, mentoring and an educational program to help them launch their ideas.
Creative Convergence XX is a one-day women’s entrepreneurship summit held each semester for ASU students. The summit is led by the ASU Women’s Entrepreneurship Club and supported by the ASU SparXX initiative team.
SparXX Fly is an annual recognition event for women leaders in Phoenix's entrepreneurship ecosystem. At SparXX Fly, we honor women who have contributed to the success of women’s entrepreneurship programs in the Phoenix Metro Area, as well as successful women entrepreneurs, themselves.
Support Women Entrepreneurs
There are many ways that you can join us in supporting and celebrating women entrepreneurs. Below are two means for you to contribute to the ASU SparXX initiative and advance women’s entrepreneurial success.
- Apply to join the ASU Mentor Network. The ASU Mentor Network supports student, faculty, and community-led startups that are participants in an ASU accelerator program. Mentors provide the experience, guidance and support that can help our entrepreneurs keep moving their ideas forward, mitigating risks and leveraging opportunities. Women mentors are especially valuable to our women-led teams entering arenas that are historically male dominated. We invite you to serve as a role model who can provide unique guidance and knowledge to young women based on your own personal and professional experience.
- Scholarship Women Entrepreneurs. Contribute to our SparXX Scholars program with a donation of any size and help us serve women entrepreneurs. SparXX Scholars receive reduced fees to participate in women’s entrepreneurship programming. Some also receive academic scholarships at ASU. Email us at SparXX@asu.edu to learn more about how to contribute.
