```html Female Founders Find Community: A New Initiative Addresses a Gap in Entrepreneurial Support

In a move aimed at fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in business, entrepreneurs Toni Herrbach and Liz Saunders are launching a new community and mastermind group specifically designed for female founders. The initiative, currently unnamed, seeks to address the challenges women often face in male-dominated entrepreneurial spaces.

Addressing the Need for Female-Focused Support

The concept arose from Herrbach and Saunders' own experiences attending industry events and recognizing the need for a dedicated space where women could freely share ideas, receive accountability, and set goals without feeling overshadowed or unheard. According to Herrbach, the goal is to "create a space where women felt like they could share ideas, be held accountable, set goals."

The project is currently in its beta testing phase, with a small mastermind group providing feedback and shaping the community's direction. Herrbach and Saunders envision a platform that goes beyond traditional masterminds, fostering a broader sense of community and mutual support.

Leveraging AI for Strategic Planning

A unique aspect of this initiative is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to refine its business strategy. Herrbach and Saunders utilized tools like ChatGPT and Claude to organize their ideas and identify key content pillars for their video marketing efforts. By inputting their goals and target audience, they received suggestions for relevant topics and a consistent brand tone.

This approach highlights the potential of AI to assist entrepreneurs in the planning and development stages of their businesses, particularly in content creation and marketing strategy. The AI tools helped to refine a broad demographic into a more targeted series of engaging video content.

Historical Context: Women in Entrepreneurship

The launch of this female-focused community comes at a time when women are increasingly making strides in the entrepreneurial world, yet still face significant hurdles. While the number of women-owned businesses has grown substantially in recent decades, women continue to encounter challenges in accessing funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

According to a 2023 report by the National Women's Business Council, women-owned businesses represent approximately 42% of all businesses in the United States, yet they receive only a fraction of venture capital funding. This disparity underscores the need for initiatives that provide targeted support and resources for female entrepreneurs.

Expert Perspective: The Importance of Gender-Specific Support

Dr. Emily Carter, a professor of entrepreneurship at the University of California, Berkeley, emphasizes the importance of gender-specific support networks. "While general business resources are valuable, women often benefit from spaces where they can address challenges unique to their experiences, such as balancing work and family responsibilities, navigating gender bias, and building confidence in male-dominated industries," Carter explains.

Carter added, "Communities like the one being developed by Herrbach and Saunders can play a crucial role in empowering women to overcome these obstacles and achieve their full potential as entrepreneurs."

The Future of the Initiative

While specific details about the community's launch date and membership structure are still under wraps, Herrbach and Saunders are actively developing content and refining their strategy based on feedback from their beta testers and insights gained from AI analysis.

The initiative's focus on community building, strategic planning, and leveraging technology positions it as a promising resource for female founders seeking to thrive in today's competitive business landscape.

Sponsors and Resources

SellersSummit.com: An e-commerce conference focused on tactical, step-by-step strategies for online businesses. The Family First Entrepreneur: A book by Steve Chou, offering strategies for balancing family and business.

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