Teacher's Aid
This education entrepreneur learned some valuable lessons about getting funding.
Building a business can be a lonely journey--perhaps even more
so if you are the female CEO of a company focused on educating
inner-city kids. But Saki Dodelson, CEO of Achieve3000 in
Lakewood, New Jersey, found both the moral and strategic support
she needed from her mentors. She is among the hundreds of business
owners mentored through Springboard Enterprises, a not-for-profit
network of women entrepreneurs.
Dodelson's mentors reshaped her message to appeal to
investors and helped her score over $5 million in venture capital.
With her mentors' continued help, Achieve3000 has grown to $8
million in annual revenue and helps nearly half a million
school-age kids improve their literacy skills each year.
"I used to talk about my passion for changing the
world," says Dodelson, 40, "and my mentors helped me
realize that the investors want to know about how you're making
money."
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