
2022-23 Seminar Series
The Women's Innovation Network seminars help attendees build skills to navigate gender-based barriers to launching and sustaining businesses and to bringing research to market.
Our seminars are hands-on learning opportunities to explore and discover with a caring community. Seminars are presented by leaders in company formation, fundraising, business pitches, grant writing, rhetoric and pragmatics, and public-private partnerships.
The Women's Innovation Network is a joint initiative between the University of Oregon and Onward Eugene. Our 2022-23 seminar series is sponsored by Klarquist Sparkman, LLP.

A Note About Gender: We intend for the words "women" and "woman" to include anyone who identifies with the word. We recognize that gender is a broad spectrum, and we aim to celebrate everyone on this spectrum. We always welcome allies and accomplices to join us.
Telling Your Story
April 12, 2023 | 4:00-5:30pm
Virtual: Register to Receive Virtual Attendance Link
Presenters:
- Charla Triplett, Co-founder and Managing Director of Suncoast Ventures and President of Catalyze
- Kate Petcosky-Kulkarni, Senior Director of Strategic Research Initiatives, University of Oregon
In this seminar, we'll learn how to adjust the language we use to describe our business ventures based on audience. Attendees will select a track for an in-depth look at either giving a business pitch or writing a grant.
Charla Triplett will help us find our investor mindset. We'll learn from her what funders are looking for in your pitch, and we'll share tips on how to tell a startup story that can attract the right funding partners.
Kate Petcosky-Kulkarni will offer an overview of grant writing and development with a specific focus on grants for research business development and innovation. We'll learn from Kate how to approach grant writing, understanding persuasive writing, and writing for reviewers. Attendees will come away with knowledge of grantspersonship, effective grant writing practices, and how to best work productively with funding agencies.
Community Resources
May 4, 2023 | 4:00-5:30pm
Hybrid: In-person at 942 Olive St in Eugene & via Zoom
In this special seminar mixer event, community organizations will share information about the programming and support they offer for entrepreneurs and small businesses. This will be an opportunity to make a personal connection with representatives from those organizations.
Our 2022-23 Seminar Series
Twist Bioscience, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation in Large Companies: October 2022
Developing Actionable Consumer Insights: November 2022
Making the Most of Secondary Data in Market Research: December 2022
It's OK to F*k Up: January 2023
Protecting Your Brand: February 2023
Company Formation: March 2023
Our 2021-22 Seminar Series
#LadyBoss Founder Panel: October 2021
Business as a Process: November 2021
Making Quality Connections: December 2021
Telling Your Story: January 2022
Trainwreck.com: A Case Study in Doing Everything Wrong: February 2022
The Landscape of Intellectual Property: March 2022
The Importance of Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone: April 2022
Community Resources: May 2022