The 3.8 Initiative, named for the March 8 International Women's Day, seeks to increase start-up board leadership for women in the Research Triangle Park area's life science and health tech innovation ecosystem.

The three key pillars of the program include:

1. A supportive network of women leaders in the health tech community
2. A curriculum of startup board fundraising diligence areas correlating with individual gaps in training, and experiential opportunities for board readiness
3. Facilitation of board seat placement for our cohort graduates by working with local VCs and incubators

Each cohort participates in several workshops and engages with subject matter experts outlining content relevant to startup board governance and leadership seminars.

Our Curriculum Focus

• Founders, Incorporation & Equity
• Team/Leadership
• Scientific Data, Regulatory & Reimbursement
• IP/Licensing
• Basics of Startup Finances
• Competition & Market Opportunity
• Capital Structure & Exit
• Networking for Board Opportunities

Who Should Apply?

• Emerging female leaders, including mid-career and senior women leaders with substantive experience within the life sciences industry
• Those who are passionate about supporting life sciences startups by serving on their boards
• Those with expertise in organizational areas of life science, including (but not limited to): operations, finance, R&D, marketing, digital strategy, regulatory, business development and licensing, fundraising, strategy, and legal
• Functional leaders with prior experience in financial management of life sciences organizations

A pre-requisite for the program is a WIB membership ($95/year). To learn more, contact the RTP chapter at: rtp3.8@womeninbio.org.

Latest News

We are thrilled to announce the inaugural 2022 cohort has been selected! Thirteen participants from the Research Triangle Park area's life sciences and health tech innovation system attended the kickoff event on August 10, 2022.