The New Jersey chapter of Golden Seeds, in collaboration with First Lady Tammy Murphy and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), recently celebrated its 20th anniversary alongside the national chapter. The event took place on Tuesday in Montclair, highlighting two decades of support for women-led businesses.
Golden Seeds is recognized as one of the nation's most active early-stage angel investment firms dedicated to supporting companies led by women. Since its inception in 2004, it has invested over $185 million into 250 businesses. The New Jersey chapter alone, founded in 2020, has contributed more than $9.7 million to female-led enterprises.
First Lady Murphy emphasized the importance of this partnership between Golden Seeds and NJEDA in fostering opportunities for women entrepreneurs. "Together, we are ensuring that female founders have the resources and support they need to thrive," she said. She also highlighted New Jersey's leadership role in industries like financial services and pharmaceuticals due to investments empowering female leaders.
Kathleen Coviello, NJEDA Chief Economic Transformation Officer, noted that under Governor Phil Murphy's administration, New Jersey is creating an environment conducive to the success of women-led businesses by removing capital barriers and promoting a diverse angel investment landscape.
Golden Seeds' members focus on evaluating and funding companies with at least one woman in a senior management role who holds an equity position. The organization supports Governor Murphy's vision of building a diverse innovation ecosystem through this initiative.
Gina Tedesco, Managing Director at Golden Seeds, expressed her personal connection to the project: "So it is immensely rewarding to play even a small part in helping to create this world-class partnership."
The New Jersey chapter offers monthly Office Hours for entrepreneurs seeking guidance on angel investing processes. From February 2020 through September 2024, these sessions have supported 189 female entrepreneurs across 46 meetings.
Investors interested in joining Golden Seeds or learning about angel investing can access an online forum for further information on potential future investments.
