Ali and Weilyn, Founders of The Entrpre女ers Network
Ladies, meet Ali and Weilyn. Founders of the Entrpre女ers Network and second year students at Princeton (Weilyn) and NYU Shanghai (Ali). What started as a school project led to a unique way that they can help promote female entrepreneurship for women in University (and beyond). Their first season ended with 14 inspiring female entrepreneurs and they are about to start their second season focusing on Gen Z entrepreneurs. All of this on top of being full time students studying economics. It’s truly amazing the initiatives they have taken at such a young age in their career and continue to develop.
Read on to find out more about how their podcast and network began, their reason behind it and what episode resonates the most for them.
First of all, congratulations on the success of your podcast! Can you share with us how the idea came about?
In March of 2021, Ali and Weilyn - high school friends from Hong Kong - reconnected virtually while at college from across the world, Ali in Shanghai and Weilyn in New Jersey, in their frustration towards the lack of support for female entrepreneurship at their respective colleges. In response, they debuted The Entrepre女ers Podcast, a podcast for and my female entrepreneurs, quickly transforming into The Entrepre女ers Network.
What has been the most challenging aspect of starting your own podcast? What has been the most rewarding?
Most Challenging: Balancing our other commitments. Weilyn and Ali are both full time university students with rigorous curriculum, extracurricular, and other projects. We have quickly grown an immeasurable passion for the podcast and the network in which we want to spend all our time on it! Most rewarding: connecting and hearing the stories of female entrepreneurs all around the world.
I love how your podcast is aimed at providing inspiration, support and guidance for business women around the globe. Can you share your reasoning on why this is so important?
Female entrepreneurs only receive 3% of VC funding - that has to change! The ventures of female entrepreneurs from around the world are the biggest untapped potential and we hope to bring those to life by sharing the stories and passions through connections in the network.
I love the fact that you both are in University and are starting your careers before you have even graduated. What are your career aspirations once University is over?
Weilyn and Ali are both studying Economics, Computer Science, and Entrepreneurship at University which is exactly what we hope to fuse into our entrepreneurial journeys that will not doubt continue to flourish upon our graduations.
What has been the best outcome since starting the Entrepre女ers Network?
Growing a team of 10+ amazing Gen Z globally - Connecting with top female entrepreneurs around the world (500+).
Do you have any advice for the next generation of business women?
WHY WAIT? Just do it! There's no better to start than now. See that opportunity - and take it!
What episode stands out to you both as one of the best examples to be inspired?
We resonate well with Amanda Pullinger's, CEO of 100 Women in Finance, episode because she preached the increasingly important message to female entrepreneur to simply ask - a seemingly simple yet easily neglected concept.
What do you think is one thing women can do more to support each other?
Share and connect female entrepreneurs. We rise together so if you see that connection, make it!