After six years of helping thousands of Kiwi women in business connect, the Venus Network has announced that registrations are open for its first nationwide small business academy Sassy Startup, due to start in July. 

Designed as the ultimate training programme to support women starting a small business, Sassy Startup takes participants through a six-month mentorship under the guidance of Venus founder Vanessa Davey and business consultant Jen Tyson. 

Davey said since its inception in Tauranga, the Venus Network has helped more than 3,500 businesswomen connect and build both their businesses and confidence. 

“Venus is a community focused on empowering women to reach their full potential as leaders in life and in business." 

Today 39 groups across 12 regions in New Zealand meet fortnightly, with another five set to launch later this year. The current membership of 720 is supported by a library of business and marketing resources online, a quarterly magazine and through meeting topics.

According to Colmar Brunton research for Women on Boards, women represent a significant and under utilised leadership talent pool. And despite a dramatic increase in the number of women with business/relevant degrees, this is not (yet) translating into their representation at management and board level.

“There is agreement in the business community that women need to be better supported to ensure their business dreams become reality,” Davey said. 

“Sassy Startup is a programme that directly addresses that need and nurtures the endless pool of entrepreneurial female talent we have in New Zealand.” 

Available to women across the country with 25 places available, Sassy Startup kicks off with a live one day business essentials training camp in Wellington followed by fortnightly one hour webinars from Davey and Tyson, a personal accountability tracker and a one day live Business Retreat in Wellington. 

The six month programme covers topics such as business planning, sales and marketing, branding, financial and legal obligations, networking, and productivity. The cost is $197+gst. Interested women can register at http://www.venusnetwork.co.nz/application-academy/. 

Sassy Startup follows the Venus Network’s recent introduction of Venus Business Teams to its suite of services. Venus Business Teams cover more in-depth training and include personal development, helping established business women take their companies to the next level of growth and profitability.