Catherine Gray’s “Show Her the Money” Kicks Off with a Fiery Celebration in West Hollywood

Last weekend, Los Angeles was buzzing with excitement as Catherine Gray’s powerful initiative, Show Her the Money, launched its highly anticipated 100-city tour with a spectacular kick-off event in West Hollywood. The three-day affair was a grand celebration of women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, and creativity, culminating in the announcement that—for the first time—the inspiring documentary will be available to stream via pay-per-view on November 9th, 2024, at 4 pm PST (7 pm EST). This groundbreaking film shines a spotlight on women’s access to funding, particularly in business and creative industries, making this upcoming streaming event a major milestone for the movement.

The movie Show Her the Money is a powerful documentary that sheds light on the financial challenges women face in entrepreneurship, particularly the significant gender gap in funding. The film’s mission is to raise awareness about the inequities in access to capital, while also showcasing inspiring stories of female founders who are breaking through barriers to build successful businesses. It highlights the voices of pioneering investors who are committed to changing the narrative by prioritizing investments in women-led ventures. These investors recognize the untapped potential in female entrepreneurs and are actively working to close the funding gap by providing not only capital but also mentorship and strategic support. The female founders featured in the film represent diverse industries and backgrounds, and their journeys reflect the resilience and innovation required to succeed despite limited financial resources. Through their stories, Show Her the Money amplifies the need for systemic change and inspires a new generation of investors and entrepreneurs to join the movement toward gender equity in business.

The Weekend Lineup: A Celebration of Women, Community, and Film

The festivities began on Friday, October 18th, with an exclusive brunch hosted by Carrie Murray, founder of the Business Relationship Alliance (BRA Network), at her home in Encino. Guests, including Mairin Murray, Mirela Sula, and Shelin David, gathered at the Sunset Marquis lobby before heading to the intimate gathering. The brunch set the tone for the weekend, offering attendees a chance to network, share ideas, and build community with fellow women leaders and entrepreneurs. The event was a reflection of BRA’s mission to foster deep connections among women in business and support their growth through meaningful relationships.

The celebration continued on Saturday evening with a glamorous sunset soiree at the iconic Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood. From 5 to 7 pm, guests enjoyed complimentary wine, drinks, light bites, and live music as they mingled and celebrated the kick-off of the Show Her the Money tour. The party was an exclusive invite-only event, creating a sense of camaraderie and anticipation as the tour embarked on its nationwide journey to spotlight women in business and film.

The Main Event: Sunday in West Hollywood

On Sunday, October 20th, the real action began at the theatre located at 625 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood. With attendees arriving between 12:00 and 12:30 pm, the event was a dynamic mix of networking, learning, and celebration. The opening welcome by the Mayor of West Hollywood and comedian Wendy Hammers set a lively tone, followed by Catherine Gray herself, who took the stage to share her insights from the Magical Mystery Tour and tease what’s next in her empowering journey.

One of the highlights of the day was a thought-provoking session led by Andrea Quinn, who delivered a powerful talk on the importance of developing a “Money Mindset,” encouraging women to shift their perspectives on wealth and financial independence. Following that, Carrie Murray moderated an international panel with Mirela Sula from the UK, Mairin Murray from Ireland and Sahlin David from Australia, diving into the challenges and successes women face across different industries and cultures in securing funding and advancing their careers.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for—the screening of the Show Her the Money documentary. The film, which has already garnered buzz for its raw and honest exploration of the gender gap in financing, received an enthusiastic reception from the audience. Catherine Gray’s vision for this project was to shine a light on the inequities women face in accessing capital and to highlight the inspiring stories of those who are breaking down barriers.

After the film, the cast and producers sat down for a lively “In Conversation” session, sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes, reflections on the making of the film, and hopes for the future of women-led businesses. The dialogue sparked insightful questions from the audience, creating a sense of connection between the filmmakers, the participants, and the viewers.

A VIP Afterparty to Close the Weekend

To cap off the weekend, VIP attendees were treated to a private afterparty at the chic La Peer Hotel, just a short distance from the theatre. From 5 to 7:30 pm, guests indulged in live music, delicious bites, and an elegant cash bar, celebrating the success of the launch weekend and looking forward to the remaining 99 cities on the tour. The vibe was one of excitement and optimism, as attendees shared their own experiences and aspirations in the context of the movement Show Her the Money is sparking.

Show Her the Money: Empowering Female Founders and Closing the Venture Capital Gender Gap

This past weekend in Los Angeles, Show Her the Money made its mark as a powerful documentary shedding light on the challenges female entrepreneurs face in accessing venture capital. The film addresses the stark reality that women receive less than 2% of venture capital funding while demystifying the world of venture capital and highlighting the vital importance of investing in women. Through its compelling narrative, Show Her the Money reminds us that money is power, and women need equitable access to it to achieve true economic and social equality.

Featuring trailblazing female investors, the film spotlights those committed to funding diverse women entrepreneurs with innovations poised to change the world. Investors like Dawn Lafreeda, the self-made millionaire who owns more restaurants than any woman in the U.S., Pocket Sun, the youngest woman to start her own VC fund, and Wendy Ryan, a powerhouse investor using her generational wealth to support women and BIPOC entrepreneurs, are rewriting the rules of venture capital. Their belief in funding women is not only an ethical choice but a smart business strategy, knowing that backing women is a winning investment.

The documentary follows four visionary entrepreneurs, each battling uphill challenges to bring their ideas to life. Among them are Vicky Pasche, founder of Dapper Boi, a gender-neutral, body-inclusive fashion line, and Jasmine Jones, founder of Myya, who is reinventing mastectomy bras to empower breast cancer survivors. Also featured are Diipa Büller-Khosla, founder of indē wild, a beauty brand rooted in Ayurvedic traditions for South Asian women, and Marian Leitner, whose company Archer Roose is revolutionizing the wine industry with eco-friendly canned luxury wines. Each founder, with the financial backing and mentorship of their angel investors, overcomes immense obstacles to scale their businesses—each with the potential to become a billion-dollar “unicorn.”

In addition to the inspiring founders, the film also includes appearances by Emmy Award winner Sharon Gless, Primetime Emmy Nominee Elizabeth Banks, and Catherine Gray, producer, author, and founder of She Angel Investors, all advocating for gender equity in entrepreneurship.

Show Her the Money serves as a rallying cry for systemic change, pushing for more women to be empowered with the capital, mentorship, and opportunities they need to succeed. It makes clear that if society is to benefit from future generations of women innovators, the time to show them the money is now.

What’s Next?

The launch event in Los Angeles was just the beginning for Show Her the Money, as Catherine Gray and her team prepared to take the movement to cities across the country. With its debut on November 9th in the digital space, the film will reach even more people, sparking conversations about how to create a more equitable financial landscape for women everywhere. This pay-per-view streaming event will allow audiences across the world to engage with the film’s important message and join the growing movement to uplift women in business and film.

From Los Angeles to the rest of the world, Show Her the Money is on fire, inspiring women to break down barriers, access capital, and take control of their financial destinies. As the tour continues, it’s clear that this is just the beginning of an exciting journey that will transform the way we think about money, business, and the role of women in both. Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t forget to mark your calendars for the PPV streaming event on November 9th at 4 pm PST (7 pm EST)!

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