Amanda Curtis shifted the focus of her on-demand manufacturing platform, N.A.bld, from fashion to face masks when federal health officials advised healthcare workers to bring scarves and bandanas to work when caring for COVID-19 patients.
NEW YORK — On-demand manufacturing platform N.A.bld (pronounced “enabled” NAbld.com), a venture-backed SaaS company, announced their initiative to manufacture fabric face masks for frontline workers amidst a national shortage of PPE in the Covid19 pandemic. Beginning March 21, 2020, N.A.bld mobilized their network of partner small-batch manufacturers around the USA to begin production of cotton face masks. Through the N.A.bld platform manufacturers and sewing hobbyists can access a full tech pack for a fabric face mask, step-by-step instructions, a printable pattern, and support resources free of charge so masks can be made in the safety of one’s home.
The initiative started after cofounder and CEO Amanda Curtis’ husband, a doctor on the frontline of the COVID19 pandemic, was informed by the CDC to be prepared to bring a bandana to work as national supply of N95 and sterile surgical masks diminish. Within two days of receiving that information, an N.A.bld prototype and pattern based off of the Deaconess Hospital Mask was created and launched on N.A.bld with the digitized pattern.
Through nabld.com/make-a-face-mask site manufacturers and sewing hobbyists across the USA can sign up to join the manufacturing partner labor force and centers of care can also submit requests for masks. Within three hours of launching over eight thousand masks were requested by hospitals. Since launch over 17,000 masks have been requested from care centers around the country from nursing homes, hospitals, fire stations, and urgent care centers.
“Just as the American fashion industry came together in WWII to sew uniforms for soldiers, we are mobilizing the apparel industry to come together to protect our front line in this war against COVID19. The difference is that we’re able to use our technology to achieve the same goal at scale while keeping everyone isolated and safe. N.A.bld was built for just-in-time decentralized, on-demand manufacturing and I’m glad that we’re able to provide a solution that can mobilize our nation’s workforce of sewers and manufacturers,” said Co-Founder and CEO Amanda Curtis.
Within a day of launching the initiative Fabric.com, an Amazon company, generously offered to donate cotton materials and ship direct to participating production facilities across the U.S. from their warehouse in Georgia.
To help fund production costs, a “Buy one, Give Many” campaign was launched on N.A.bld’s sister site, the pre-sale marketplace NineteenthAmendment.com. The public can purchase a facemask for themselves while donating facemasks to centers of need in quantities of 5, 10, 50, 100, or 1,000. It is the company’s hope that by giving the public access to fabric face masks that they will donate any N95 and surgical masks to hospitals in need. This is a 100% not-for-profit initiative with all proceeds going towards the creation and distribution of masks. Donors can monitor their impact on nabld.com/make-a-face-mask where progress is tracked daily in the “Updates” section.
N95 and sterile surgical masks are the first option for PPE. Many hospitals are now having staff use one N95 mask per staff member per shift. The fabric face masks can be used on top of N95 and surgical facemasks to prolong the use of these masks. Facilities that receive fabric face masks are instructed to wash and sterilize these masks upon receiving them before they are used.
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N.A.bld MEDIA CONTACT:
Amanda Curtis
617-777-4171
amanda@nineteenthamendment.com
MORE ABOUT N.A.bld
N.A.bld It is a production management tool that enables sustainable pre-selling and on-demand quick turn manufacturing for brands. N.A.bld software has been powering the pre-sale marketplace NineteenthAmendment.com for years, enabling inventory-free retailing and making sustainable collaborations with brands like Macy’s, Disney, Microsoft, and Bravo’s Project Runway. Through the N.A.bld platform brands can digitize their tech packs, connect with a network of vetted, USA-based manufacturers to get bids, create automatic purchase orders and bills of materials, visualize per unit and per run costs, and communicate with manufacturers throughout the process. Additionally, brands can choose to include customers in the manufacturing process through automatic updates sent straight from the real-time production timeline.
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The Bpeace Women Forward Awards recognizes the trailblazing organizations who are leading change and providing mentorship, capital and support enabling women to thrive in the workplace and in society.
Girls just want to have funds! Chloe Capital is a venture capital firm that travels across the U.S. catalyzing a Movement to decrease the gender gap in entrepreneurship and venture capital. This comes at a time when women-led companies receive less than 3 percent of venture capital, and only .2 percent goes to African American female founders. During the Future of Work & Education program in New Orleans held on February 6, 2020 at The Shop at The CAC, Chloe Capital collaborated with ECMC Foundation to move $275,000 to female founders at the forefront of EdTech.
The industry is long overdue for a change. Investors need to begin thinking more equitably about not only what they are investing in, but also who. A strong early investment in edtech found-hers is not only the right thing to do, it has a history of generating long-term benefits for stakeholders as well as students.
Invest In Women: Future of Work & Education
Chloe Capital and ECMC Foundation move capital to women entrepreneurs and rally the masses in support of their Movement to decrease the gender gap in entrepreneurship and venture capital.
For Immediate Release
New Orleans (Feb. 12, 2020) – After an intense 24-hours of investor networking and pitches, three female founders earn investments from Chloe Capital and ECMC Foundation, plus additional investments, prizes and connections to grow their ventures.
Girls just want to have funds! Chloe Capital is a venture capital firm that travels across the U.S. catalyzing a Movement to decrease the gender gap in entrepreneurship and venture capital. This comes at a time when women-led companies receive less than 3 percent of venture capital, and only .2 percent goes to African American female founders. During the Future of Work & Education program in New Orleans held on February 6, 2020 at The Shop at The CAC, Chloe Capital collaborated with ECMC Foundation to move $275,000 to female founders at the forefront of EdTech.
As part of a trilogy of events, New Orleans is the second stop on the #InvestInWomen Tour to advance solutions in education innovation, college success, career readiness, and workforce transformation. Chloe Capital and ECMC Foundation have joined forces to embed themselves into emerging startup communities like New Orleans, otherwise overlooked by traditional investors.
“It’s an honor to Invest In Women in New Orleans as a native of this beautiful city. It’s a dream come true to be surrounded by family and a community of supporters,” said Elisa Miller-Out, Managing Partner, Chloe Capital. “Our programs are designed to educate the community, and we wholeheartedly enjoyed seeing the audience get inspired by the innovation in the room.”
Selected from over 2000 women-led companies, five female founders were chosen to participate in this special program, which is designed to catalyze fundraising efforts. Congratulations to Janna Westbrook, Founder / CEO of Provider Pool, an online labor marketplace that connects hospitals to nurses for on-demand staffing needs. Janna and co-founder Rodney McGee were offered investment opportunities from both Chloe Capital and ECMC Foundation for a total of $100,000. ECMC Foundation also extended Jennifer Kushshell, Founder / CEO of EYP Ventures a $100,000 investment. Exploring Your Potential ™ is redefining workforce readiness with a multimedia platform for career planning.
“Cheers to another amazing program celebrating the Future of Work & Education,” said Jessica Haselton, Director of Education Innovation Ventures, ECMC Foundation. “ECMC Foundation is excited to co-invest with Chloe Capital on Provider Pool, and provide an additional investment to EYP Ventures. It’s clear we’re stronger together, and the Movement is alive!”
Chloe Capital also allocated a second investment in Beth Porter, Co-founder / CEO of Riff Analytics, an AI platform that uses audio and text data to track behaviors, like bias and dominance, in the workplace. In addition to receiving a $50,000 investment from Chloe Capital, investor panelist Jason Palmer, Partner at New Markets Venture Partners, announced a personal co-investment of $25,000 in Riff Analytics.
“We pride ourselves on being service-oriented investors, extensions of the team with a willingness to assist our portfolio companies on every level,” said Kathryn Cartini, Partner, Chloe Capital. “As part of our Movement to Invest in Women, we tap investor panelists like Jason (Palmer) on the shoulder early in our due diligence process to provide valuable insight on the investment potential of our candidates, and consider inking deals themselves. Jason was so impressed with Beth (Porter) and Riff Analytics, he delighted us with a personal investment on the spot!”
Jean Hammond, General Partner of the LearnLaunch Accelerator; Chloe Capital investor and life-long educator Lee Kaltman; Peter Liu, Vice President of Pritzker Group Venture Capital; Valerie Novakoff, Founder of Broadway Women’s Fund; and Kim Seals, General Partner of The JumpFund also took time out of their busy schedules to help each founder catalyze even more investments.
Guests were also treated to an evening of entertainment and innovation featuring acclaimed jazz singer Charmaine Neville, and local advocate Syrita Steib, Co-founder of Operation Restoration. Each woman shared personal stories about how they turned obstacles into opportunities, and encouraged everyone in the audience to do the same.
View all female founders, investor panelists and speakers who participated in the Movement at ChloeCapital.com/New-Orleans.
The next stop on the Invest In Women Tour is in Charlotte, NC on May 19, 2020. Applications to participate in this program end on February 12, 2020. Apply for funding opportunities at ChloeCapital.com/funding. Female founders do not need to be based in Charlotte, NC to pitch or receive funding.
Media and community members are invited to attend the live pitch portion of the program in Charlotte, NC, which will happen on May 19, 2020. RSVP here: InvestInWomen-CLT.eventbrite.com
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Contact:
Kathryn Cartini
Chloe Capital
kathryn@chloecapital.com
(978) 225-3288
About ECMC Foundation___________
ECMC Foundation is a Los Angeles-based, nationally focused foundation whose mission is to inspire and facilitate improvements that affect educational outcomes—especially among underserved populations—through evidence-based innovation. It is one of several affiliates under the ECMC Group enterprise based in Minneapolis. ECMC Foundation makes investments in two focus areas: College Success and Career Readiness; and uses a spectrum of funding structures, including strategic grantmaking and program-related investments, to invest in both nonprofit and for-profit ventures. Working with grantees, partners and peers, ECMC Foundation’s vision is for all learners to unlock their fullest potential. ECMCFoundation.org
About Chloe Capital_______________
In 2017, Chloe Capital set out to #InvestInWomen. Today, the New York-based VC firm is being recognized as a Movement that empowers approximately 10,000 supporters, investors and women-led innovation companies. The firm partners with foundations, universities and corporations to host fundraising programs for women entrepreneurs in cities across the U.S. The Chloe Capital Fund makes investments in the most promising women-led companies in their network. ChloeCapital.com
The latest stop on the Invest In Women tour was in New Orleans last night at The Shop at the CAC. Five women-led startups pitched in front of a live audience and a panel of investors for a chance to win up to $250,000.
Since 2008, VC investment in women-founded companies has hovered stagnant around 2% and 3%, while the number of deals completed by women founders has steadily risen. But those who do invest in women-led companies enjoy better than average returns on their investments, according to several studies, including a report by Morgan Stanley.
Ready to tackle the inequities head-on and capitalize on the good performance of women-led startups are a handful of new VC firms, including Chloe Capital, which was founded in 2017. “Our founders,” says co-founder of Chloe Capital Kathryn Cartini, “are our star athletes. We discover them and nurture them, and they perform.”
n 2017, Ithacans Erica O’Brian and Elisa Miller-Out partnered with upstate New York’s Kathryn Cartini to found Chloe Capital, a seed-staged venture capital firm focused on women-led innovation companies with the mission of addressing the gender gap in venture capital (VC).
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