Huge news! 🎉 Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association is seeking its next President and President-Elect to help guide one of the most active entrepreneurial communities in the Wharton + Penn ecosystem! The Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association (WAFFA) is a global organization dedicated to accelerating the success of alumnae in the start-up world - founders, investors, and operators. WAFFA is now 5,700+ members strong and is one of the most robust and engaged alumni communities at the University of Pennsylvania. Our mission is to harness the power of the Wharton + Penn networks to educate, connect, and support women in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through events, storytelling, partnerships, and community-building, we aim to expand access to confidence, capital, and opportunity 🙌 Become a WAFFA Leader 🙌 WAFFA is entering its next phase and we are seeking two leaders - a President and a President-Elect - to shape the future of the organization and expand its impact across the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The President will begin their one-year term by Fall 2026 and the President-Elect will take over in Fall 2027. These two leaders will work together to shape WAFFA's strategy, programming, partnerships, fundraising, membership, and community growth. For the upcoming term, one leader will take primary responsibility for fundraising and external engagement, while the other will focus on organizational operations and execution. Current Leadership Team members will support the transition and remain actively involved in the WAFFA community. WAFFA operates with an entrepreneurial spirit, and we’re looking for leaders who are comfortable taking ownership, moving ideas forward, and working collaboratively in a fast-moving environment. These roles are well suited for individuals who enjoy building, problem-solving, and creating opportunities for others. Service is on a volunteer basis. 💡 Why Lead WAFFA? 💡 Serving as WAFFA President or President-Elect is a unique opportunity to lead one of the most dynamic entrepreneurial communities in the Wharton + Penn ecosystem. You can play a direct role in expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs and strengthening the alumni network that supports them. 💪 Impact: Help close the funding and network gap for women founders by building programs, connections, and initiatives that support the next cohort of entrepreneurs. 🤝 Powerful Network: Engage with a global community of founders, funders, investors, operators, and industry leaders. 👀 Professional Visibility: The President and President-Elect serve as visible ambassadors for WAFFA, helping shape conversations across the Wharton, Penn, and startup communities. 💬 Meaningful Community: Work alongside an accomplished group of alumnae who are committed to supporting each other’s success. 👉 Learn more and apply today! https://lnkd.in/gmNzsnH9
Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association
Non-profit Organizations
San Francisco, California 1,714 followers
To accelerate the success of Penn Wharton women founders and funders. 501(c)3 nonprofit. 5,700 Members and growing!
About us
WAFFA (Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association) is a 501 (c)(3) organization with a mission to increase the number of Penn Wharton women founders and the percent who get funded. According to Pitchbook, 13% of Penn founders are women, but their companies are only getting 6% of the VC funding. WAFFA is a group of alums—men and women—who want to change this. WAFFA hosts educational events and connects founders with mentors and funders. To get involved, visit our website!
- Website
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http://www.hellowaffa.org
External link for Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association
- Industry
- Non-profit Organizations
- Company size
- 2-10 employees
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, California
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2018
Employees at Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
90 New Montgomery St
San Francisco, California 94105, US
Updates
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Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association reposted this
I can’t recommend this opportunity highly enough! If you’re a Wharton alumna looking to make an impact, build meaningful relationships, and help shape an incredible community, I encourage you to apply. What a ride it’s been! 🚀 It has been an absolute joy and honor building WAFFA with Pam Harris and our executive team. Together, we’ve grown this community to more than 5,700 members around the world, and I’m so proud of the impact we’ve created. As we pass the baton, we’ll continue serving on the Board and cheering on the next generation of leaders. Excited to see what’s next for WAFFA! ✨ Click below to apply!
For many of you who know me from my time with Madison Square Garden - this may come as a shock...This post is not about the Knicks. 😄 Instead, it's about one of the most rewarding volunteer leadership roles I've ever had. For the past several years, I've had the privilege of serving as Co-President of the Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association (WAFFA) alongside the wonderful Kaitlyn Qin. Together, we've helped support a vibrant community of women entrepreneurs, investors, and operators that now connects thousands of Wharton and Penn alumnae around the world. Now it's time for us to pass the baton. We're seeking our next WAFFA President and President-Elect - leaders who are passionate about community building and helping shape the future of this remarkable organization. If Wharton has been part of your journey, or if you know someone who would be a great fit, please take a look and share. As a Wharton MBA, I've had more than my fair share of fun jobs over the years. But the relationships I've built through WAFFA and the opportunity to help this community grow have been truly special. I can't wait to see what the next generation of leaders does with it. Please look for the link in the first comment to learn more and for the application. Oh and OF COURSE -- LET'S GO KNICKS!!! Kaitlyn Qin Gail Gilbert Ball Jarah Euston Caroline Dahllöf Alice Zhang Margaret O'Dwyer Amy E. Peppers
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Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association reposted this
André, thank you for always saying, “I’m always in your cheering section, no matter what you achieve.” Living far from home, “growing up” is never a solo journey, and I feel so lucky to be surrounded by people who celebrate even my little wins. Alexandré, thank you for capturing all the special moments from the night. === 4/22 “We Season the Future” tasting and cooking event with starred chef Rachel, featuring 3 dishes powered by ZenBroth’s ZenVroth Umami Seasoning. ZenBroth | Venture Lab | University of Pennsylvania | Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association | The Wharton School | Penn Appétit Magazine | Rachel Klein | Taylor Durham
Grateful for an evening at University of Pennsylvania’s Venture Lab. Celebrating Xiaofeng (Jessica) Zhu and her leap with ZenBroth what stood out most was something simple: It’s a privilege to *taste* someone’s dream come to life. And you could feel it. This wasn’t built alone. A key ingredient in that dream was community. The support of University of Pennsylvania’s Venture Lab, The Wharton School, its staff, founders, contributors, and mentors was unmistakable. Thank you to Taylor Durham of Venture Lab, The Wharton School, Margaret O'Dwyer, WAFFA, Penn Appétit, and Chef Rachel Klein of Miss Rachel’s Pantry in Philadelphia for preparing such a thoughtful event, and for the absolutely delicious plant-based dishes. Thank you Alexandré Wing for capturing and sharing such meaningful moments and stories from last night. A reminder that behind every great idea is a group of people who chose to believe in it. Excited for what’s ahead.
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Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association reposted this
Can’t believe we’re on Penn Today! Which means this is absolutely a must‑join night! On Wednesday, 4/22, from 5–7 pm ET at Tangen Hall, we’re co‑hosting "We Season the Future", a cozy open‑kitchen night of cooking and tasting with Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association, Venture Lab, and Penn Appétit Magazine, featuring 3 (plant-based) ZenVroth‑powered dishes created by Chef Rachel Klein from Miss Rachel’s Pantry. You’ll get to try some of the best plant‑based comfort dishes in Philly, hear behind‑the‑scenes stories from a woman chef and founder, and hang out with people who are just as obsessed with food and CPG as you are. Seats are almost gone, so if this sounds like your kind of Wednesday night, I’d be so excited to see you there. :) https://lnkd.in/eXwQwK3C
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Philly Friends! Join us on Wednesday, April 22, 5–7pm at Tangen Hall for We Season the Future, an open‑kitchen evening with ZenBroth founder Xiaofeng (Jessica) Zhu GED’26 and Chef Rachel of Miss Rachel’s Pantry. Expect great food, a live cooking demo using ZenBroth’s plant‑based ZenVroth Umami Seasoning, and a fireside chat on building a new flavor brand rooted in whole‑food ingredients and East Asian culinary traditions. Space is limited — grab your spot! Register now: https://lnkd.in/e8CxTawk #femalefounders #WAFFA #entrePENNeurs #EntrePenneurship #Venturelab #Universityofpennsylvania #Wharton
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Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association reposted this
A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of hosting a Women’s Health Open House at Human Longevity, Inc. with Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association — and it was truly a full house. We were honored to have Dr. Tina Ziainia, MD — a deeply trusted physician and gynecologist, and our Chief Medical Officer from San Diego clinic — lead a thoughtful and engaging discussion on women’s health and longevity. When people think about women’s health, the conversation often centers around hormones and reproductive health — but far less attention is given to how women experience major diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease differently. The real question is: how should preventive care protocols be designed differently for women when it comes to these major diseases? Some of the insightful questions from the audience included: • Are women more prone to soft plaque rather than calcified plaque — and should cardiac screening protocols reflect that? • How should we weigh the benefits vs. risks of hormone therapy, especially for women who have survived breast cancer? These are complex, nuanced topics — and exactly the kind of conversations we need more of if we are serious about advancing precision preventive care for women. A special thank you to the Wharton Alumnae Founders & Funders Association (WAFFA) for bringing together such an inspiring group of female leaders who genuinely care about health, innovation, and impact. Dr. Tina Ziainia, MD ended her talk with a reminder that stayed with me: At the end of life, what really matters is not what we bought, but what we built; not what we got, but what we shared; not our competence, but our character; and not our success, but our significance. A powerful perspective — and perhaps the most important reason why investing in our health truly matters.
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📍 Boston WAFFA Dinner Meetup Calling all Boston-based Wharton alumnae interested in startups and innovation. Join us for a casual WAFFA dinner just ahead of International Women’s Day to connect with fellow founders, funders, and operators in the ecosystem. 🗓 Thursday, March 5 | 7 PM 📍 Bar Cino — Brookline, MA 💳 Cost: whatever you order This will be an informal evening to meet other alumnae, share ideas, and support one another in the startup journey. Sign up here: https://luma.com/3gqa6p7f Melinda Hu Pam Harris Kaitlyn Qin #WAFFA #Wharton #WomenInStartups #WomenInVC #FemaleFounders
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Only 5 spots left for tonight’s event: WAFFA x Human Longevity! We’re looking forward to gathering community builders and innovators for an intimate conversation on AI-powered genomics, precision diagnostics, and proactive women’s health. Including an exclusive lab tour at Human Longevity. Come hear more from and meet Wei-Wu He, Ph.D. (He/him), Dr. Tina Ziainia, and WAFFA Co-President Kaitlyn Qin! If you’ve been meaning to join us, this is your sign: https://lnkd.in/gM_W7Dry
WAFFA x Human Longevity: A Woman’s Longevity Playbook At WAFFA, we believe female founders and funders should have access to the same level of precision and intelligence in their health as they demand in their businesses. On March 3rd, we’re partnering with Human Longevity, Inc., a genomics and AI-driven health intelligence company pioneering personalized, data-powered prevention. Founded to shift healthcare from reactive to proactive, Human Longevity integrates whole-genome sequencing, advanced imaging, labs, and longitudinal analytics into one comprehensive health view. Notably, Wei-Wu He, Ph.D. (He/him), Executive Chairman of Human Longevity, is a Wharton graduate - making this collaboration especially meaningful for our community! In this intimate session in South San Francisco, Dr. Tina Ziainia will explore how longitudinal, AI-powered health intelligence is reshaping how disease risk is identified and managed before symptoms appear—and what that means for ambitious women building companies, investing in innovation, and leading at scale. Because longevity isn’t just personal, it’s strategic. Join fellow WAFFA founders, funders, and leaders for an evening of insight, connection, and forward-thinking conversation. Please register: https://lnkd.in/gM_W7Dry
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Don’t miss our event next Tuesday - we’re almost at capacity! WAFFA is thrilled that Dr. Wei-Wu He, Ph.D. (He/him), Wharton Grad WG99, Executive Chairman, will be speaking and sharing insights on the science behind healthy aging along with guest speaker Dr. Tina Ziainia! While centered on women’s longevity, the event is open to all — because longevity is a conversation that impacts everyone. Please register: https://lnkd.in/gM_W7Dry
WAFFA x Human Longevity: A Woman’s Longevity Playbook At WAFFA, we believe female founders and funders should have access to the same level of precision and intelligence in their health as they demand in their businesses. On March 3rd, we’re partnering with Human Longevity, Inc., a genomics and AI-driven health intelligence company pioneering personalized, data-powered prevention. Founded to shift healthcare from reactive to proactive, Human Longevity integrates whole-genome sequencing, advanced imaging, labs, and longitudinal analytics into one comprehensive health view. Notably, Wei-Wu He, Ph.D. (He/him), Executive Chairman of Human Longevity, is a Wharton graduate - making this collaboration especially meaningful for our community! In this intimate session in South San Francisco, Dr. Tina Ziainia will explore how longitudinal, AI-powered health intelligence is reshaping how disease risk is identified and managed before symptoms appear—and what that means for ambitious women building companies, investing in innovation, and leading at scale. Because longevity isn’t just personal, it’s strategic. Join fellow WAFFA founders, funders, and leaders for an evening of insight, connection, and forward-thinking conversation. Please register: https://lnkd.in/gM_W7Dry
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