Folks, I've been a partner in Women Who Tech's Women Startup Challenge since they first launched this great initiative 18 months ago. They've been really serious and effective, helping to showcase and fund the best early stage women-led startups. This time around, I'm co-sponsoring with investors Fred and Joanne Wilson to award $50K as a cash grant to the winner of the 4th Women Startup Challenge focused on virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI). Global law firm Paul Hastings, LLP is also offering $35K in pro bono legal services. Great tech deserves to be recognized, regardless of gender.

"We received close to 200 entries from women-led startups who are at the forefront of VR and AI. These ventures are building virtual limbs, self-driving non-automotive vehicles, 3-D immersive cameras, drone technologies and wearable tech for gaming. It's vitally important that women and their companies get properly supported so that their perspective on these life changing products is brought to market," said Allyson Kapin, founder of Women Who Tech.