Silvia Mah: Elevating Women in San Diego Business

Silvia Mah, a multidimensional powerhouse in the worlds of science, entrepreneurship, and investing, is making waves as an advocate for women in business in the heart of San Diego. She is not only transforming the face of the city's financial and investment scene as the CEO of Stella and Ad Astra Ventures, but she is also inspiring women entrepreneurs to shoot for the stars.

Silvia, who is originally from Venezuela, attended Pepperdine University in California to study biology. She eventually followed her interest for marine biology with a PhD from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and an MBA from the University of California, San Diego's Rady School of Management. She stepped into the realm of entrepreneurship and investing, armed with both scientific competence and business aptitude.

Silvia noticed a need for more women, particularly Latinas, to be represented in San Diego's startup scene and discovered a gap. To solve this issue, she established Stella, a 501c3 organization that has expanded into a resource and service hub for entrepreneurs, offering courses, co-working spaces, and holding events such as the Women's Venture Summit. Stella has successfully enabled $100 million in investment for female-led enterprises with the assistance of 75 female angel investors.

Ad Astra Ventures is a microfund run by Silvia and two founding partners that examines firms that fit their investing philosophy. Silvia has personally invested in over 140 startups, including Vizer, which just raised $2.3 million in a seed round.

Silvia’s commitment to assisting women-led enterprises succeed is obvious in her desire to guide them through all phases of development. Her goal is simple: she wants to see more women-led businesses fulfill their goals, whether it's obtaining bank loans, revenue-based financing, or Series A capital. Women entrepreneurs in San Diego now have a formidable ally in Silvia Mah's corner, and the future looks brighter than ever.