Women own 39% of American businesses and bring in 6% of the revenue. Last year, all-women founding teams received 1.1% of US venture dollars. That gap does not close by waiting politely.

It closes when the women building companies and the women writing checks are in the same place, talking plainly about money. So we are taking that conversation outside.

Walking Talking Dollars is Blackbird's morning walk for women founders and funders, where wellness meets finance. We meet at Blackbird House, climb the Culver City Stairs together, and talk money, funding and what we are each building on the way up.

Why this walk, why now

  • 124 US startups became unicorns in 2025. Not one was founded by an all-women team.

  • Close the revenue gap between women-owned and men-owned businesses and you add $10.2 trillion to the economy.

  • Startups founded by women have returned 78 cents in revenue for every dollar invested, against 31 cents for those founded by men. The talent is not the problem. Access is.

  • Access is built one conversation at a time. This is two hours of them, with the people you would otherwise wait months to meet.

The experience

  • No panels, no pitches, no name tags. Just good shoes and honest conversation.

  • The climb does the icebreaking. It is hard to stay guarded halfway up the Stairs.

  • City views at the top, and a group photo to prove you made it.

  • Back at Blackbird House for coffee, pastries and the follow-up conversations that turn into introductions.

  • A small group by design, so you leave knowing people and not just names.

What you get

  • A guided walk to and up the Culver City Stairs, led by Shelin David

  • Side-by-side conversation with women founders, VCs, angel investors, LPs and operators

  • Coffee to start, then pastries and conversation back at Blackbird House

  • You are done by 10:00 AM, with the whole day still ahead of you

The morning

  • 8:00 AM: Check-in and coffee at Blackbird House

  • 8:10 AM: Walk to the Culver City Stairs together

  • 8:30 AM: The climb, with a group photo at the top

  • 9:15 AM: Back at the house for pastries and conversation

  • 10:00 AM: Wrap

Who it's for

Women founders at any stage, and the women who fund them: venture capitalists, angel investors, LPs, family offices and startup operators.

Tickets

Friends of Blackbird tickets are $10. Free for Blackbird House members: please choose the Blackbird Members ticket, which is confirmed against our member list. The walk is limited to about 40, so bring a co-founder or a friend and book together.

Make a day of it: add the co-working pass for $50. The Walk + Co-Working Day Pass ticket is $60 and includes the walk, then a day working from Blackbird House with all-day coffee and tea service, in a beautiful space alongside ambitious and audacious women.

The numbers will not move themselves. Lace up.

What to bring:Comfortable shoes and water.

The exact address is shared with registered guests.

This event will be photographed and filmed. By attending, you agree that your image may appear in Blackbird House content.

About Blackbird HouseBlackbird House is a visionary society membership club and storytelling studio in Culver City, Los Angeles, for women of color, built around productivity, wellbeing, creativity and advocacy.

Part of LA Tech Week 2026, October 12 to 18, Los Angeles.