"It's clear that some significant amount of money could be generated," Mr. Klasfeld said, adding that the chancellor's office had already received more than 100 inquiries from companies or organizations interested in the board's request for proposals to build the technology venture.
It's not that being a successful, widely renowned female entrepreneur in the Valley is impossible, but there's evidence of a greater barrier to entry for women -- a Silicon ceiling that may get in the way between the businesses they'd like to build and the venture capital and marketing vehicles required to get these businesses off the ground.
The goal of the remote-based program is educate underserved communities about VC and to build the next generation of venture capitalists and entrepreneur.
Voters in Doña Ana County recently approved, by fewer than 300 votes, a $130 million sales tax that will help build the Spaceport, a space tourism venture proposed by Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group.
Now GM and China's SAIC Motor, which build the Sunshine in a joint venture with Wuling Motors, plan to expand the Wuling lineup of cheap mini-vehicles and sell them in large volumes throughout emerging markets.
Viera said the venture initially wanted to build the batteries in France, but Ford nixed that plan.
Part of the problem, people involved in the deal said, is that the Philippines International Air Terminal Company, as the joint venture that built the terminal is known, is chronically short of capital.
It's also worth noting that Columbus-based prototyping powerhouse Big Kitty Labs are equity partners in this venture and built the app.
India is Xiaomi's most successful overseas venture, having built the business to the number one smartphone firm based on market share, and Xiaomi is pledging to double down on other global areas.
