The event is called BlogHer|bet (Business, Entrepreneurism and Technology) and is made possible by support from Conference host sponsor, Microsoft, and Welcome Reception host sponsor, Cisco.

The inspiration for this event is the question we -- and perhaps also you -- have been hearing: "Where are the women in tech?" and "Where are the women starting companies? The question reminds us of 2005, when we launched BlogHer to answer the question "Where are the women who blog?" In 2005, rather than talk about it, we decided to do something about it by hosting 300 blogging women to settle the question. Today BlogHer's annual conference is going strong, with over 3,500 attendees expected this August in San Diego.

Today, we still think the best way to answer such questions is to create the opportunity for women to show up. Show up to learn, connect and advance. Show up to find resources, including one another. 

We are creating a space for 100 ambitious women to attend BlogHerBET to meet 50 role models and mentors...business leaders, entrepreneurs, technologists and top-level service providers.

Who are these 50 mentors and role models? The list is growing, but we have already confirmed:

• Funders and Acquirers. Including Christine Herron of Intel Capital, Dana Mauriello, founder of Profounder.com, Patricia Nakache of Trinity Ventures, Cindy Padnos of illuminate Ventures, Janice Roberts of Mayfield Fund, Valley icon Heidi Roizen, Jan Schaffer, Executive Director of J-Lab, Megan Smith, VP if New Business Development and General Manager of Google.org of Google and Ann Winblad of Hummer Winblad 

• Entrepreneurs. Including Analisa Balares, CEO and founder of Womensphere, Barb Dybwad, Director of Programming of Tecca, Laura Fitton, CEO and founder of oneforty.com, Megan Gaiser, President and CEO of Her Interactive, Kaliya Hamlin, founder of She's Geeky, Sandy Jen, co-founder of Meebo, Allyson Kapin founder of WomenWhoTech and RadCampaign, Nicole Lazzaro, Founder of XEO Design, Wendy Lea, CEO of Get Satisfaction, Susan Mernit, founder of Oakland Local and former "intrapreneur" at AOL and Yahoo!, Kim Polese, former CEO of Marimba and SpikeSource, Tracy Randall, founder and CEO of Cooking.com,  Julie Ruvolo, Co-founder and COO of Solvate, Ellen Siminoff, CEO of Shmoop, Rashmi Sinha Founder and CEO of SlideShare and Robin Wolaner, Managing Partner of Skout, Inc.

• Intrapreneurs. Including Betsy Aoki, social media and online community guru for Microsoft,  Nina Bhatti, Principle Scientist of HP Labs, Heidi Browning, Global Digital Officer of Universal McCann,  Sandy Carter, Vice President of IBM, Amy Chang, Director of Google's Measurement and Reporting initiatives, Jacqueline Jones of Kaplan University, Janice Nickel, Senior Scientist of HP Labs, Janet Riccio, EVP of Omnicom and founder of their G23 subsidiary, Crystal Warwell Walker, Director of Communications for The Coca-Cola Company and Telle Whitney, President and CEO of the Anita Borg Institute

• Advisors and Service Providers for Entrepreneurs. Including Shaherose Charania, CEO of Women 2.0, Adriana Gascoigne, Founder and CEO of Girls in Tech, Natalia Oberti Noguera, Founder and CEO of Pipeline Fund, Jan Reed, Principle of Silicon Valley Finance Group, Diane Savage, Counsel, Cooley, LLP, Pemo Theodore, Start-up Coach, Sharon Vosmek, CEO of Astia, Marnie Webb, co-CEO of Tech Soup Global and Laurie Yoler, Managing Partner of Growth Point Technology Partners 

• Media and Sales & Marketing Experts. Including Liz Dolan of Satellite Sisters and former CMO of Nike and OWN, Gina Garrubbo, EVP of BlogHer, Amy Friedlander Hoffman of Priority Digital Media, Angela LoSasso, Director of Social Media Marketing at Research in Motion and Anna Yen, VP of Investor Relations for Tesla Motors

• Trend Watchers. Including Moira Forbes, Publisher of ForbesWoman, Charlene Li, founder of Altimeter and Pattie Sellers, Editor at Large, Fortune Magazine and Co-chair, Most Powerful Women Summit

BlogHer|bet will kick-off with a Welcome Reception on Thursday, March 24, 2011, followed by a one-day conference on Friday, March 25, 2011. We hope you will join us.

The Agenda:

Thursday, March 24th, Cisco will host a Welcome Reception at their TelePresence Suites site in Santa Clara. Meet fellow attendees and try out the latest in videoconferencing and collaboration technology.

Friday, March 25th, Microsoft will host a day of learning and networking at their Mountain View Conference Center. Programming includes:

• Private one-hour mentoring session. Mentors and attendees will be matched based on interests and needs
• Dedicated networking to facilitate peer-support and connection
• Break-out sessions in three programming tracks: Business Leadership, Entrepreneurism Fundamentals and Technology Must-Haves
• Keynotes presentations and panels about what you need to know right now
• A closing keynote panel featuring organizations that exist to support women business leaders and entrepreneurs in an ongoing fashion. Hear what those organizations have to offer, and hear winning pitches from recent graduates or honorees from each program

The day will be packed full of current, actionable, focused information. We hope you will join us to take your idea, your company, your career to the next level.

More info:

Men are absolutely and enthusiastically invited to attend this event. We invite men interested in funding, hiring or advancing entrepreneurially-minded women to please register and join us. And if you know women who would benefit from this event, contact Kristin Darguzas about sponsoring a table of ten of them

Other sponsorships are also available: contact Kristin Darguzas

Read more about BlogHer here: http://www.blogher.com/about-blogher-0

Read more about the BlogHer Founders here: http://blogher.com/founders