News

SANTA CLARA, Calif. Oct. 11, 2024 - Bay FC, the new women’s professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area in the National Women’s Soccer League, and its founding partner PNC Bank today are donating $25,000 in grant funding to Santa Clara University’s Bronco Ventures Accelerator (BVA). The grants will benefit five women entrepreneurs participating in BVA, a startup-accelerator program. 

Bay FC’s co-founders, U.S. Women’s National Team Legends, and Santa Clara University alumni Brandi Chastain ’91, Leslie Osborne ’05, Danielle Slaton ’02 and Aly Wagner ’02, also will be honored tonight as Entrepreneurs of Year at BVA Demo Day celebrations. 

"The Bronco founders of Bay FC are true ambassadors of Santa Clara values—displaying excellence in the classroom and on the field, with successful entrepreneurial mindsets and a drive to give back and lift up other women entrepreneurs," said Chris Norris, executive director of Ciocca Center. "We are extremely pleased to honor them as this year's Entrepreneurs of the Year." 

Goals for Grants

The grants stem from Bay FC’s “Goals for Grants” Powered by PNC initiative, in which the team committed to donating $1,000 – up to $25,000 – for every Bay FC goal scored this season. “Goals for Grants” is part of the “B Empowered” platform sponsored by PNC Bank, and designed to help Bay Area entrepreneurs achieve their personal and professional financial goals. 

“PNC Bank is a key partner for us in providing our players and the community financial empowerment programs and giving Bay Area women who own or lead businesses an opportunity to continue to pursue their dreams through the Goals for Grants program,” said Bay FC CEO Brady Stewart. “The “B Empowered” partnership with PNC continues to make a difference in the Bay Area community by helping women achieve financial success and further supporting them as leaders in the community.”

The five recipients of the grant funding are Claire Venezia MBA ’84 (E-POPS), Julia Benner ’10 (Missedfits), Madeline Eiken ’19 (Intero Biosystems), Megan Welsh ’08 (Dropsite), and Sonia Hoshmand ’25 (Smart Apply). Each entrepreneur will receive $5,000 to continue funding and research of their businesses. The recipients are presenting BVA Demo Day, which is sponsored by PNC Bank, Friday, October 11. 

“It was a tremendous honor to be part of Bay FC’s inaugural season and witness the team’s remarkable success both on and off the field,” said Megan Schoettmer, PNC regional president for Northern California. “PNC is passionate about making a real difference in the lives of women by supporting their financial growth, and through “Goals for Grants”, we’re proud to empower women entrepreneurs to drive meaningful change in business and their communities.” 

The “B Empowered” platform is designed to support women financial decision makers and includes grant funding, thought leadership, financial literacy education, and more. Bay FC and PNC Bank will continue to build out offerings in the 2025-26 season and subsequent years. 

About Bay Football Club 
Bay Football Club (Bay FC) is the new women's professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area and the 14th team to join the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Bay FC was established in April 2023 and co-founded by USWNT legends Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, and Aly Wagner in partnership with global investment firm Sixth Street and an investor group of leading tech, business and sports executives. Sixth Street’s investment is the largest institutional investment to date in a women’s professional sports franchise. Bay FC is changing the face of women’s soccer as we know it. Beginning play in the 2024 season, we are building a squad that will play the beautiful game with power, passion, energy, and creativity. Tickets are now on sale for Bay FC at https://bayfc.com and fans can follow Bay FC’s social channels (@wearebayfc) for the latest news, merchandise, and events. 

About Santa Clara University
Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley—the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University’s stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education.  For more information see www.scu.edu. 

Media Contact
Deborah Lohse | SCU Media Communications | dlohse@scu.edu | 408-554-5121