Female Initiative

The nation’s first high-technology incubator for women is preparing to open its doors in San Francisco’s Multimedia Gulch. And it has been deluged with interest from entrepreneurs as far away as Montana, Colorado and New York.

The Women’s Technology Cluster is a project of the Three Guineas Fund, headed by president Catherine Muther, a Cisco Systems millionaire-turned-philanthropist. It will house 20 to 25 technology start-ups in which women have a principal ownership stake. Occupants will receive inexpensive office space, business consulting and mentoring, as well as discounted health insurance and shared staff support.

The women-only status for an industry-specific incubator makes it the first of its kind, said Mary Lea Balsley, Women’s Technology Center interim director. So far, she said, response has been “overwhelming,” underscoring the sophistication of women business owners and their interest in networking and collaboration.

“There’s pent-up demand. The timing is right, the women are there,” said Balsley, who is giving about 10 tours a week to interested business owners. “The numbers of women in technology are increasing significantly, and they’re yearning to be in a synergistic, cooperative, collaborative environment. They also want to give back.”

Balsley plans to begin formal interviews of candidates on Jan. 4. Response has not been limited to prospective tenants.

“We’re getting calls from people who want to consult, mentor, intern, do research, [and] from funders trying to contact us,” Balsley said. “Everyone wants to contribute to this project.”

Interested business owners can call Balsley at (408) 294-5544.

Lee Romney can be reached at (213) 237-4884 or via e-mail at lee.romney@latimes.com.