Mother. Wife. Investor. Entrepreneur.
Helping women break through barriers so the next generation of female founders grow even more.
Dr. Silvia Mah is a founding partner of Ad Astra Ventures, that aims to "get to even" for high achieving women. Focused on "Impact with Integrity", Silvia is the founder & Chairwoman of Stella Labs, an accelerator for women-owned businesses; founding member of Stella Angels, a female angel investment group; Investment Committee member of Next Wave Impact, a social impact venture fund; and an angel investor to over 120+ startups who have diverse founders on the leadership team.
Dr. Mah is most recently, the new Director of Innovation at Biola University focus on accelerating social innovation in the region.
Dr. Mah’s own success includes producing a globally-recognized podcast, She Invests!, highlighting the investment journeys of female angel investors and venture capitalists & the inaugural Fund Manager for the San Diego Angel Conference Fund I, a new angel fund to activate regional capital from aspiring and existing angel investors.
Dr. Mah formerly served as the President & COO of Connect w/San Diego Venture Group and serving for 2 years as the Student Programs Diversity Director at the Office of Innovation and Commercialization’s The Basement, a technology accelerator for undergraduate startups at UCSD. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Dr. Mah believes in integrating family and work to create a lifestyle that serves both with a strong cup of integrity.
The Book: The Power of Purpose
As an active angel investor, entrepreneur, and ecosystem builder, Servant Leadership is alive and well in the startup world, but it is not talked about so much.
Dr. Silvia Mah interviewed countless investors and entrepreneurs to compile data on the FRAMEWORK of Servant leadership and the steps to become a better servant leader in the startup. The second edition launches 2022!
Volunteer Experience
Silvia is the Honduras Missions Trip Director for Grace Point Church. She served as a company coach for the 2018 ACA Innovation Showcase, a prestigious honor to advise startups on pitching their startups at the plenary session at the annual Angel Capital Association summit. She also is an Advisory Board Member of the California Institute for Innovation and Development at UCSD.
Awards
In 2019, she was selected by the San Diego National Association of Women Business Owners for the Women's Advocate of the Year Award. Her other awards include these:
Citizen Diplomat of the Year - Ambassador Charles W. Hostler Award
Women Who Mean Business Award Finalist (23rd annual)
Athena Pinnacle Winner | Individual in Service
Female Start-up Champion
Woman of the Year award Nominee
Pinnacle Award Nominee: Individual in Services