Patty Abramson
{{Short description|American venture capitalist}}
Patricia "Patty" Abramson (September 7, 1944 – August 26, 2019) was an American venture capitalist who co-founded the Women's Growth Capital Fund.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2019/08/26/patty-abramson-founder-women-venture-capital-fund-dies/W3yOCzHZUJquPo6HGz148I/story.html|title=Patty Abramson, founder of women's venture capital fund, dies at 74 - The Boston Globe|website=BostonGlobe.com}}{{Cite web |title=Patty Abramson, local leader for women in business, dies at 74 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/08/26/patty-abramson-local-leader-for-women-in-business.html |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}
Biography
Abramson was born on September 7, 1944, in Pittsburgh but was raised in Philadelphia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/patty-abramson-set-up-venture-capital-fund-to-back-firms-run-by-women-11567780200|title=Patty Abramson Set Up Venture-Capital Fund to Back Firms Run by Women|first=James R.|last=Hagerty|date=September 6, 2019|via=www.wsj.com}}{{Cite news |last=Bernstein |first=Adam |date=2019-08-26 |title=Patty Abramson, founder of women's venture capital fund, dies at 74 |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/patty-abramson-founder-of-womens-venture-capital-fund-dies-at-74/2019/08/26/dcc70204-c685-11e9-9986-1fb3e4397be4_story.html |access-date=2023-10-27 |issn=0190-8286}} She completed her bachelor's degree at Elmira College in 1966 and acquired a master's degree in journalism from American University in 1975.
Abramson began her career as an account executive at Abramson Himelfarb. She later transitioned to the role of promotion director for the Sentinel Newspapers. In 1979, she joined Hager, Sharp & Abramson, a firm in Washington, D.C., eventually leading to the foundation of Abramson Communications in 1989.
In 1997, Abramson established the Women's Growth Capital Fund, a venture capital fund dedicated to investing in women-owned businesses.{{cite book |last1=Althoff |first1=Susanne |title=Launching While Female |date=2020 |publisher=Beacon Press |isbn=9780807042977 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zhUAEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Patty+Abramson%22+venture+capitalist&pg=PA67 |access-date=4 October 2023}} This initiative was a response to challenges she faced in obtaining credit, even post the enactment of the 1974 Equal Credit Opportunity Act. The fund successfully attracted $8 million in venture capital in its inaugural year and achieved a designation from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Outside her business pursuits, Abramson was involved in various civic and professional organizations in Washington, including the Georgetown Day School and the Edlavitch Jewish Community Center.
She was first married to David B. Abramson, which ended in divorce.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/06/business/patty-abramson-dead.html|title=Patty Abramson, 74, Supporter of Businesses Owned by Women, Dies|first=Stacy|last=Cowley|date=September 6, 2019|via=NYTimes.com}} Later, she married Les Silverman, a senior partner emeritus at McKinsey & Co. Abramson is survived by two daughters from her first marriage, a stepdaughter, a sister, and five grandchildren.
References
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Category:American venture capitalists