About the Summit
Funding Women Founders Takes More Than Good Intentions.
The Startup Ladies’ 5th Annual Invest In Women Founders Summit is created for people who want to build women-owned companies by expanding access to capital, customers, visibility, and strategic support. After a twelve week investor-readiness accelerator, the Top 9 founders will be ready to meet professional and first-time investors, corporate leaders, potential customers, advisors, sponsors, media outlets, and community partners.
Each founder will be interviewed live on stage by an experienced investor, executive, or exited founder, giving the audience a clear look at her leadership, company, traction, market opportunity, funding goals, and the relationships that could move the business forward. Be in the room to meet the Top 9 founders, understand what each company needs next, explore investment opportunities, open customer and partner doors, make strategic introductions, and build momentum behind women-owned companies.
>>> 2026 Top 9 + Interviewers
2026 Top 9 Founders
Nesha Brown, Tech Founder & Executive Director, PurposeMint
Jerrica Fletcher, Founder & CEO, PawGone Good
Lindsay Fried Augustine, Founder & CEO, Simply Succeed
Sunandita Ghosh, Founder, ClearPRO
Ashley Infausto, Co-founder & CEO, Scoutwell
Latashia Key, Founder & CEO, S.A.F.E. Kids Swim
Paden Sickles, Chief Sock Enthusiast, SickFit
Liz Tomon, Founder & CEO, LOO
2026 Interviewers
Rebecca Bormann - CEO & Founder, RB Consulting
Kristine Camron - Partner, Camron, Mollin LLC
Teresa Danielson – Owner, TJ Northern Michigan Rentals & BDA
Jon Dartt – Councilman, Westfield, IN
Raman Ohri – President & CEO, SEP
Jim Parshall - Executive Director, Delivery Device R&D, Eli Lilly
Tara Pearson - Investor & Consultant
Doug Rammel – Founder, Investor, COO ConneCXiOn
Top 9 Alumnae
Lunch Panel
Moderator
Rhaya Shilts, Owner, Jackson Sky Creative & Startup Ladies Board Member
Top 9 Alumnae
Jessica Bussert, Founder & CTO, Wave Therapeutics
Nicole Kearney, Founder & Owner, Sip Easy SocialHaus
Jean Ross, Co-founder & CEO, Primary Record
>>> A Room Worth Being In
Your Experience
Start with lunch and a conversation with Top 9 alumnae about their experiences building and growing their companies. Meet the people at your table, exchange ideas, and get to know the community gathering around women-owned businesses. Throughout the afternoon, choose the founder interviews that interest you most and explore where your interests, expertise, or business connections align.
Entrepreneurs: Prepare for your next opportunity.
Could your company be in next year’s Top 9? See how this year’s founders explain their businesses, demonstrate traction, and discuss their funding goals. Listen to investors’ questions and identify what you could strengthen before applying. Meet potential investors, customers, partners, and advisors, and get to know The Startup Ladies community that could support your preparation and growth.
Investors: Find founders you want to know.
Meet the Top 9 founders who have completed our investor-readiness accelerator, along with other entrepreneurs attending the Summit. Hear directly about their businesses, explore potential investments, and start conversations you can continue afterward. Whether you’re considering your first startup investment or expanding your portfolio, this is an opportunity to discover women-owned companies, meet fellow investors, and make connections that can introduce you to future opportunities.
Executives and professionals: Meet your next clients and referral partners.
Founders need banks, attorneys, accountants, insurance providers, software developers, sales experts, HR professionals, marketers, and other specialists as their companies grow. Investors need trusted professional services, too. Be in the room to understand their priorities, introduce your expertise, and explore where your company could become a provider or partner. Meet other executives serving these same clients and build relationships that can lead to referrals and shared business opportunities. Help open doors for scaling businesses.
End the day overlooking the city with new friends.
Enjoy the Indianapolis skyline during our closing cocktail reception with founders, investors, and executives. Pick up a conversation from lunch, follow up with a founder whose interview sparked your interest, or get to know someone you haven’t met yet. Share ideas, make introductions, and make plans to see each other again.
Guests of all genders are welcome.
Summit Agenda
Lunch & Panel
Noon Guests arrive
1 pm Top 9 Alumnae
Panel
Meet the women entrepreneurs building companies addressing untapped markets. Connect with the investors and executives supporting them.
Breakout Sessions
2 - 2:45 pm Session 1
2:45 - 3 pm Break
3 - 3:45 pm Session 2
3:45 - 4 pm Break
4 - 4:45 pm Session 3
Three "fund the founder" interviews take place simultaneously at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. You get to choose who to watch. We know you can't see everyone, so you can meet the founders you didn't watch and/or continue the conversation with the founders you may want to invest in or do business with.
Happy Hour
4:45 - 6 pm Happy Hour
6 pm Wrap up
Continue the conversation with founders, investors, and executives over drinks.
>>> Thank You Sponsors!
