2025 Recap: 4th Annual Invest In Women Founders Summit! #RadarWorthy
- Kristen Cooper, CEO & Founder, The Startup Ladies
- 1 day ago
- 28 min read
Updated: 27 minutes ago
Welcome founders, investors, and executives!
It was an absolute thrill to open The Startup Ladies’ fourth annual Invest In Women Founders Summit at the Skyline Club in Indianapolis. Today, I’m excited to introduce you to the people at the heart of it all, our 2025 Top 9 women founders and the smart, talented, generous, and deeply connected interviewers who had the privilege of reviewing them.
For nearly a decade, I’ve proudly served as a Startup Ladies board member and sponsor because I’ve seen firsthand how this community is reshaping Indiana’s entrepreneurial landscape and strengthening the economy across the country. The women business owners featured here are creating companies that solve real problems, open new markets, and drive meaningful economic growth. They are exactly the kinds of founders investors claim to be looking for: visionary leaders building scalable, capital-efficient companies with strong market demand.
Yet even with this level of talent and traction, the playing field remains far from equal. If we want companies scaling in Indiana, we need the broader business community, from executives and exited founders to investors and retired professionals, to step in, show up, and stay engaged. Women founders are still receiving just 2% of U.S. venture capital, not because of a gap in innovation, but because too few people with influence are actively changing the equation.
THIS is where you come in.
As you read the reflections from each interviewer, I hope you will:
1 - Take meaningful action to support these Top 9 founders now.
Make introductions, test and buy their products, join advisory boards, or invest when the opportunity aligns.
2 - Personally get involved with The Startup Ladies.
Become a member and/or sponsor an event or series, and show up to meet the brilliant women driving our state’s innovation economy.
3 - Join us at The Startup Ladies New Year’s Celebration & Book Exchange!
Wednesday, January 21 from 6–8pm at zWorks in Zionsville. Come experience this community for yourself.
These founders and this community are building the future of Indiana’s economy. Your participation helps accelerate what they’ve already begun.
To fully appreciate the strength of this year’s Top 9, it’s also important to understand the caliber of leaders who reviewed them. The interviewers featured in this recap are my colleagues, friends, and trusted voices in Indiana’s innovation ecosystem: accomplished executives, exited founders, board members, and investors who bring decades of expertise across sectors. They understand what it takes to build and scale a company in Indiana, and their perspectives offer an informed, strategic, and rare inside look at the opportunities these founders are creating. Their insights will help you see why these women deserve your attention, your support, and your investment.
Interviewers Have ALL the Insights
By the time the 2025 Top 9 stepped onto the stage, they weren’t just presenting—they were performing at the top of their game. Each of these founders earned their place through The Startup Ladies’ Invest In Women Founders Summit Accelerator, a rigorous, multi-week training program requiring dozens of hours of concentrated work. Throughout the Accelerator, founders strengthened their business models, sharpened their messaging, refined their decks, pressure-tested their assumptions, and learned how to communicate their value with clarity, confidence, and investor-grade precision.
But they did not do it alone.
Just as Julie shared in her opening remarks, the strength of this Summit is amplified by the caliber of the leaders who stand behind these founders. The interviewers: accomplished executives, exited founders, investors, strategists, and board members, were not simply moderators. They were active partners in the development of each founder’s story and strategic clarity.
Each interviewer participated in three structured training sessions with their assigned founder, diving deep into product-market fit, competitive landscape, financial logic, traction, risks, and long-term vision. And many went further, reviewing decks outside of scheduled sessions, pushing founders with tougher questions, practicing interview flow, and helping refine language that communicates both opportunity and credibility to sophisticated audiences.
Their commitment matched the founders’ commitment. Their insight elevated the founders’ readiness. And together, they created the powerful, polished, compelling presentations captured in this recap.
These leaders understand what it takes to build and scale a company in Indiana, and more importantly, they understand what it takes to get a founder investor-ready. Their involvement brought a rare combination of mentorship, diligence, and strategic scrutiny that you almost never see in traditional pitch events.
What you’re about to read reflects the depth of that collaboration.
These are the interviewers’ informed perspectives: why the company matters, how the founder thinks, where the biggest opportunities are, and what makes each of these women a leader worth paying attention to.
Their insights reveal what Julie so clearly articulated: Indiana’s innovation economy is full of extraordinary women founders - and - The Startup Ladies are helping attract even more. One-third of this year’s Top 9 traveled in from out of state, a powerful signal that our Accelerator, Summit and entrepreneurial community are becoming a magnet for high-growth women-owned companies. And the people who interviewed them are among the most trusted, experienced, and deeply connected leaders in our ecosystem, exactly the kind of bench strength that makes founders want to build and scale here.
Now, let’s begin our deep dive into the 2025 Top 9, guided by the experts who know their work best.
5ENSES
Kristina Bagnoli, Co-Founder & CEO
Company Snapshot
Founder: Kristina Bagnoli (right)
Company: 5ENSES
What It Does: Real-time sensory environment insights that help neurodivergent individuals navigate spaces more confidently
Problem: Nearly 50% of people struggle with sensory sensitivities, yet most environments aren’t designed to support their needs
Solution: A “weatherman for sensory environments” providing crowd-sourced and sensor-based data about noise, light, crowds, and sensory triggers5ENSES provides real-time sensory insights that help individuals with ADHD, autism, PTSD, chronic migraines, and other sensitivities navigate social environments with confidence and ease.
The Interviewer
Liz Conzo-Kershner (left), Director of Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning, Allegion, an accomplished operations and planning executive with 18 years of experience leading cross-functional teams across manufacturing, analytics, and strategic business operations. Her expertise spans market forecasting, consumer insights, supply chain strategy, and evidence-based decision-making, giving her a unique lens into the scalability, rigor, and systems thinking required for high-growth companies.
“I chose to participate in The Startup Ladies accelerator and Invest In Women Founders Summit because I believe deeply in its mission to help fund women founders at the rate and amounts of their male counterparts. Too many women are building extraordinary solutions without access to the networks, resources, or visibility that unlock growth. Supporting Kristina allowed me to help amplify a technical and human-centered innovation that the world truly needs.” - Liz Conzo-Kershner,
What Liz Learned About Kristina
Liz emphasized how skillfully Kristina integrates psychology, design, and technology — translating complex sensory and emotional challenges into intuitive, empowering tools. Through their work together, Liz saw Kristina’s commitment to inclusivity, practical usefulness, and human dignity woven into every aspect of 5ENSES.
“Kristina is building more than a platform. She is building a lifeline for millions of people who feel overwhelmed by sensory environments. Her blend of clinical expertise as a marriage and family therapist, personal lived experience, and thoughtful product design gives 5ENSES a depth of credibility rarely seen in early-stage startups.”
Market Opportunity
More than 70 million Americans live with sensory sensitivities, and the global neurodiversity and accessibility market continues to expand as public spaces, employers, and educators prioritize inclusive design.
Why 5ENSES Is Ripe for Growth
Strong alignment with rising awareness of neurodiversity
Large, underserved market spanning healthcare, education, hospitality, retail, and entertainment
Dual revenue model (consumer subscriptions + business dashboards)
Early community traction and national microgrant support
Mission aligned with DEIA initiatives across industries
Traction & Early Signals
5ENSES has earned early validation from neurodivergent communities, educators, and families seeking practical support tools. Their social content addressing sensory overload has attracted significant engagement, and early pilot interest signals strong demand for a platform that blends real-time data with community insights.
Competitive Advantage
Real-time data layer bridging community voices and sensor technology
Founders with deep clinical and design expertise
User-centered product rooted in lived experience
High relevance for organizations seeking ADA-aligned and sensory-friendly environments
Why Now?
Post-pandemic shifts and growing mental health awareness have elevated the need for environments that feel safe and manageable. Public institutions, schools, employers, and entertainment venues are urgently searching for tools that make spaces more inclusive.
Vision
Kristina aims to build the world’s leading platform for sensory accessibility in public spaces — empowering individuals to navigate their days with greater confidence while equipping businesses with insights to create environments where everyone can thrive.
What 5ENSES Needs Now
Pilot locations across schools, museums, clinics, entertainment venues, and retail
Strategic investors with expertise in digital health, accessibility tech, or community-driven platforms
Technical development support
Warm introductions to journalists covering neurodiversity, mental health innovation, and inclusive design
Liz’s Post Summit Take
“Kristina is building an inclusive, emotionally intelligent technology that will fundamentally change how millions of people experience the world. 5ENSES blends empathy, insight, and innovation in a way that is rare in the tech space. This is a company with enormous potential and Kristina is exactly the founder to lead it.” - Liz Conzo-Kershner
Caitie G
Caitie Gehlhausen Walsh, Founder & CEO
Company Snapshot
Founder: Caitie Gehlhausen Walsh
Company: Caitie G
What It Does: Stylish, compliant stadium bags with removable privacy wraps
Problem: Clear bag policies expose women’s personal items, creating discomfort, vulnerability, and lack of privacy at venues
Solution: Caitie G designs stylish, security-compliant stadium bags featuring removable outer wraps that allow women to protect their privacy while seamlessly passing through event security checkpoints.
The Interviewer
Teresa Danielson is Owner, T&J Northern Michigan Rentals; Former VP, EY and a growth strategist and investor with 30+ years of experience advising Fortune 500 companies on federal tax incentives, operational optimization, and long-term business planning. She has served as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill, led national consulting practices, and mentored countless founders through strategic planning and early-stage growth challenges. Her deep experience evaluating business models and guiding executives makes her a powerful advocate for scalable startups.
“When women founders build products from lived experience, the solutions are powerful. I support The Startup Ladies because they provide founders with structure, accountability, and investor-readiness training that truly helps women secure funding. Caitie’s vision, discipline, and product-market clarity made me excited to help elevate her story.”
What Teresa Learned About Caitie
Teresa noted that Caitie’s executional discipline stands out: she built her first company, Lock-It, into a product line carried in more than 3,000 Walmart stores nationwide. That real-world retail experience, combined with a sharp sense of design and consumer behavior, positions her to scale Caitie G quickly and strategically.
“Caitie has an incredible ability to identify a universal frustration and turn it into a beautifully designed, scalable product. Her experience competing as a Division I golfer — and spending years in stadiums as a dedicated fan — gives her unique insight into the privacy and security challenges women face under clear bag policies.”
Market Opportunity
The global handbag market exceeds $80B, and with nearly all major U.S. stadiums, arenas, and concert venues enforcing clear bag policies, a massive niche exists for privacy-centric, compliant alternatives. Women make up more than 45% of sports fans — a rapidly growing demographic with increasing purchasing power.
Why Caitie G Is Ripe for Growth
Clear bag policies are here to stay — and women want stylish solutions
High potential for licensing deals with universities, teams, and stadiums
Strong founder track record in product distribution and retail partnerships
Early consumer excitement and strong repeat engagement
Perfect timing with the explosive growth of women’s sports and event attendance
Traction & Early Signals
Caitie’s bags SELL! Early sales and event-based market tests show strong conversion rates, and sports fans have expressed overwhelming enthusiasm for a bag that protects both their belongings and their dignity. Customers consistently praise the combination of style, privacy, and practicality. Demand is emerging not only from individual customers but also from influencers, alumni groups, and fan communities.
Competitive Advantage
Patentable design innovation centered on removable wraps
Founder with proven nationwide retail distribution experience
Brand positioning aligned with women’s sports, self-expression, and safety
Strong product-market fit backed by real user feedback
Why Now?
Event attendance is surging, especially among women, and more venues are enforcing strict security measures. Simultaneously, women’s sports are experiencing unprecedented growth in viewership, sponsorship, and fandom. The cultural moment and market need perfectly align with Caitie’s product.
Vision
Caitie envisions becoming the leading brand for event-day accessories — where privacy, style, and safety intersect. Her long-term plan includes expanding into licensed merchandise, collaborations with athletes and teams, and additional products that help women feel confident and secure at every event.
What Caitie G Needs Now
Strategic investors with consumer product or retail experience
Intros to collegiate athletics departments, professional teams, and stadium operations leaders
Manufacturing and logistics partners to support scale
Warm introductions to lifestyle and sports journalists, influencers, and women’s sports media
Teresa’s Post Summit Take
“Caitie is a fast-moving, disciplined founder who has already proven she can scale. Her product solves a real frustration for millions of women — and the market opportunity is enormous. This is one of those rare startups where the timing, the founder, and the consumer need are perfectly aligned.” — Teresa Danielson
Gig Dental
Michelle Hurdle, Founder & CEO
Company Snapshot
Founder: Michelle Hurdle (right)
Company: Gig Dental
What It Does: Staffing platform connecting dental practices with licensed professionals for temporary or permanent work
Problem: Dental practices lose up to $3.1 billion annually due to missed chair time caused by staffing shortages and outdated hiring systems
Solution: Gig Dental is a modern staffing platform that connects dental practices with licensed professionals for temporary or permanent work. The platform also helps clinicians keep their credentials and continuing education up to date, making it easier for them to grow their careers and find the roles that fit them best.
The Interviewer
Christi Garcia (left), Talent Recruiting & Business Development, E-gineering brings 30+ years of professional experience across software, product development, HR, sales, recruiting, and community leadership. She has spent her career building strong networks, supporting women in technology, and advocating for founders from underrepresented backgrounds. Christi is committed to using her platform to create a more equitable playing field for women and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.
“This was my third year as an interviewer, and I returned because women founders solving real operational problems, especially in healthcare, need access to experienced professionals who understand systems, scale, and hiring. Michelle is addressing a major gap in the dental industry. Supporting her through this process was meaningful because Gig Dental has the potential to transform how practices operate and how professionals manage their careers.”
What Christi Learned About Michelle
“Michelle has an unusually strong combination of skills. She spent 17 years working in dentistry — including seven years as a full-time temp — so she deeply understands the operational pain points practices face every day. Then she trained as a UX/UI designer at Northwestern, giving her the product thinking and design skills needed to build a platform people will actually use.”
Christi emphasized that Michelle’s empathy, precision, and commitment to user-centered design were evident in every conversation. Gig Dental is built from real lived experience, not theory — and that is why it resonates so quickly with both dental professionals and office managers.
Market Opportunity
Staffing shortages are one of the biggest challenges in dentistry. Over 60 percent of dentists cite workforce gaps as their top operational barrier. Traditional staffing agencies are slow and expensive, and dental professionals increasingly want autonomy, flexibility, and modern tools to manage their careers. Healthcare staffing marketplaces are already disrupting other clinical sectors — dentistry is next.
Why Gig Dental Is Ripe for Growth
Founder with 17 years of deep domain experience + UX/UI expertise
Massive demand from both practices and dental professionals
Clear ROI and cost savings by eliminating agency fees
Strong alignment with workforce and gig economy trends
Scalable into additional dental roles and geographies
Early enthusiasm from professionals seeking flexibility and transparency
Traction & Early Signals
Dental professionals are quick to sign up because the platform offers something new: control. Practices appreciate the transparency, reduced administrative load, and simplified communication. Early users validate the exact gap Michelle set out to solve.
Competitive Advantage
Founder with true operator experience in both dentistry and UX/UI
Transparent rate-setting and credential management
Designed for both short-term and long-term staffing needs
Strong brand positioning in a modernizing industry
Built for expansion into DSOs, dental schools, and national networks
Why Now?
Staffing shortages are accelerating. Patient demand is increasing. Practices need flexible, affordable ways to stay fully staffed and professionals want tools that give them autonomy and career mobility. The timing is perfect for a platform like Gig Dental.
Vision
Michelle’s long-term vision is to build the leading digital marketplace for dental staffing: a platform that empowers professionals, stabilizes practices, and improves patient access to care nationwide.
What They Need Now
Introductions to dental practices, DSOs, and state dental associations
Strategic investors aligned with healthcare, staffing, or workforce innovation
Partnerships with dental schools, credentialing organizations, and CE providers
Journalists covering healthcare innovation, gig economy trends, and workforce shortages
Interviewer’s Take
“Michelle is building a much-needed solution for an industry facing real staffing challenges. She brings deep experience, empathy, and a strong product mindset to this work. Gig Dental is positioned to modernize how dental teams operate — and investors should be paying attention.” - Christi Garcia
lookingGLASS
Lana Ashby Rowder, Founder & CEO
Company Snapshot
Founder: Lana Ashby Rowder (left)
Company: lookingGLASS
What It Does: AI + expert styling for everyday confidence using your existing wardrobe
Problem: 73% of women lack confidence in their clothes, leading to overspending and wasted time
Solution: Personalized, sustainable outfit recommendations that reduce decision fatigue and increase emotional wellbeing lookingGLASS is a next-generation personal styling platform that uses AI and expert stylists to create daily outfits from the clothes people already own.
The Interviewer
Kristine Camron (right), Managing Partner, Camron Molin LLC is a highly respected venture attorney with more than 25 years of experience and over 500 completed transactions across healthcare, software, logistics, and manufacturing. She has guided startups from launch through exit, giving her deep insight into how investor-ready companies are built.
“As someone who has spent decades supporting founders through venture raises, I know how critical investor readiness is and how often women are excluded from that preparation. The Startup Ladies provide the training, structure, and visibility that change trajectories. I participated because I want to help founders like Lana walk into capital conversations with clarity and confidence.”
What Kristine Learned About Lana
Kristine also highlighted Lana’s ability to recruit exceptional talent: a team with pedigrees from Meta, USAA, Neiman Marcus, and Stitch Fix, a sign of strong founder-market fit and leadership.
“Lana isn’t building a styling app. She’s building a confidence platform. Her empathy, intuition, and deep understanding of emotional wellbeing set her apart. She sees how life transitions, identity shifts, and body changes impact self-perception, and she has the rare ability to translate those insights into scalable technology.”
Market Opportunity
The global personal styling and wardrobe-tech market is projected to surpass $40B by 2030, with AI-driven consumer services growing rapidly as personalization becomes the norm.
Why lookingGLASS Is Ripe for Growth
Unmet demand for personalized wardrobe tech
Strong alignment with sustainability and wellness trends
National media recognition + early adopter enthusiasm
Human + AI hybrid creates a defensible moat competitors can’t easily replicate
Traction & Early Signals
Early adopters report increased confidence, reduced shopping impulses, and faster morning routines. Engagement metrics suggest strong habit formation — a key indicator of long-term retention for consumer subscription platforms.
Competitive Advantage
Proprietary AI + stylist hybrid model
Team with top-tier retail and technology expertise
Sustainability-first approach
Deep emotional resonance with users
Why Now?
Consumers are overwhelmed by choice, craving personalization, and increasingly valuing sustainability. AI adoption is accelerating, making now the ideal moment for an emotionally intelligent wardrobe platform.
Vision
Lana’s long-term vision is to build the world’s leading wardrobe intelligence platform, the essential operating system that guides how people get dressed, optimize their wardrobes, and show up with confidence in every season of their lives.
What lookingGlass Needs Now
Strategic investors
Retail, apparel, resale, and wellness partnerships
Corporate wellness pilots
Warm introductions to fashion tech media and AI reporters
Interviewer’s Take
“Lana is building an innovative company at the intersection of AI, sustainability, and confidence. She has the insight, leadership, and resilience investors look for and lookingGLASS is perfectly timed for the market. This is a founder poised for breakout growth.” - Kristine Camron
Love In A Big World
Tamara Fyke, Founder & CEO
Company Snapshot
Founder: Tamara Fyke (left)
Company: Love In A Big World
What It Does: Digital mental health and wellbeing support for kids ages 8–12
Problem: 4 in 10 kids report persistent sadness or hopelessness, and the U.S. is short more than 100,000 mental health professionals
Solution: Love In A Big World is a digital mental health and wellbeing platform providing 24/7 emotional support, life skills education, and community connection for kids ages 8-12 and the adults who care for them via schools, Children’s Hospitals and other Social Service and Community Mental Health Agencies.
The Interviewer
Doug Rammel (right) is Founder & CIO of Abstract Reality Ventures, an investor, operator, and advisor with 30+ years of experience scaling startups, developing corporate innovation strategies, and building high-performing teams across technology, education, consumer goods, sporting goods and healthcare industries. He has coached founders through product development, market validation, fundraising, and early-stage growth, and is known for helping visionaries turn complex ideas into scalable realities.
“I serve on The Startup Ladies board and am participating as an interviewer for a second time this year because this accelerator and summit are the highest-impact ways to support women-owned innovation and strengthen all parts of the economy. Tamara is solving an urgent, systemic problem in children’s mental health, and supporting her through this process allowed me to help refine and introduce a solution that is both desperately needed and uniquely designed.”
What Doug Learned About Tamara
Tamara has spent the last 30 years of her life building to this point! Doug emphasized Tamara’s rare ability to integrate behavioral science, educational design, and digital engagement into a tool that feels safe, accessible, and empowering. “She has literally worked and played all of these roles — educator, counselor, artist, and Leader!” Through the accelerator, he saw firsthand how Tamara balances creative vision with operational discipline, a combination critical for scaling a mission-driven platform.
“Tamara has spent 30 years working directly with children, families, educators, and community leaders. That experience shows up in every detail of Love In A Big World. She understands not just what kids need emotionally, but how they learn, how they communicate, and how to reach them with compassion and clarity. While she has gotten good traction in her home communities of Nashville, TN, and Pittsburgh, PA, we have a specific opportunity to bring LBW to Central Indiana and grow here first!”
Market Opportunity
Children’s mental health is a $50B+ global market, with schools, parents, and healthcare systems urgently seeking scalable solutions. Digital mental health adoption has accelerated dramatically post-pandemic, creating a prime environment for platforms designed for younger age groups.
Why Love In A Big World Is Ripe for Growth
Growing national crisis in youth mental health
Massive demand from schools, parents, and healthcare providers
Few age-appropriate digital tools for children under 13
Founder with unparalleled credibility and experience
Strong alignment with government, foundation, and school funding priorities
Existing nonprofit arm supports grant and partnership opportunities
Traction & Early Signals
Love In A Big World has earned national visibility through partnerships, curriculum adoption, and community programs. Educators and families report increased emotional understanding, improved communication, and measurable behavioral improvements in children using the program’s resources.
Competitive Advantage
One of the only digital support platforms designed specifically for children ages 8–12
Built by an educator with 30 years of experience in social-emotional learning (SEL)
Blends storytelling, life skills, music, and digital tools
Strong foundation for school district partnerships and social impact investment
Mission enhanced by operating both for-profit and nonprofit models
Why Now?
America is facing a youth mental health emergency, with school counselors and psychologists stretched beyond capacity. At the same time, families are seeking accessible, stigma-free tools children can use independently yet safely. The timing for an emotionally intelligent, child-centered digital platform could not be better.
Vision
Tamara’s long-term vision is to build the world’s most trusted emotional wellbeing ecosystem for children; equipping kids everywhere with the emotional skills, confidence, and resilience they need to thrive in school, relationships, and life.
What They Need Now
School district partners for pilot programs
Strategic investors in edtech, digital health, or wellbeing
Co-development and licensing partners
Warm introductions to national education journalists and mental health media outlets
Doug’s Post Summit Take
“Tamara is building the emotional infrastructure our children desperately need. Her creativity, compassion, and decades of expertise make her the ideal founder to lead this work. Love In A Big World has the potential for profound social impact and incredible scale! I urge everyone to meet Buddy & Tamara, and to take a look at this great opportunity to make a big difference in a vulnerable population!” - Doug Rammel
Nyla Nova STEMversity
Nakeisha Washington, Founder & CEO
Company Snapshot
Founder: Nakeisha Washington (right)
Company: Nyla Nova STEMversity
What It Does: A STEM learning ecosystem for children 6–10, delivered through kits, digital content, books, and music
Problem: Over 10 million U.S. children lack access to engaging, hands-on STEM learning, especially in underserved communities
Solution: Nyla Nova STEMversity is a science, technology, engineering, and math learning ecosystem for children ages 6–10, combining hands-on kits, books, characters, music, and digital experiences to inspire confidence, curiosity, and early STEM identity.
The Interviewer
Rebecca Bormann (left), Founder & CEO, RB Consulting is a business strategist and equity champion with 20+ years of corporate experience leading sales, marketing, and business development. She is known nationally for helping organizations expand revenue, build inclusive cultures, and elevate women and underrepresented leaders in STEM. Through her extensive board and advisory work, Rebecca has mentored dozens of founders through brand development, partnership strategy, and growth planning.
“I participated in The Startup Ladies accelerator because moving more investment and opportunity into the hands of women founders is one of the most effective ways to transform economies. As a member of The Startup Ladies Board, last year’s Summit keynote speaker, and an active investor who has already invested in a Startup Lady, I’ve seen firsthand how this community prepares founders for scale and opens doors that change their trajectory. Nakeisha is creating access and representation in STEM at a moment when the world urgently needs both. Supporting her through this process was an honor.”
What Rebecca Learned About Nakeisha
Rebecca emphasized that Nakeisha’s 25+ years in education give her unmatched credibility. She has taught in classrooms, led schools, coached STEM teams, and spoken on global stages including the United Nations and the U.S. Capitol. Through their work together, Rebecca saw Nakeisha’s deep understanding of childhood development paired with her commercial discipline and global ambition.
“Nakeisha is a visionary founder with the heart of an educator and the instincts of a CEO. She has an extraordinary ability to engage children, especially those who rarely see themselves represented in STEM, through storytelling, music, hands-on exploration, and culturally relevant learning.”
Market Opportunity
STEM education is a $100B+ global industry, with rapidly increasing demand for early childhood STEM experiences. Corporate DEI, government initiatives, and school districts are all investing heavily in early STEM pipelines. Parents are also seeking structured, at-home enrichment tools, a booming segment of the edtech market.
Why Nyla Nova STEMversity Is Ripe for Growth
Founder with global visibility and deep educational expertise
Expanding revenue through kits, curriculum, books, music, and digital products
Strong cultural relevance and appeal to diverse families
Early traction with more than $300,000 in revenue
Aligned with national priorities around STEM workforce development and equity
Built for licensing, content expansion, and global distribution
Traction & Early Signals
Nakeisha has successfully sold STEM kits and educational content across Indianapolis and beyond. She has established community partnerships, secured speaking engagements as the “Global STEMsation,” and consistently receives demand from schools, parents, churches, and youth organizations wanting to integrate her programming.
Her curriculum and characters resonate with children immediately, a key indicator of future adoption and brand loyalty.
Competitive Advantage
One of the few STEM platforms designed by an educator with real classroom and leadership experience
Culturally relevant, representation-driven content
Multi-channel learning (kits, books, digital, music, live experiences)
Strong brand identity centered around superhero Nyla Nova
Appeal to multiple buyers: parents, teachers, schools, nonprofits, and community organizations
Why Now?
The U.S. faces a critical shortage of STEM talent, and early exposure (ages 6–10) is one of the strongest predictors of long-term STEM achievement. At the same time, parents are seeking enrichment tools that reflect their children’s identities and lived experiences. Demand for accessible, culturally relevant STEM learning is at an all-time high.
Vision
Nakeisha’s vision is to build the world’s most beloved STEM learning universe, igniting confidence and curiosity in millions of children while expanding access to hands-on STEM education across communities worldwide.
What They Need Now
Intros to school districts, youth organizations, and corporate partners
Strategic investors in edtech, children’s media, or consumer learning products
Support for scaling production of STEM kits and digital content
Warm introductions to journalists covering education, STEM equity, and children’s media
Interviewer's Post Summit Take
“Nakeisha is building the pipeline to the future workforce. Her creativity, leadership, and vision are extraordinary and she is filling a gap that affects millions of children. Nyla Nova STEMversity is the kind of company that can transform communities and scale globally.” - Rebecca Bormann
Rapid Rescue
Cindy Dunston Quirk, Founder & Chief Dog Lover
Company Snapshot
Founder: Cindy Dunston Quirk (right)
Company: Rapid Rescue
What It Does: FDA-approved, patented gauze that stops bleeding in 60 seconds
Problem: Hundreds of thousands of pets and people face emergency bleeding situations every year, often without immediate access to medical help
Solution: Rapid Rescue is an FDA-approved, patented trauma-care gauze that stops bleeding in 60 seconds for any species, offering a life-saving solution for pets, people, first responders, and everyday families.
The Interviewer
Jon Dartt (left), Westfield City Councilman; Former Vice President, Delta Faucet Company is a seasoned executive with 34 years of leadership experience in the kitchen and bath industry, including nearly three decades shaping product innovation, strategy, and team development at Delta Faucet Company. He brings deep expertise in evaluating product-market fit, assessing commercial potential, and mentoring founders through the complexities of scale. Jon helped create and launch the first Invest In Women Founders Summit in 2022 and has been a champion for Startup Ladies founders ever since.
“I return to The Startup Ladies accelerator every year because the impact is undeniable. When women founders get access to structured training, executive mentorship, and investor readiness support, their businesses grow faster and stronger. Cindy is a natural innovator solving a real-world problem, and supporting her through this process reaffirmed why this work matters.”
What Jon Learned About Cindy
Jon noted that Cindy's background as the founder of Scout & Zoe’s, an internationally distributed pet nutrition company, demonstrates her ability to launch, grow, and scale products across multiple markets. Starting up and scaling Rapid Rescue reflects her unique gift for identifying unmet needs and building solutions that save lives.
“Cindy is a force of nature. She has a rare combination of creativity, commercial instinct, curiosity, and grit. Rapid Rescue is a breakthrough product that solves one of the most urgent problems for pet owners, families, and first responders: how to stop traumatic bleeding quickly and effectively. This product is something that every vet and pet parent will have in their cabinet.”
Market Opportunity
The global wound-care and first-aid market exceeds $25 billion, with rapidly rising demand for emergency products that can be used at home, on the road, outdoors, or by first responders. Pet ownership in the U.S. has surpassed 90 million households, creating a parallel market for at-home veterinary emergency care. Rapid Rescue sits at the intersection of human safety, pet wellness, and outdoor recreation, three industries with strong purchasing power and constant demand.
Why Rapid Rescue Is Ripe for Growth
Patented and FDA-approved product with strong scientific validation
Massive dual-market opportunity (human + pet emergency care)
High urgency and strong emotional relevance to consumers
Founder with proven operations and global distribution experience
Product simplicity supports retail, direct-to-consumer, and wholesale channels
Perfectly suited for partnerships with veterinarians, groomers, pet stores, outdoor brands, and emergency preparedness organizations
Traction & Early Signals
Rapid Rescue has already captured strong interest from pet owners, veterinarians, outdoor enthusiasts, and emergency response organizations. Cindy’s existing Scout & Zoe’s distribution network provides a natural path to scale, and early product demonstrations consistently produce “wow” reactions due to the speed and effectiveness of the formula.
Competitive Advantage
FDA-approved and patented formulation
Fastest-acting consumer-accessible bleeding control product in its category
Portable and easy to use for people of all ages
Backed by a founder with a strong industry reputation and global distribution relationships
Addresses safety concerns for both humans and animals — a rare dual-application
Why Now?
Increased outdoor activity, higher pet ownership, rising natural disasters, and greater awareness of emergency preparedness are driving demand for products that save lives before professionals can intervene. Consumers are actively seeking solutions that empower them to act quickly in crisis situations.
Vision
Cindy’s vision is for Rapid Rescue to become a household essential — a product kept in every glove compartment, hiking pack, emergency kit, veterinary office, and classroom. Long-term, she sees Rapid Rescue evolving into a full line of accessible trauma-care products for families, pet owners, and professionals.
What They Need Now
Manufacturing partners for scale
Distribution relationships across retail, pet, veterinary, outdoor, and emergency markets
Strategic investors with experience in CPG, pet products, or medical devices
Warm introductions to media covering innovation, pet safety, emergency preparedness, and product leadership
Interviewer’s Take
“Cindy is an innovator with unstoppable energy and vision. Rapid Rescue has real potential to save lives and scale globally. The combination of FDA approval, patent protection, and broad market need makes this one of the most compelling early-stage products I’ve seen.” - Jon Dartt
The Sports Bra Indianapolis
Eve Keller, Franchise Owner
Company Snapshot
Founder: Eve Keller (right)
Company: The Sports Bra Indianapolis
What It Does: A dedicated women’s sports bar and restaurant offering premium hospitality and an inclusive community space
Problem: Women’s sports receive less than 5% of media coverage, leaving millions of fans without a place to gather and celebrate
Solution: The Sports Bra Indianapolis will be the first venue in Indiana dedicated entirely to women’s sports, offering an inclusive dining and viewing experience where fans can watch women athletes 100 percent of the time while enjoying chef-inspired food, craft beverages, and community-centered hospitality.
The Interviewer
Kristen Cooper (left), Founder & CEO, The Startup Ladies is a former software development executive and accomplished fundraiser. She’s built multiple accelerators and educational programs that help founders scale, train leaders to become effective advisory board members, teach wealthy individuals how to invest in women-owned startups, and provide executives with deal flow. Members of The Startup Ladies have raised more than $1,000,000 in early-stage investment. Recognized nationally for her work closing the gender funding gap, she strengthens the economy by developing founders, activating executives, and increasing investment in women-owned companies.
“I decided to jump in this year and host an interview even though I was running the entire event because the timing for this opportunity is exactly right for The Sports Bra. Indianapolis has a multi-year goal to become the best place in the world for women’s sports, yet no one in the VC space here is focused on an opportunity like this. That makes it extremely appealing to me. Because of Eve’s project management expertise, I knew she had the skillset to secure the license, rally supporters, and execute all of the steps required to fundraise, build, and ultimately open the doors to The Sports Bra. Supporting her through this process felt both important and aligned with where Indiana needs to go to support women founders and women’s sports.”
What Kristen Learned About Eve
Kristen noted that Eve isn’t simply opening a restaurant; she’s creating a gathering space centered on belonging, representation, and community. With national momentum behind women’s sports at an all-time high, Eve is uniquely positioned to lead this expansion in a major sports city like Indianapolis.
“Eve is an operator with deep integrity and discipline. She has the rare ability to combine mission, hospitality, and operations in a way that feels both meaningful and commercially sound. Her background in nonprofit leadership, FEMA service, real estate, and community development gives her the strategic lens needed to open and operate a flagship destination for women’s sports in the Midwest.”
Market Opportunity
Women’s sports are experiencing historic growth across viewership, ticket sales, sponsorship, and merchandise. The Sports Bra brand has earned national recognition, and expansion into Indianapolis taps into a large, underserved audience with high engagement and purchasing power. Sports, hospitality, and culture-forward ventures are attracting significant investor interest nationwide.
Why The Sports Bra Indianapolis Is Ripe for Growth
Unprecedented momentum behind women’s sports
High-engagement fan base ready for a dedicated venue
Founder with strong project management and community leadership expertise
Ideal timing for a flagship Midwest location
Brand alignment with inclusion, representation, and belonging
Monthly nonprofit revenue-sharing model strengthens community credibility
Traction & Early Signals
Eve has already generated strong excitement among local fans, LGBTQ+ communities, athletes, civic leaders, and media outlets. The original Sports Bra in Portland has proven the model’s viability, drawing national press and sustained demand. Indianapolis is positioned to replicate and even expand that impact.
Competitive Advantage
First-of-its-kind venue in Indiana
Backed by a nationally recognized brand
Founder with deep experience in project management and community organizing
High alignment with sports organizations and equity-driven partners
Attractive to families, youth sports programs, LGBTQ+ communities, and corporate groups
Why Now?
The rise of women’s sports is one of the strongest cultural and economic shifts of the decade. Indianapolis is a major sports hub and is primed for a venue that reflects and fuels that growth.
Vision
Eve’s vision is to establish Indianapolis as a central hub for women’s sports culture by hosting events, athlete gatherings, community programs, and youth partnerships that uplift women and girls in sports across Indiana.
What They Need Now
Investors aligned with women’s sports, hospitality, or community impact
Real estate, design, and construction partners
Corporate sponsors and sports-based organizations
Journalists covering sports, community, equity, and hospitality
Introductions to athletes, coaches, youth programs, and sports influencers
Interviewer’s Take
“Eve is building a business that fills a real gap in our city and creates momentum for the future of women’s sports in Indiana. She brings the operational discipline, leadership experience, and community awareness needed to execute a project of this size. The Sports Bra Indianapolis is a smart, timely opportunity, and it deserves serious attention from investors and partners who want to be part of shaping what comes next.” - Kristen Cooper
Ursamin
Shannon Aylesworth, Founder & CEO
Company Snapshot
Founder: Shannon Aylesworth (right)
Company: Ursamin
What It Does: Care coordination platform for clinicians managing complex patients
Problem: Patient complexity is increasing, but clinics lack the time and tools to manage cases across multiple providers, resulting in administrative burden, communication gaps, and compromised care
Solution: Ursamin is a care coordination platform that serves as a shared workspace for clinicians, automating and streamlining how doctors, nurses, and care teams track and manage patient care across the healthcare system.
The Interviewer
Jim Parshall (left), Executive Director, Drug Delivery Device and Research & Development, Eli Lilly and Company is a senior R&D leader with nearly four decades of experience turning complex ideas into scalable solutions. During his 27 years at Lilly, he has led transformative programs across product development, manufacturing, and external innovation. Known for building inclusive, high-performing teams, Jim brings deep expertise in evaluating technology, operational systems, and clinical impact, and in coaching founders who are tackling major healthcare challenges.
“I attended last year’s Invest In Women Founders Summit and was energized by how seriously executives were rallying around women-owned innovation. I wanted to get more involved this year as an interviewer because women founders are solving real problems in healthcare need access to experienced operators who understand scale, quality, and implementation. Shannon is tackling one of the biggest challenges in modern medicine: coordinating care for complex patients. Supporting her through this process was meaningful because solutions like Ursamin can improve outcomes for both clinicians and patients.”
What Jim Learned About Shannon
Jim emphasized that Shannon approaches healthcare with a systems-engineering mindset: she sees the inefficiencies in how patient data and care interactions flow, and she knows how to rearchitect those systems in ways clinicians will actually use. Her ability to translate complex workflows into intuitive tools was one of the clearest indicators of her future success.
“Shannon has the kind of experience you rarely see in early-stage founders. She spent 25+ years in telecommunications helping global teams deliver faster, more reliable digital experiences. She has lived through two unicorn exits, an IPO, and multiple acquisitions; therefore she understands how to build infrastructure that scales.”
Market Opportunity
Care coordination is one of the fastest-growing needs in healthcare. Clinics, hospitals, and community health centers are overwhelmed by administrative tasks and increasing patient complexity. Policy shifts, staffing shortages, and value-based care incentives are driving demand for tools that streamline workflows and reduce errors. Health tech solutions that save time and improve outcomes are attracting significant investor interest.
Why Ursamin Is Ripe for Growth
Founder with deep expertise in distributed systems, scale, and infrastructure
Massive unmet need across healthcare systems nationwide
Clear ROI for clinics through time savings and reduced administrative burden
Strong alignment with value-based care and patient-outcome requirements
Early traction with clinics and community health partners
Platform extensibility for integrations, analytics, and enterprise expansion
Traction & Early Signals
Clinicians consistently report that Ursamin reduces cognitive load and improves communication across teams. Early interest from clinics and community health centers establishes a strong foundation for broader adoption and data-driven outcomes validation.
Competitive Advantage
Founder with rare experience in scaling mission-critical platforms
Laser-focused product that solves a clear operational gap
Designed with clinicians, not just for them
Workflow automation that decreases burnout and improves care consistency
Positioned for integration with EHRs, population health tools, and payer systems
Why Now?
Healthcare systems are overwhelmed, staff shortages are worsening, and patient complexity is rising. Clinics need tools that reduce administrative burden and allow clinicians to operate at the top of their license. Ursamin meets that need directly, at the exact moment when the market is ready for it.
Vision
Shannon’s long-term vision is to make Ursamin the foundational layer for real-time care coordination, a shared platform that connects all care teams involved in a patient’s journey, ensuring every clinician has the information they need when they need it.
What They Need Now
Pilot and paid partnerships with clinics and community health organizations
Strategic investors aligned with digital health, workflow automation, and care delivery
Introductions to clinical leaders, health systems, and value-based care organizations
Coverage from journalists who cover healthcare innovation, patient experience, and digital transformation
Interviewer’s Take
“Shannon brings the rare combination of experience, technical understanding, and operational tenacity needed to solve a problem this large. Ursamin has the potential to make care coordination safer, faster, and more humane, this is precisely the kind of innovation our healthcare system needs right now.” — Jim Parshall
Sponsoring + Supporting Untapped Markets Strengthens Our Economy
Shaun Irwin, VP, Private Client Group, FORUM Credit Union
"At FORUM Credit Union, we see firsthand how strong local economies are built. When women-owned companies get the resources and support they need, they hire, they innovate, and they strengthen the communities they serve. That’s good business. Sponsoring The Startup Ladies is an investment in a healthier, more resilient economic ecosystem, one where more people can participate in and benefit from growth."
Rick McGlinchey, CEO & Co-founder, PureInsights LLC
"PureInsights is to Genesys Cloud CX reporting evolved for the contact center and CX space as The Startup Ladies are to the business ecosystem. TSL shines a light on untapped markets where innovation is happening but often overlooked. Women-owned companies represent massive economic potential. Sponsoring them isn’t charity - it’s a smart strategy. When we expand who gets access to capital, networks, and technology, the entire business community becomes stronger and more competitive."
Rhaya Shilts, Owner, Jackson Sky Creative
"As a designer and web strategist, I work with founders who are building the future of their industries. Women-owned companies bring creativity, practicality, and new market insights that push the entire business landscape forward. Moderating the Summit panel with Top 9 alumni Nithya Kasireddy and Diana Caldwell only reinforced that when women get the chance to build, they create solutions that strengthen entire markets. That’s why I continue to sponsor and support The Startup Ladies. Investing in untapped markets, especially women founders, expands innovation, elevates our tech and creative communities, and strengthens the economic fabric of our state.
When these founders win, we all win."
Diana Todd, Financial Advisor, Equitable
"As a financial advisor, I know that long-term economic strength comes from diversification: diversifying portfolios, diversifying leadership, and diversifying who gets access to opportunity. Women-owned companies are among the most underfunded yet consistently high-performing segments of the market. Sponsoring The Startup Ladies is aligned with smart financial principles: when more women grow and scale their companies, communities prosper, jobs are created, and generational wealth becomes possible."
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