On December 5, 2024, The Startup Ladies hosted the 3rd Annual #InvestInWomenFounders Summit at the stunning headquarters of Delta Faucet Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. This half-day event brought together a vibrant community of women business owners, exited founders, and seasoned executives united by one shared mission: to fund women founders and help their businesses scale in Indiana and beyond. For those whose headquarters are based outside of Indiana, the Summit created meaningful connections to encourage future business collaboration within the state.
The event spotlighted nine exceptional women founders, our Top 9, who each dedicated over 20 hours to training with additional time spent refining their business models, preparing polished slide decks, and ensuring their investment vehicles were ready for investor commitments. These founders arrived at the Summit prepared, confident, and equipped to connect with investors and share their bold visions for growth.
Delta Faucet Company once again rolled out the red carpet for The Startup Ladies community, underscoring their deep commitment to economic development, diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and the power of women consumers, who drive 80% of purchase decisions. From the moment guests entered the building and were greeted by the stunning two-story Delta Faucet fountain, the tone was set for greatness. The space reflected the values of its founder, Alex Manoogian, celebrating invention, creativity, confidence, discipline, and the courage to take risks that lead to transformative impact.
This inspiring day was not just a celebration of women founders—it was a powerful demonstration of what happens when a community comes together to move money into the hands of women entrepreneurs.
Early Successes!
Before we share the details of the day, let's zoom in on what we already know for sure about the early successes. While it takes time for deals to close, we’re excited to share some early accomplishments:
$150,000+ in investments committed
OpenBooksMD also received a verbal and written commitment for joining the round!
1 founder closed a new deal.
Multiple founders sold product.
Several founders are in active follow-up conversations with interested investors
Lunch with Founders, Funders, and Sponsors
Upon arriving at noon, guests were warmly welcomed and guided upstairs to a beautifully set buffet lunch. The delicious spread offered a variety of dishes, providing a perfect setting for networking and mingling. After enjoying their meal, attendees had the opportunity to explore the display tables, where they met and chatted with a variety of inspiring founders showcasing their innovations. Additionally, guests had the chance to connect with sponsors like Equitable and Forum Credit Union, discussing tailored options for retirement accounts and business banking solutions. This unique blend of networking, food, and insightful conversations created a vibrant and supportive atmosphere for collaboration and growth.
Keynote Speaker Prepped Founders and Funders for Productive Post-Summit Conversations
The Startup Ladies community extends heartfelt gratitude to Rebecca Bormann, CEO & Founder of RB Consulting for delivering an outstanding keynote address at this year’s #InvestInWomenFounders Summit. As a longtime investor member of The Startup Ladies and a champion for women entrepreneurs, Rebecca brought invaluable insights to the stage.
Her keynote focused on equipping both founders and investors with a practical blueprint for post-Summit conversations. Rebecca emphasized the importance of intentional, thoughtful follow-ups—where decisions are made, relationships are solidified, and ultimately, checks are written. She guided founders on how to reaffirm their business vision, tailor their discussions to investor priorities, and confidently explain their investment vehicles. For investors, she provided actionable tips on asking the right questions, aligning opportunities with portfolio goals, and offering meaningful feedback.
Rebecca’s thoughtful, approachable style resonated deeply with the audience, inspiring confidence and clarity. Her commitment to fostering purposeful dialogue is already yielding results, as several Summit founders and investors are now in active discussions. We are incredibly grateful for Rebecca’s leadership, expertise, and unwavering dedication to creating real impact for women founders and the broader Indiana business community.
Congratulations to the Top 9 Women Founders!
As Rebecca’s presentation concluded, it was time for the interviews to begin. At the top of each hour, attendees got to choose a breakout session where a Top 9 founder would interviewed by an exited founder or seasoned executive. The Startup Ladies developed an interview format to avoid pattern matching (biases preventing women from winning investment) that allow attendees to really get to know the CEO and see how she responds in real time to questions form the interviewer and audience.
These nine extraordinary women were chosen from a national pool of applicants for their innovative ideas, resilience, and dedication to building impactful businesses. Each founder completed rigorous training to become investor-ready, and delivered outstanding interviews with poise and passion.
Join us in congratulating 2024’s Top 9 Founders and the groundbreaking work they’re doing:
Alyssa Antcliff, Co-founder & CEO, IndiAide (Pre-Seed, Generating Revenue)
Jon Gilman will interview Alyssa Antcliff. IndiAide is the research-backed daily organization platform that enables people with cognitive impairments to maximize their independence, benefiting individuals, families, businesses, and the healthcare system as a whole.
Cara Bognar, Founder & CEO, Top Tier Lessons (Generating Revenue)
Christi Garcia will interview Cara Bognar. Top Tier Lessons connects student athletes with parents in the local community looking for sports lessons for their kids, handling the venue, payment, scheduling and safety of each lesson.
Chere Cofer, Founder & CEO, Open Books MD (Generating Revenue)
Mike Hatfield will interview Chere Cofer. Open Books MD is a software scheduling platform that connects healthcare providers with their pharmaceutical industry partners to create, manage and execute medical information meetings.
Nithya Kasireddy, CEO, Levisonics Inc. (Seed, Pre-Revenue)
Roger Deetz will interview Nithya Kasireddy. Levisonics Inc. develops advanced, minimally invasive blood clot analyzers for hospitals and clinics, providing a complete blood clotting assessment from a small finger or heel-prick sample with multiple test results in a single, quick test—reducing the need for repeated blood draws and benefiting both pediatric and adult patients.
Haley Marie Keith, Co-founder & CEO, MITO Material Solutions (Seed, Generating Revenue)
Travis Tucker will interview Haley Keith. MITO Materials offers novel technology that empowers manufacturers to improve their products’ performance and reduce material consumption. MITO’s products integrate graphene (the world's strongest material) into existing materials and manufacturing processes - creating lighter, tougher, and stronger components.
Suzanne McKenzie, Founder & CEO/COO, ABLE MADE (Seed)
Jon Dartt will interview Suzanne McKenzie. ABLE MADE, the Original Off Pitch Soccer Style brand, combines soccer-inspired apparel and accessories with responsible manufacturing by offering ready-to-wear apparel and accessories that are responsibly made and insanely comfortable.
Ishita Mujumdar, Co-founder & CTO, Inara AI (Seed)
Eric Prugh will interview Ishita Mujumdar. Inara AI is a care-driven orchestration platform that offers more personalized views into one’s health through an integrated "Inform + Connect + Manage" framework for neurohealth.
Mara Smith, Founder & CEO, Inspiro Tequila (Seed)
Doug Rammel will interview Mara Smith. Inspiro Tequila is a clean, additive-free, ultra-premium tequila brand that is distilled, owned and led by women, redefining how women enjoy tequila by providing easy to drink and elevated spirits.
Leslie Young, Founder & CEO, Beautiful Dreamers (Pre-Seed)
Teresa Danielson will interview Leslie Young. Beautiful Dreamers is leading a movement to create inclusive kids bedding and decor that supports fair and authentic representation for Black, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial children at a young age and teaches all children to accept and value our differences.
Each founder demonstrated their vision, resilience, and readiness to scale, leaving investors and attendees inspired by their potential. We know that plenty of people in attendance didn't get to visit every session. And, some potential investors were not able to join us in person. The Startup Ladies team is busy building a new page on the website where members and invited guests can see the full interviews.
Founders' Feedback
Nithya Kasireddy, CEO & Founder, Levisonics
"This experience was incredibly empowering and left me feeling proud of both myself and what I am achieving. In previous pitches and presentations, including some focused on women-led or founded businesses, there has always been added pressure to not only convey the importance of our work but also to prove my worth. Being a woman, a woman of color, a first-time CEO, and an entrepreneur without a traditional business background, I often face the challenge of addressing these biases. However, at this summit, I felt that baggage lifted. The organizers, particularly Kristen Cooper, set a supportive stage,
ensuring that the audience entered with an understanding and genuine interest in our businesses, free from bias. It was a refreshing and confidence-boosting experience."
Cara Bognar, CEO & Founder, Top Tier Lessons
"Christi Garcia was my interviewer and was a great fit! She had great energy and willingness to connect and help. Being part of the Startup Ladies has allowed me to form connections that will accelerate our launch to new markets through key partnerships. It has truly been a special group to be apart of and I know I will stay in touch long into the future."
Haley Keith, CEO & Founder, Mito Materials
"The summit is a beautiful event that displays the grit of entrepreneurship in the engaging and purposeful way women want to share their stories. These women are tapping into new or underserved and existing markets and solving real problems and meeting real needs of clients. Coming to this event is like getting to watch a live recording of a “How I built this” episode in real time - and the best part is that as an investor or mentor in that room, you could be the catalyst for the part two of the story."
Chere Cofer, CEO & Founder, OpenBooks MD
"I left the Summit with a renewed confidence that I can take my business all the way to exit. I also leveled up my understanding and preparedness for future interactions with investors. Before the Summit, I was unsure about my ability to raise money but I feel very confident now having gone through the experience."
*This photo was taken after Mike shared that an investor who watched their interview was "all in" on Chere's round. They were some of the happiest people heading down to the cocktail reception!
Suzanne McKenzie, CEO & Founder,
ABLE MADE
"Kristen Cooper and the Startup Ladies did a tremendous job organizing and curating mentors, investors and content for the #InvestInWomenFounders Summit at Delta Faucet HQ in Indianapolis. As a Founder, I refined my pitch, broadened my community, and secured investments through this amazing experience."
Mara Smith, CEO & Founder, Inspiro Tequila
"The Startup Ladies #InvestInWomenFounders Summit was truly a unique experience. It was so different from any of the pitch competitions I have done before. You are well prepared beforehand and you get to share your story in a conversational way. The energy at the Summit is incredible and it was a pleasure being surrounded by investors who were engaged and wanted to learn more."
Those involved since the first year have consistently remarked that this year’s talent was unparalleled. Expanding the application process nationwide brought in over 70 applicants, a move that perfectly aligned with The Startup Ladies’ growing presence beyond Indiana. This broader outreach created a unique opportunity to welcome innovative companies from both the coasts and the Midwest, fostering meaningful connections and showcasing Indiana as a vibrant hub for entrepreneurship. Sincere thanks to the Selection Committee for reviewing each application and selecting the Top 9!
Interviewers: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Interviews create a more authentic and equitable space for founders to share their vision, highlight their expertise, and explain the problem their business solves. This conversational approach helps to avoid pattern matching by allowing investors to see beyond rehearsed presentations and better understand the founder’s unique journey, strategic thinking, and growth potential.
Our interviewers were instrumental in preparing the founders and conducting meaningful interviews:
Teresa Danielson, owner of T&J Northern Michigan Rentals
Jon Dartt, Former VP of Delta Faucet Company
Roger Deetz, VP of Engineering at Blueprint
Christi Garcia, Lead Recruiter at E-gineering
Jon Gilman, Director at Microsoft
Mike Hatfield, Chairman and Co-Founder of Carium
Eric Prugh, CPO at Authenticx
Doug Rammel, Founder & CIO of Abstract Reality Ventures
Travis Tucker, Executive VP at Meyer Najem Development
Thank you for your tireless commitment to helping these founders refine their pitches and showcase their businesses to potential investors. Your dedication is deeply appreciated!
Cocktails, Conversations, and Game-Changing Connections!
The cocktail reception, held immediately after the breakout sessions, is a pivotal part of the summit experience. It creates a relaxed yet purposeful environment where founders can engage in one-on-one conversations with interested investors, allowing them to dive deeper into their ideas and opportunities. For those who didn’t attend the breakout sessions or interviews, it’s a valuable chance to connect personally with founders and industry leaders. In fact, some attendees prioritize the reception as the one event they can fit into their busy schedules, making it their opportunity to meet founders face-to-face and explore potential collaborations. These informal yet impactful interactions often lead to follow-up meetings, laying the groundwork for new partnerships, deals, and investments that drive real progress and innovation.
Dozens of Volunteers United for Women Founders
The #InvestInWomenFounders Summit is much more than an event—it’s a collaborative effort powered by the generosity of dozens of volunteers who believe in the mission of funding women founders. This year, Delta Faucet Company staff from the Women’s Leadership Group, along with Startup Ladies members and friends from across Indiana, stepped up to ensure the Summit’s success.
What sets this event apart is the commitment of the couple dozen executives and business owners who play key roles in its execution. Standouts like Lindsay Rangle, Doug Burnette, and David Cooprider went above and beyond to transform the beautiful Delta space into a welcoming, professional setting that inspired confidence and connection. Pam Gilbert organized volunteers from Delta Faucet's women's leadership ERG and served as a "Room Mayor" keeping the interviews running on time. A full dozen executives and business leaders devoted countless hours to training and interviewing the Top 9 women founders, helping them refine their pitches and build investor-ready confidence.
Additionally, video professionals including Greg Williams, Owner, Associated Images Moving Picture Production Company, Mark McCabe, owner of Flipturn, and Jason Kelly, PhD spent over half a day recording the interviews, ensuring that the stories of these remarkable women can be shared far and wide. These efforts ensure that even those who couldn’t attend the Summit in person have the opportunity to see the incredible work of the founders.
This event simply wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support of our volunteers. Their dedication exemplifies the power of community and collective action in creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs to thrive.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
None of this would be possible without the support of our generous sponsors. Your sponsorship in this event is an investment in innovation, women founders, and a stronger economy. Sponsorship plays a transformative role in the #InvestInWomenFounders Summit by enabling us to achieve our ultimate goal: moving money into the hands of women founders. Your sponsorship yields tangible benefits for your company and the broader economy.
Driving Funding to Women Founders: Sponsors directly contribute to moving capital into the hands of women business owners, enabling them to scale their ventures and create lasting economic impact.
Investing in Economic Development: Sponsors help close the funding gap for women-owned businesses, empowering them to scale, create jobs, and contribute to a more resilient and inclusive economy.
Access to Exclusive Deal Flow: Gain unparalleled access to a curated group of high-potential women founders through our bias-reducing interview format, offering a unique opportunity to align with innovative, scalable startups.
A Direct Path to Impactful Change: Sponsorship puts your brand at the forefront of a movement that empowers women founders to thrive and brings groundbreaking ideas to light.
Showcasing Leadership in DEI: Demonstrate your company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by championing equity in entrepreneurship—a move that enhances brand loyalty and stakeholder trust.
Building Long-Lasting Relationships: Sponsors connect with founders, investors, and thought leaders, creating meaningful relationships that spark future collaborations and opportunities.
Coming Soon
We are building a new web page where all registrants will have an opportunity to view the interviews. Stay tuned for updates!
If you’re interested in joining our exclusive list of women-owned businesses raising capital to scale, become a member of The Startup Ladies and gain access to this powerful community.
Together, we’re breaking barriers, fostering innovation, and creating a future where women-owned businesses thrive. Thank you to everyone who made this Summit a success!
Entrepreneurs: CLICK HERE
Investors: CLICK HERE
Corporations: CLICK HERE
Join Us to Shape the 2025 Summit Experience!
We’re already planning for next year’s Summit, and now is the perfect time to align your company with this powerful movement. Sponsoring the #InvestInWomenFounders Summit positions your brand as a champion for innovation and equity while giving you unparalleled access to exclusive deal flow and meaningful connections. Let’s work together to drive funding, create opportunities, and rewrite the narrative for women founders.
---> CLICK HERE to tell us more about yourself and how you would like to get involved!
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