12:30 pm: Arrival and Registration, Capital Matchmaking
12:45 pm: Capital Matchmaking (exclusively for participating entrepreneurs and investors; spots are limited)
1:45 pm: Arrival and Registration, General Admission
2:00 pm: Welcome Remarks
2:30 pm: Breakout Sessions: Navigating Capital
- Strategic Decision-Making for Women Entrepreneurs: Navigating Ownership, Capital Terms, and Legal Complexities
- Phala Mire, President & CEO, WBEC Metro NY and Greater DMV
- Enter the World of Angel Investing
- Lisa Friedlander, Chief Revenue Officer, NEXT Start Up Group; Senior Advisor, M3 Advisors and Advancement Committee Chair, Citrine Angels
- Stephanie Marshall, Board President, Citrine Angels
- The Role of Accelerators
- Shakenna Williams, Executive Director of the Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (F&E CWEL), Babson College
- Krista Covey, CEO & President, First Flight Venture Center
4:15 pm: Break
4:30 pm: In the Arena Fireside Chat – Women Investors in Sports
- Moderator: Jocelyn Moore, Independent Board Director, Draft Kings
- Panelists:
- Lucy Dobrin, Managing Partner, Providence Equity Partners
- Julie Eddleman, EVP, Global Chief Commercial Officer, DoubleVerify and Owner, Angel City FC
- Betsy Morgan, Co-Founder, Magnet Companies, and Board Member, TOGETHXR
- Anne Sempowski Ward, Chairwoman of the Board, Curio Brands and Minority Owner, WNBA Chicago Sky and USL Super League Fort Lauderdale United FC
5:30 pm: Opening Reception and Women’s Business Marketplace
7:00 pm: Reception Concludes
8:00 am: Arrival, Breakfast and Networking
9:00 am: Building an Ecosystem: Connections and Capital
Welcome remarks from Women Business Collaborative CEO, Gwen K. Young
9:05 am: From Kernel to Empire: Building a Successful Brand
A Fireside Chat with Angie Bastian, Founder of BoomChickaPop led by WBC CEO Gwen K. Young
9:40 am: Navigating the Landscape of Capital
Accessing capital is critical for growth, but navigating the array of available options can be challenging. This session will provide clarity on selecting the right capital provider for your business, understanding investor goals, and making decisions based on your company’s strategy. Join our panel as they explore the diverse funding paths and discuss strategies for scaling your business with the right investments.
- Moderator: Andrea Stevenson Conner, Ecosystem Development Director, First Flight Venture Center
- Panelists:
- Debt Segment
- Catherine Frazier, National Senior Loan Officer, Momentous Capital
- Emily Reeves, Vice President, Capital Solutions, Bridge
- Lori Avedikian, Head of Women’s Segment, Commercial Banking, Wells Fargo
- Capital Segment
- Kelley Arena, Founder, Golden Hour Ventures
- Loretta McCarthy, Co-CEO and Managing Partner, Golden Seeds
- Vijay Metha, Co-Founder, Arkview Capital
10:30 am: Coffee Break
11:00 am: Setting the Table: Understanding Early-Stage Capital
Early-stage capital is key to setting the right foundation for your business’s long-term growth. This session will delve into how to structure your business for investment from the beginning, with a focus on building traction for accelerating growth.
- Mico-Panel 1:
- Kelly O’Connell, Managing Partner, 360 Venture Collective
11:45 pm: Presenting Sponsor Remarks – Wells Fargo
- Ruth Jacks, Head of Diverse Segments for Commercial Banking, Wells Fargo
12:00 pm: Networking Lunch
Join us for a facilitated Networking Lunch where you will have the chance to engage in thematic conversations around the Summit’s key topics. Connect with fellow entrepreneurs, exchange insights, and forge meaningful relationships.
1:00 pm: Midday Fireside Chat – Building the Future Business Landscape
Introduced by India Gary-Martin, Founder and CEO, Leaders For Execs and Relucent Learning and WBC Board Chair
- Damien Dwin, Founder and CEO, Lafayette Square Capital
- Arsha Jones, Co-Founder and CEO, Capital City Mambo Sauce
2:00 pm: Growth Capital Unlocked: Funding Your Next Stage
Scaling a business requires strategic use of capital, smart decision-making, and the right financial partnerships. In this session, our panel of experts will explore how to leverage growth capital effectively, maximize investment impact, and navigate the challenges of scaling. Learn how entrepreneurs and investors can align strategies to drive sustainable expansion and long-term success.
- La Keisha Landrum-Pierre, Co-Founder & General Partner, Emmeline Ventures
- Anouck Gotlib, CEO, Belgian Boys
2:25 pm: Coffee Break
2:35 pm: Mergers & Acquisitions as a Growth Strategy
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can be powerful tools for scaling women-owned businesses. This session will explore how M&A strategies can unlock transformational growth and create new opportunities for expansion and market penetration.
- Moderator: Christina Bresani, Managing Director and Head of Mid-Cap Mergers & Acquisitions, Wells Fargo
- Panelists:
- Alex Jung, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Amateras Capital
- Norah Drummey, Partner, EY
- Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO Luminary
3:15 pm: Engineering Your Exit: Envisioning the Future of Your Company While Building It
As your business grows, it’s essential to think about its future. This session will discuss the importance of planning your exit strategy early and how to integrate it into your company’s broader growth plan.
- Moderator: Eda Henries, Founder and Managing Principal, Henries & Co.
- Panelists:
- Sheila Mikhail, Founder, AskBio
- Norma Kuntz, CEO, Gordon Brothers
3:55 pm: Closing Fireside Chat: Building the Future Business Landscape
- Jesse Draper, Founder and CEO, Halogen Ventures
- Joyce Johnson, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, Pacific Gate Capital
4:20 pm: Closing Remarks
- Gwen K. Young, CEO, Women Business Collaborative
5:15 pm: Closing Reception Concludes