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CREATING CONSCIOUS COLLISIONS


MEET THE FEATURED ENTREPRENEURS

The WOCCON 2023 Road Show events are invitation-only gatherings that bring
together investors, allies, and policymakers with the aim of leveraging our
collective energy and resources to propel women of color entrepreneurs farther
and faster on their journey to entrepreneurial success. 

How can you help these amazing entrepreneurs?


"ONE BIG THING. ONE SMALL THING. DOESN'T MATTER. DO SOMETHING."
JILL JOHNSON, CEO & CO-FOUNDER AT IFEL

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New York City

Los Angeles

Washington, DC

Charlotte

Philadelphia

Boston

Seattle

Palo Alto

Houston

Detroit


Additional founders will be added following each event. Please check back to see
how you can help open doors.

Seattle
Charlotte
Palo Alto Asks
Boston Asks

Road Show: Detroit





Ashley M. Williams

Founder

Ashley M. Williams is an entrepreneur, global speaker, author, and host. Ashley
loves using content to guide people to their *purpose*. Ashley is the founder
and CEO of RIZZARR, a content marketplace that connects brands seeking
purpose-driven digital media with vetted, talented creators worldwide. RIZZARR
helps brands and creators evolve their content into authentic, purpose-driven
stories through data science. In addition to overseeing RIZZARR, Ashley
moderates or speaks at gatherings around the world for entities such as the U.S.
Department of State. She also hosts a video and podcast series called, "The
Ripple Effect of You".



The Ask:

 * Seeking connections to seed investors and enterprise customers.

Road Show: Philadelphia





Dana L. Wilson

Founder & CEO

 Dana L. Wilson has over fifteen years of experience in the financial services
industry and is the Founder & CEO of CHIP(Changing How Individuals Prosper).
CHIP is a B2B financial services marketplace that makes finding financial
professionals of color easy. In 2021, Investment News recognized her as a "See
It Be It Role Model" for her diversity, equity, and inclusion work. She also
received two company awards in 2021 from Think Advisor for her work in diversity
and inclusion and thought leadership. She was named "One To Watch" in Fintech
from Money 20/20 and was awarded as a 2021 Trailblazer from Black Women In
Media.



The Ask:

 * Funding from angel/venture investors, grant programs, pitch competitions, and
   accelerator programs. 

 * Partnerships with professional organizations and corporate & small teams such
   as estate planning attorneys, financial firms and RIA's, NBMBAA and Hispanic
   chamber of commerce. 

 * Professionals of color such as CPA's, financial advisors, CFPs, insurance and
   tax professionals. 

 * Connections with ERG Groups or HR professionals



Road Show: Philadelphia





Lorrie King

Co-Founder

Lorrie is a proven expert in uncovering the unique essence of a brand, a
celebrity or a product innovation and creatively bringing its distinct traits to
life through up to the minute strategy and marketing. As a Co-Founder of Caire
Beauty, a skincare brand specifically designed to enhance skin health and skin
cell generation for women over 40 undergoing hormone decline & menopause, she is
able to tap into her core belief that aging is a process that we should all
embrace and live confidently in. Through Caire's Marvelous Mrs. Menopause event
we were able to go beyond the typical beauty and skincare conversation to help
women understand the best approach for living in a more empowering informed way
through the peri to post menopausal phases.



The Ask:

 * Warm introductions to specialty beauty retailers to accelerate sales 
   
   * Ulta
   
   * Sephora
   
   * Space NK / Walmart
   
   * Soft Surroundings

 * Introductions to Angel & Seed investors

 * Alternative Financing Resources

 * Influencers to amplify Caire's message

 * Introductions to Strategic Corporate partners





Road Show: Houston





Elle Rustique

Founder

Elle Rustique, Ph.D. is the CEO and Founder of TipBrightly, a social impact and
fintech company on a mission to help tipped service workers recover the lost
opportunity for earnings in an increasingly cashless society.  A published
author, Elle holds degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, Columbia
University’s Teachers College, and University College London’s Institute of
Education. As a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University, Elle focused her
work on helping educational systems to be more equitable. Elle launched her
career in education as a high school teacher in East Harlem, New York, then
embarked on redesigning high schools across the US, scaling education reform and
studying organizational leadership and change. The daughter of first-generation
immigrants from the Philippines, Elle was inspired to start TipBrightly, a
cashless tipping solution to help women like her mother, a housekeeper whose
tips she would spend on her children. 



The Ask:

 * Warm Introductions to investors

 * Strategic partnerships to accelerate sales

 * Influencers to amplify TipBrightly's mission

 * Talent to enhance our product

Road Show: Houston





Barbara Jones

Founder

Barbara Jones is the founder/CEO of Lillii RNB Inc which is doing business as
Freeing Returns. Barbara has been in the Retail Technology sector for over 20
years and have been on the founding teams of 2 Retail Technology startups that
both exited for close to $100M. Barbara has created Retail Tech Software that is
running in over 4000 stores throughout the US,
Canada and Japan. She has been in the roles of POS Architect and Solutions
Architect for The Home Depot, LL Bean and Pep Boys and many more solving
multi-million dollar issues for them.



The Ask:

 * Warm Intros to VC Funds focused on Enterprise SaaS, Retail Technology and
   AI/ML Big Data

 * Demo Meetings with Fortune 1000 Retailers, Strategic Partnerships, and
   Retail-centric Accelerator/Incubator programs

Road Show: Seattle





Yasameen Sajady

Founder

Small biz fanatic, MBA grad and former Social Enterprise Director, Yasameen
worked closely with young entrepreneurs to develop neighborhood destinations,
providing mentorship and guidance as they embarked on their journey of starting
and growing their own businesses.After graduating with her Master’s of Business
from Augsburg University in 2020, Yasameen kicked Maazah into full swing. She
completed the IMPACTSKU Minneapolis track summer of 2021 and was a winner in the
Kroger Go Fresh & Go Local program.



The Ask:

 * Seed stage investors

 * CPG industry contacts

 * Influencers, food bloggers, and recipe developers

 * PR & Media contacts

Road Show: Seattle





Yolanda Barton

Founder

Yolanda A. Barton is not just a trailblazer in immersive storytelling; she's a
venerated expert and the pioneering founder of Revere XR. Using cutting-edge
Extended Reality (XR) and Artificial Intelligence, she's transforming the way we
engage, interact, & experience history, melding insights of the past with future
technologies. Yolanda sets the course for a future where the digital and
physical worlds converge in the most transformative, inclusive ways imaginable.
Yolanda A. Barton's leadership stands as a testament to her ability to inspire,
innovate, and uplift, creating transformative experiences for generations to
come.



The Ask:

 * Introductions to investors, philanthropists, and clients

 * Connections to corporate sponsorships & partnerships

 * Introductions to prominent XR/AR/VR tech companies

 * Warm introductions to Angel Investors

 * Support for our pre-Seed Round (October-April)

 * Securing speaking engagements w/demo

 * Securing hackathon sponsorship & partnerships

 * Introduction to diverse technical talent

 * Social media marketing assistance

 * Referrals for social media interns, SEO experts

 * Introduction to influential figures for enhanced visibility

 * Aid in securing print media coverage

Road Show: Charlotte





Ahriana Edwards

Founder & CEO

Ahriana is the proud Founder and CEO of Vaila Shoes, where she provides women of
forgotten shoe sizes (sizes 9+) with access to modern dress shoes that they
desire and deserve. Vaila utilizes the trends of today to create a seasonal
dress shoe line designed for the workplace and after-hours. Vaila is on a
mission to achieve extended size inclusivity in the footwear space and help
women look good while doing it. At her core, she is motivated by creating a
generational legacy and aims to use her innovative
mindset and creativity to create a social impact for the undervalued,
underestimated, and underrepresented.



The Ask:

 * We are seeking connections to National TV Networks (HSN, QVC, GMA), strategic
   corporate partnerships (ie Airlines, WNBA, etc), and uniform provider
   organizations (Military, Army, Correctional Officers etc).

Road Show: Los Angeles





Sheilisa McNeal Burgess

Founder

Every woman is unique and experiences menopause differently. Our aim is to help
all women embrace this phase of their life with products to make the transition
simpler. While menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years, it’s
also the start of a new chapter in her life. Through education, engagement and
encouragement, the Fria team wants women to have a positive perspective on their
changing bodies. We endeavor to be a resource, safe space for sharing our
journeys and a community of supportive friends. 



The Ask:

 * Capital
   
   * Direct introductions to funders/Angel groups/individuals focused on CPG,
     Fem-tech, Women-led enterprises

 * Customer Acquisition

 * Manufacturing
   
   * US Based scaling opportunities (preferably Northeast region) metal coating
     and precision/micro steel cutting capabilities

 * Marketing/ Sales



Road Show: Los Angeles





Orleatha Smith

Co-Founder

Orleatha Smith, M.Ed, is a serial entrepreneur with experience in a wide variety
of fields with the most recent decade spent in wellness and now in eCommerce
creating and growing Sip Herbals, an herbal coffee substitute company. She has
served in the wellness community for over a decade and her true love is science.
She holds an advanced degree in education and a biology teaching credential. She
has also been featured in popular publications such as First For Women Magazine,
The Los Angeles Times, WebMD, and has had appearances on various podcasts and
television shows.



The Ask: 

 * Warm Investor/Angel introductions

 * Corporate and brand partnerships

 * Marketing ( social media, sales, print)

Road Show: Palo Alto





Madison Long

Co-Founder & CEO

Madison is the CEO and Co-Founder of Clutch where she drives the company’s
vision of building a world where authentic, engaging work supports a more
sustainable, equitable lifestyle. Her passion for entrepreneurship and helping
the next generation thrive began in childhood including spending her high school
summers creating a math mania programmatic instruction class for middle school
students in need and working with youth advocacy programs in college.



The Ask: 

 * Intros to industry leaders looking to unlock short form video as a service

Road Show: Palo Alto





Rebecca Alvarez Story

Founder

As a first-generation entrepreneur, Rebecca has
spent the majority of her life trailblazing. From
creating her own sexual wellness major at UC
Berkeley to being one of the few Latinas to raise
over 3 million for a startup, this wife to marketing exec, mom ot two
independent girls, and sexologist has learned that healthy intimacy is the
secret to a happy life. As the founder of Bloomi, she is on a mission to help
improve the intimate lives of 1 billion people via inclusive products and sex
education.



The Ask: 

 * Have a sexual wellness conversation this week

 * Introductions to Pipeline Angels















Road Show: Boston





Adrienne Fudge

Founder & CEO

Arienne M Fudge's love for cooking developed after her mother was diagnosed with
Lupus when Adrienne was just seven years old. At a young age she desired to help
her mother make meals for her dad and sister.  Although Adrienne obtained a MA
in Corporate Communication from Seton Hall University and worked in Corporate
America for many years, she still yearned to feed people. After attending
culinary school, Chef Fudge launched her catering business. She loves how her
business has evolved, and feels that she is blessed to serve senior citizens and
disabled adults throughout NJ.



The Ask: 

 * Marketing ( social media, sales, print)

 * Nutritionist

 * Managed Care Organizations

 * Medicaid/Medicare

 * Fleet Management/Logistics

 * Food Manufacturing

 * Medical Claims Management



Road Show: Boston





Dianne Austin

Founder & CEO

Dianne Austin, Founder & CEO of Coils to Locs, is a cancer survivor. In 2015,
she was diagnosed with breast cancer and learned that her chemotherapy treatment
would result in hair loss, along with the loss of her eyebrows and lashes. Coils
to Locs mission is to provide high-quality synthetic wigs that cater to the
unique needs of women of color with highly textured, tightly coiled hair and
every range in between. 



The Ask: 



 * Customer Acquisition

 * Balancing inventory demand vs supply

 * Positioning Coils to Locs as a brand leader

 * Access to decision makers at Hospitals and healthcare

 * Fleet Management/Logistics

 * Food Manufacturing

 * Medical Claims Management



Road Show: DC





Yamillet (Yami) Payano

Founder & CEO

Yamillet (Yami) Payano is a first-generation Afro-Latina. Currently she is
developing the go-to-market strategy, fundraising efforts, and has written
technical and business domain documentation for Sign-Speak. Her technical
expertise spans a variety of domains, including data based statistical system
and data science. Yami is passionate about Diversity and Inclusion, not just
from the lens of race and gender but also from the lens of accessibility.



The Ask:



 * Introductions to lobbyists that have experience with the FCC.

 * Introduction to the key leadership in the FCC (Jessica Rosenworcel & Geoffrey
   Starks). 

 * Introductions to customers in the financial industry or video conferencing
   platforms.











Road Show: NYC





Ami Kumordzie

Founder & CEO

Ami, founder/CEO of Sika Health, a Stanford-trained physician and ex-BCG
consultant, aims to revolutionize healthcare payments by enabling the use of HSA
and FSA funds at checkout, bridging the financial gap in healthcare and
empowering consumers to afford their health needs.







The Ask:

 * Help us meet our target customers - Skin Care, Baby Care, At Home Testing















Road Show: NYC





Leslie Woodward

Founder & CEO

Chef Leslie Woodward, CEO/Creator of Edenesque, advocates for clean eating and
local, seasonal foods, aiming to combat nutrition-related diseases while
providing opportunities to underserved communities through wholesome food
production.



The Ask:

 * Build partnerships with regional distributors I.E, Regional Access. 

 * Help finding a CMO-innovator thinker with CPG experience who sees what is
   possible at the rate at which the world is moving 

 * Support in advancing our technological infrastructure









Road Show: Detroit





Jessie Feliz

Founder

Jessica Feliz is a dynamic educator and the visionary founder of Spanish
S.W.A.G. With over 15 years of teaching experience, she passionately champions
bilingualism in Black and Brown American communities and enhances second
language education nationwide. Recognizing the critical need to address teacher
shortages, teacher burnout, and low student engagement, Jessie created the
Spanish S.W.A.G. On Demand Learning Program to increase the rate of
bilingualism. Her commitment to promoting cultural connections, combined with
her expertise in curriculum development, creates a space where students thrive.
Through Spanish S.W.A.G., Jessie is igniting a new wave of language education
that empowers learners to embrace their linguistic potential and expand their
horizons.



The Ask:

 * Warm investor/Angel introductions

 * Referrals to a possible Chief Tech Officer

 * Referrals to a Sales & Marketing Consultant with experience in ed tech
   sales. 



Road Show: Philadelphia





Allison Shimamoto

Founder & CEO

Allison is a haircare enthusiast with experience formulating natural beauty
products at home for 10+ years. She is excited about hair education and the
importance of sustainability in cosmetics. Her background is in marketing
strategy & analytics, and she holds a BA in Psychology from Brown University and
an MBA from the Darden School of Business where she was awarded Best & Brightest
MBA by Poets and Quants. Prior to embarking on a full-time entrepreneurship
career, Allison was a consultant at Boston Consulting Group focused on People &
Organization Strategy. Today, she is the Founder & CEO of Haiama Beauty Co. an
eco-luxury haircare brand focused on bringing high quality raw ingredients from
around the world to bring peace of mind and amazing results in the comfort of
home.



The Ask:

 * Warm introductions to Angel Investors and Early Stage VCs

 * Introductions to mid-sized clean beauty retailers

 * Connections to cosmetic chemists & co-manufacturers 

 * Strategic thought partnerships around target audience expansion

 * Connections to social media & marketing managers for contract



Road Show: Philadelphia





Dr. Sanna Gaspard

Founder & CEO

Dr. Gaspard is the CEO and founder of Rubitection, a health tech startup whose
assessment and care management platform support for chronic wounds and
dermatological conditions can help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. As
CEO she overseas business strategy, partnership development, fundraising,
product development, and marketing.  Her vision is to make Rubitection’s
solution globally available to empower anyone to assess and manage chronic skin
condition to personalize care. Her accolades include 2022 Richard King Mellon
Foundations Social Impact Award, 2021 Culture Shift Labs Innovation Competition,
and ’19 AnitaB PitcHer winner, and ’19 Vinetta Project winner.  She has a PhD in
Biomedical Engineering with a specialization in medical device development from
Carnegie Mellon University.  



The Ask:

 * Warm introductions to investors

 * Intros to SBIR grant writers

 * Intros to family care givers

 * Intros to nurses and vascular surgeons

 * Intros to director of nursing

 * Intros to Insurance payer partners

 * Partnerships with durable medical equipment companies

 * Intros to hospitals





Road Show: Houston





Dara Chike-Obi

Founder

Dara Chike-Obi is the co-founder and inventor of Griö baby bottles, a sensory
enhancing feeding system that promotes brain development in newborns and
enhances emotional bonding with their caretakers.

Before devoting her work fulltime to Griö, Dara served as a corporate oil and
gas attorney at several multi-national energy companies. Her responsibilities
included the A&D management of the firms biggest energy producing assets around
the world.

Dara and her work for Griö have been featured in Austin Women Magazine,
Babygaga, the Moms Choice Awards and in podcasts like Story of a Brand and
Professionally offensive.



The Ask:

 * Introductions to Angel and Impact Investors

 * Accelerate Feeding Trials
   
   * Introductions to Pediatric NICU nurses, Pediatric Speech Language
     Pathologists and NICU decision makers

Road Show: Seattle





Anisha Vinjamuri

Founder

Anisha Vinjamuri, Founder and CEO of an award-winning brand, UMMSKINCARE. My
inspiration to start a holistic skin health lifestyle brand stemmed from my
journey of overcoming skin and scalp issues. Before founding UMM (pronounced as
AUM), I was the CEO of a technology management firm, InnovationsIQ, for a decade
and saw through a successful acquisition in 2017. My career started at
Microsoft, spanning across test, product, and program management roles. I have
an educational background with a double Master's in Commerce and Foreign trade. 
Outside of work, I enjoy Weightlifting, CrossFit, Indoor Gardening, Mentoring
Young Women in Entrepreneurship, Writing Poetry, Cooking, Training my 2
working-line German Shepherds, and sipping lots of red wine.

The Ask:

 * Investor Connections

 * Retail & Hospitality Connections

 * Corporate Wellness Connections 

 * Coffee + Advice

Road Show: Seattle





Reetu Gupta

Founder

Reetu is Co-founder and CEO of Cirkled In, a Young Professionals’ Platform for
Gen-Z students, empowering them to showcase their professional achievements, and
connecting them to various opportunities at colleges, employers, trade schools
etc.  Utilizing this rich information about students, Cirkled-In enables
recruiters at universities and employers to recruit the best-fit students,
creating win-win while making all students recruitment more effective,
efficient, and equitable. 



The Ask:

 * Intro to Seed Stage VCs (HRTech, Consumer SaaS, Market-Place VCs)

 * Intro to Colleges/ Universities (Your Alma-Mater as a starting point!)

 * Intro to Youth-friendly Employers (Retail/ Hospitality, High-tech, Impact
   based Organizations)

 * AND Rockstar Sales and Marketing Team Members

Road Show: Charlotte





Malobi Achike

Founder

Malobi is an attorney and ardent diversity, equity and inclusion ambassador. She
is passionate about helping organizations create DEI optimized workplaces by
successfully leveraging data and technology to drive real and sustainable
results. 

This passion led Malobi to start a cutting-edge technology company, DEI
Directive. DEI Directive's technology solutions help organizations drive, track
and measure DEI impact, so they cam unleash increased employee engagement,
innovation, and profitability. 



The Ask:

 * Potential Customers
   
   * Connecting to Chief Human Resource Officers & Chief Diversity Officers in
     your network

 * Investors or Alt Capital

 * Strategic Partners

Road Show: Charlotte





Kimberly Evans

Founder & CEO

Kimberly Evans is a business owner and entrepreneur. She is the Founder & CEO of
Just Her Rideshare, Inc., a rideshare community of
women drivers and riders based in Charlotte, N.C. Before starting this company
in 2020, she was the founder of 3 other companies from
1993-present in the industries of Fashion, a SaaS Company, and a Client Support
Call Center, all while building a career with the United States Postal Service,
where she spent 21 years in distribution, client support and management. She
became a full-time entrepreneur in 2011.



The Ask:

 * Warm introductions to Early Stage VC, Angel and Social Impact Investors

 * Access to local Non-Profits Partnerships and Corporate Sponsorships 

 * Community and Social Media Manager for Just Her Hub-Pipeline 1300 members

Road Show: Los Angeles





Dara Cook

Founder

Dara Cook captivated millions during her 20-year career at MTV, where she was
Head Creative of the Video Music Awards, brand manager of Wild ‘N Out, Senior
Vice President who launched MTV’s podcast and touring businesses, and named one
of the Most Influential Minorities in Cable. At 20, she graduated cum laude from
the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Cook is an alum of Harvard
Business School’s General Management Program where her Expect presentation won
the strategy competition. Cook also serves as a Trustee of the Helene Fuld
College of Nursing in Harlem.



The Ask: 

 * Health insurers & employer-sponsored benefits plans

 * Angels & investors interested in women’s health

Road Show: Palo Alto





Dana Fry

Founder & CEO

With a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and Johns Hopkins and a master’s in
leadership and management, Dana has directed large teams across major capital
projects and multi-million dollar budgets. This experience shaped Ujamaa's
fiscal vision. She puts this banking expertise, management experience, and
financial acumen to work as CEO and Co-Founder of Ujamaa Financial.



 

The Ask: 

 * Warm Introductions
   
   * Angel Investors
   
   * Technical teammates
   
   * Potential sponsors
   
   * Partner banks
   
   * Channel and brand partners

 * Help With Achieving Better Visibility 
   
   * Social media interns
   
   * SEO experts
   
   * Print media coverage
   
   * Marketing strategists

Road Show: Palo Alto





Lisa Michelle

Founder

Lisa Michelle is the visionary CEO and founder of Bridesquad, a groundbreaking
mobile app revolutionizing party planning. With a remarkable technical acumen,
Lisa's journey in crafting apps and websites began as a teenager, establishing
her as a seasoned technical founder. The inception of Bridesquad stemmed from
Lisa's personal experience, navigating the overwhelm of wedding planning in
2021.



The Ask: 

 * Partnerships 
   
   * Bridal/wedding industry leaders and businesses
   
   * Event planning professionals and businesses
   
   * Travel/tourism professionals and businesses

 * Warm Introductions 
   
   * Seeking active and passive investors

 * Knowledge Sharing
   
   * Expertise in Content Marketing
   
   * Referral for developers & our Advisory Board

Road Show: Boston





Keeana Serene Saxon

Founder & CEO

Keeana Saxon, Founder & CEO of Kidogo Productions, LLC is also an attorney,
piano teacher, mom, and wife. She founded Kidogo Productions so that no Black
child would be marginalized in children’s media. For the kids, for the culture.
Kidogo Productions LLC, is a Boston-based educational media company with the
goal “to connect with and have a positive impact on children from across the
world through Black-centered curated videos, interactive activities, and live
events.”



The Ask: 

 * Investor introductions 

 * Corporate and brand partnerships

 * Early childhood specialists and academicians

 * Board advisors with board members in children's media

 * Referrals to a possible technical Co-founder with experience in ed tech app
   design and gaming



Road Show: Boston





Cindy Belardo

Co-Founder & CEO

Cindy Belardo, CEO and Co-Founder learned about the menstrual cup as an
eco-friendly alternative to tampons. This started her journey in 2018 into
period care, leading a team on a trip to India to introduce a town of women to
menstrual cups. There, she learned about period poverty, period taboos and the
need for honest education. Her passion for body positivity led to the start of
her company.



The Ask: 



 * Warm Introduction to Angel Investors in Women's Health (Medical Devices,
   Sustainable Consumer Products)

 * Connections with mentors in Supply Chain and Retail. 

 * Take part in company socials and spread the word on Pre-orders!











Road Show: DC





Dr. Monique Ositelu

Founder & CEO

Monique O. Ositelu, PhD is a Nigerian-American woman who wears many hats from a
founder, author, college instructor, keynote speaker, and former U.S. federal
policy advisor.

Founder and CEO of DEUCE Inc., an early stage fintech startup that promotes an
ecosystem of collaboration by streamlining quick and secure payments for
collaborating creators like social media influencers, musicians, and artists.



The Ask: 

 * Partnerships 
   
   * Creators & Brands as potential customers
   
   * Financial institutions such as sponsor bank and gateway processor

 * Warm Introductions to Investors 

 * Knowledge Sharing
   
   * Expertise in fintech
   
   * Referral for developers & our Advisory Board





Road Show: DC





Karina Muller

Founder & CEO

Karina Muller has 20+ years of entrepreneurial and corporate experience in the
health and wellness industry, caregiving management and stress management.  With
her co- founder she created and launched Motivity Care, which offers an
affordable, efficient, one point of entry, tech-enabled solution that alleviates
stress, reduces mental burden, and gives the caregiver and their aging loved
one’s peace of mind.





The Ask: 



Introductions to:

 * HR/Benefits Leaders

 * Senior living community Operators Investors  





Road Show: NYC





Liz Shepherd

Founder & CEO

Liz, founder & CEO of Kidault, is a resilient entrepreneur and business leader
with a strong background in the car service industry, leveraging her diverse
experience as a credit analyst, ride-sharing driver, dispatcher, and app
developer to build and grow a successful car service business, showcasing her
unwavering drive, adaptability, and understanding of customer needs.



The Ask: 

 * I am seeking assistance in connecting with corporate companies and/or medical
   facilities in need of transportation services.

 * I am also seeking assistance in customer acquisition.





Road Show: NYC





Melanie Samba

Founder & CEO

Melanie Samba is the visionary founder and CEO of Sproxxy, an AI-powered
enterprise SaaS platform revolutionizing executive management at conferences.
Recognized as one of the top 25 influential leaders in commstech and a Techstars
entrepreneur.



The Ask:

 * Connections with investors, donors and potential clients interested in
   SPROXXY technology. 

















Road Show: Detroit





Saskia Sorrosa

Founder & CEO

 Saskia Sorrosa is one of the only Latinas in the kids’ food space. She is the
founder of Fresh Bellies, a mission-driven company that is focused on bringing
the next generation of snackers healthy and flavorful options and currently has
nationwide distribution with 4,500+ major retailers like Whole Foods, Target,
Walmart and Kroger. Since founding the company, Saskia has grown Fresh Bellies
into a national disruptor, winning the Expo East NEXTY Award for Best New
Natural Kid’s Product, pitching to Shark Tank, graduating from the Chobani
Incubator, winning first place at the NFL Players Association business
accelerator and being selected as part of Goldman Sachs’ Launch with GS
Entrepreneur Cohort. She was also selected as a 2023 JOURNEY Fellow, a group of
25 innovators tackling the most critical societal challenges. Previously, Saskia
was VP of Marketing for the NBA. Originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador, Sorrosa
currently resides in New York with her husband and two daughters.



The Ask:

 * Networking opportunities

 * CPG Advisors and talent referrals

 * Warm introductions to angel and institutional investors

 * Strategic partners

 * New Fresh Bellies champions 

Road Show: Philadelphia





Naza Shelley

Founder

For far too long, we have inexplicably been at the bottom of the dating totem
pole. And dating services have failed to address our specific needs, desires, and
demographic.  As a professional dating in the D.C. area herself, Naza shares
your frustration with dating apps. While they are convenient to use, she found
herself wasting countless hours swiping on low-quality matches, engaging in
dead-end texting, and going on disappointing first dates! She considered
traditional matchmaking services, but even on her attorney salary most were just
too expensive and their clientele didn’t look like her! She wanted chemistry.



The Ask:

 * Executive Mentorship
   We looking for executive mentorship from those who have grown a B2C startup
   from $0-$5 million in revenue. Additional mentorship is welcome from
   executives with
   experience and effective strategies growing community/membership platforms.

 * Hiring Support
   We’re looking to improve the effectiveness of our sales team. We’re looking
   for a sales guru who can review our methods and help us improve our tactics
   to close more new member accounts.

 * Customer Acquisition Team
   We’re vetting new customer acquisition teams, including social media ads
   placement and content creators. Referrals welcome.





Road Show: Houston





Damyanna Cooke

Founder

Damyanna Cooke is the visionary and CEO behind Boozed.ai, an AI-driven cocktail
making and dispensing system for events. From skyrocketing in the Fintech realm
to pioneering innovations, she's now crafting the future of event beverages.
Recently Damyanna served as the Houston Ion Innovator in Residence and is alumni
to the Ion Aerospace Innovation Accelerator for MBEs. She has also served as
Vice President of the Institutional Client Group for Neuberger Berman, a former
Lehman Brothers company. Damyanna received her undergraduate degree from DePauw
University as a Posse Foundation full tuition scholarship recipient.



The Ask:

 * Warm introductions to Angel & Pre-Seed investors

 * Warm introductions to potential customers

 * Connections to event tech and marketing industry leaders

Road Show: Houston





Lauren Washington

Founder

Lauren is the cofounder and CEO of Fundr, a platform that uses data and AI to
empower decision making in seed investing. Lauren started her career as a
special education teacher with Teach for America and went on to develop
marketing and data strategy for over 100 global companies at InStyle Magazine,
TVGuide and Omnicom Group. She has her BA from the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill and her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. She
is an Entrepreneur in Residence for University at Buffalo’s Incubator and a
Techstars All Stars Mentor.



The Ask:

 * Warm Intros to pre-seed investors

 * New customers (WOCCON attendees get 50% off)

 * Founders to take our survey

Road Show: Seattle





Dr. Julie Pham

Founder

Dr. Julie Pham is the founder and CEO of CuriosityBased, an organizational
development firm based in Seattle. Dr. Pham has been recognized with numerous
awards for her community leadership. She has applied her community building
approach to building strong, collaborative, and curious teams. She was born in
Saigon, Vietnam, and raised in Seattle. Dr. Pham earned her Ph.D. in history at
Cambridge University as a Gates Cambridge Scholar and she graduated magna cum
laude from the University of California, Berkeley as a Haas Scholar. She earned
her real life MBA by running her family’s Vietnamese language newspaper during
the Great Recession. She has worked as a journalist, historian, university
lecturer, marketer, nonprofit executive, and management consultant.

The Ask:

 * Growing Customers
   
   * Executives and HR leaders in any industry
   
   * Organizational development trainers
   
   * Executive coaches and HR consultants

 * Recruiting Advisors
   
   * Intellectual property licensing
   
   * Train-the-trainer
   
   * Digital courses
   
   * Digital marketing

Road Show: Seattle





Henny Damian

Founder

Henny grew up in Indonesia, where she learned about group savings as a financing
option. She joined a savings group with her friends and family, which helped her
achieve her financial goals and provided her with a supportive community. This
experience led her to co-found Joola, a digital platform that offers accessible
and affordable capital through group savings.  She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts
from the Art Institute of Seattle and a Master of Applied International Studies
from the University of Washington. 



The Ask:

 * Warm introduction to angel investors

 * Connections with mentors and influencers who specialize
   in marketing and fintech. 

 * Partnerships with community
   banks and nonprofits with financial wellness programs.

Road Show: Charlotte





Arielle Brown

Founder

Arielle Brown, a Lafayette, LA native and Licensed Master Social Worker, is the
Founder of Bea's Bayou Skincare, named after her maternal grandmother, Beatrice.
Her mission is tdisrupt the $6.7B US Eczema-related Hair & Skincare Market by
providing natural itch relief using probiotics and bayou plants and
herbs.mindset and creativity to create a social impact for the undervalued,
underestimated, and underrepresented.  She recently won the 2022 Aveeno &
Essence Skin Health Pitch and has secured grant funding to create a business
foundation and
first product iterations.



The Ask:

 * Angel Investors

 * Haircare Distributors 

 * Corporate Sponsors

 * Haircare Sales Professionals

 * Microbiologist/Researcher

 * Dermatologist Advisor

Road Show: Charlotte





Dr. Natalie King

Founder & CEO

Raised in the US South as the daughter of first and second-generation
immigrants, I have always centered equity as a non-negotiable component of life.
This imperative drove me to make history at 26 as one of the youngest and the
first Afro-Latina to earn a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois
at Chicago.  I've devoted my career to broadening the scope of equity and
access, from healthcare to the beauty industry.



The Ask:

 * Warm introductions to Angels interested in Health & Beauty companies,
   specifically those led by women founders.

 * Introductions to software developers who have experience with Artificial
   Intelligence (AI) and building responsive/regenerative databases.

 * Introductions to partners in beauty & retail who can amplify our brand
   awareness.





Road Show: Los Angeles





Dr. Manju Dawkins

Founder & CEO

Dr. Manju Dawkins of a board certified dermatologist who  received her B.A. from
Columbia University. She completed her dermatology residency and served as Chief
Resident at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. She is also
the creator and co-founder of Thimble, the first easy, safe, and comprehensive
solution for alleviating needle pain and stress. Needle aversion stops millions
from participating in other forms of essential care, including early disease
detection, blood donation and life-saving treatments. 



The Ask: 

 * Partnership:
   
   * Intros to decision makers at health systems, insurance companies,
     injectable drug makers, public health agencies  who can offer Thimble at
     scale

 * Create Awareness:
   
   * Intros to influential people in government, media, social media, etc who
     can help create a groundswell to impel change at the corporate level.

Road Show: Palo Alto





Chelby Gill

Founder & CEO

Chelby graduated from San Jose State University in 2019 with a degree in
Political Science. Prior to founding Boummeringue I worked as an operator and
information systems specialist for a growing disability services startup. We
grew the company from 20 to 60+ employees in less than 2 years. At the very
beginning of developing Boummeringue I built the first version of our product
and published it to the Apple App store. That was a great way for us to get
consumer feedback on what they like and dislike about the return process. 



The Ask: 

 * Warm Introductions to Investors
   
   * B2B/Enterprise Software
   
   * Supply Chain/Logistics Software
   
   * Circularity & Sustainability

 * Warm Introductions to Retail Executives
   
   * CEO, CFO or Board Members
   
   * Vice Presidents of E-Commerce, Operations or Inventory Management

Road Show: Palo Alto





Dr. Madhu Shetti

Founder & CEO

Dr. Madhu Shetti is a Bay Area Oncologist, 3x founder and Stanford GSB alum.
Seeing the painful Shingles like rashes her patients experienced during and
after cancer treatment inspired her to found Balmere. In 18 months, her GSB
women led, bootstrapped team developed and brought to market patent pending,
clinically tested products with triple benefits: improve quality of life,
improve overall survival and prevent secondary cancers. No FDA clearance
required. Covered by FSA.



The Ask: 

 * Intros to Angel Investors.

 * Speaking opportunities to promote cancer education/awareness—(podcasts, Black
   sorority conferences, news/radio stations)

 * Marketing/Social Media collaboration.

 * Introductions to decision makers at hospitals/cancer center pharmacies and
   retirement communities.





Road Show: Boston





Sesha Kadakia

Founder & CEO

"I've spent my career in intense environments, from wall street trading floors
to hedge funds in New York City and London and have been the only female in the
room more times than I can count. We're removing roadblocks one step at a time."
Sesha Kadakia is the Founder & CEO of Tangify, a technology company that is
protecting IP all over the world. Take your first step to a patent and finding
out if your tech can be patented in minutes, without disclosing confidential
IP. 



The Ask: 



 * Introduction to high quality, diverse engineering talent

















Road Show: Boston





Michelle Dalzon

Founder

Michelle Dalzon, Founder of Katapulte, a company focused on working capital for
segments of businesses that have been ignored. They're on a mission to disrupt
the small-business online lending landscape and drive more equitable access to
capital by focusing on business segments that have been left ignored and
guarantee the lowest interest rates.  Michelle has been a boostrapped founder
the past 4.5 years but is also an experienced Marketer with a demonstrated
history of working in the advertising industry. 



The Ask: 



 * Introduction to investor bank partner (debt facility)





Road Show: DC





Dr. Elizabeth Clayborne

Founder & CEO

Dr. Clayborne developed a novel nosebleed device, NasaClip, as a resident and in
2015 was awarded the NSF I-Corps grant which helped to launch her company.  Dr.
Clayborne has been featured on several national interviews on networks such as
CNN, MSNBC, CBSN and TEDx.  She looks forward to continuing her career as a
practicing emergency physician, innovator and leader in health care policy and
reform.



The Ask: 



 * Fundraising: Seed Round July 2023

 * Sales: NasaClip.com

 * Manufacturing: Scaling opportunities

 * Strategic Partners: Retailers, Sports, School Nurses, Urgent Care, Social
   Media Influencers













Road Show: NYC





Stephanie Louis

Founder & CEO

 Stephanie Louis, the CEO of SOTRO Innovations, is an empowering entrepreneur
and salon owner dedicated to revolutionizing at-home hair care for individuals
with textured hair and hair damage. Committed to superior user experiences.



The Ask:

 * Help with Mexican Manufacturing - Injection Mold production contacts
   specializing in electrical appliances, Executive Staffing - US Based Chief
   Marketing and Chief Financial Officers,

 * Dedicated Technologist - XR Programmers specializing in AR platform
   development - Eventual CTO







Road Show: NYC





Jessica Spaulding

Founder & CEO

Jessica Spaulding, founder & CEO of Harlem Chocolate Factory, grew up in an
anti-sugar home, but there was one exception to this rule, CHOCOLATE, not just
any chocolate, high-quality chocolate. Although being a chocolatier wasn't a
supported career path, she never gave up on her dream. Merging her passion for
chocolate with her love of Harlem is an experience she wants to share with
everyone.



The Ask: 

 * We are asking for introductions to funders and those with experience in
   scaling CPG operations & retail travel operations.









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Women of Color Connecting (WOCCON)

A Program of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership

         550 Broad Street, Suite 702 | Newark, NJ 07102 | 973.353.0611 | @woccon

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