Invest In Women Founders Summit

The Startup Ladies’ 5th Annual #InvestInWomenFounders Summit
- Thursday, November 5, 2026
- Noon–6:00 p.m. ET
- Skyline Club | Indianapolis, Indiana
The Startup Ladies’ 5th Annual #InvestInWomenFounders Summit brings together women founders, investors, executives, mentors, and community leaders who are committed to increasing investment in women-owned companies.
This annual Summit is the centerpiece of our work to educate, connect, and fund women business owners. It is where resources, relationships, and investment conversations come together to help women founders grow.
The afternoon begins with lunch overlooking the city at the Skyline Club in downtown Indianapolis. Guests will have the opportunity to connect with investors, executives, founders, mentors, and ecosystem leaders before moving into three Fund the Founders breakout sessions featuring the selected Top 9 women founders.
Traditional pitch competitions have not closed the funding gap for women founders. That is why The Startup Ladies created a different model.
At the Summit, the Top 9 women founders participate in curated, interview-style conversations in front of investors, executives, mentors, and community leaders. These conversations are designed to help the audience better understand each founder’s business, leadership, traction, customer discovery, growth opportunities, and funding needs.
Each Top 9 founder participates in a multi-month capital readiness accelerator leading up to the Summit. Through training, mentoring, coaching, and preparation, founders refine their funding strategy, strengthen their customer discovery and traction story, prepare stronger founder materials, and practice answering the kinds of questions investors will ask.
Following the Fund the Founders breakout sessions, guests will gather for a 5:00 p.m. cocktail reception to continue conversations, make introductions, and build relationships. The Summit will conclude at 6:00 p.m.
The Summit creates real connections between founders and the people who can accelerate their growth.
AGENDA
Noon: Lunch overlooking the city at the Skyline Club
1:00 p.m.: Welcome, opening remarks, and Summit kickoff
2:00 p.m.: Fund the Founders Breakout Sessions
3:00 p.m.: Fund the Founders Breakout Sessions
4:00 p.m.: Fund the Founders Breakout Sessions
5:00 p.m.: Cocktail reception & founder/investor conversations
6:00 p.m.: Summit concludes
---> What to Expect
* Lunch overlooking the city at the Skyline Club in downtown Indianapolis
* Live, interview-style conversations with the selected Top 9 women founders
* Three Fund the Founders breakout sessions at 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m.
* Meaningful networking with investors, executives, founders, mentors, and ecosystem leaders
* A 5:00 p.m. cocktail reception to continue conversations, make introductions, and build relationships
* Visibility for women-owned scalable companies preparing to grow
* A room full of people taking action to help women founders access capital, customers, connections, and strategic support
---> Why Attend
Because access changes everything.
Investors will discover women-owned companies with growth potential.
Executives and mentors will meet founders who can benefit from their expertise, networks, and strategic support.
Entrepreneurs will gain insight into how investors think, what capital readiness looks like, and how women founders are building scalable companies.
Community leaders and advocates will help close the gender funding gap by showing up, making introductions, and supporting women-owned businesses.
---> Who Should Attend
This event is designed for:
* Investors and aspiring investors
* Corporate executives and business leaders
* Entrepreneurs and founders
* Startup mentors and advisors
* Professional service providers
* Community leaders and advocates
* Anyone committed to increasing investment in women-owned companies
The #InvestInWomenFounders Summit is where money moves into the hands of women founders.
Reserve your seat and invest in a future where women’s ideas, leadership, and companies are fully funded.