Ready for founders in our heartland with rolling hills of wheat, manufacturing hubs, and university icons? We are halfway done with out national tour of phenomenal female founders pitching weekly from their respective regions. This week is the MIDWEST!
At the Stella Foundation, we're thrilled to host the NEXT stop on the Women’s Fast Pitch series, the MIDWEST regionals to hear from exceptional 5 semifinalists on Thursday, June 13, 2024, 4-6 pm EST / 1-3 pm PST, to pick the winner to go onto the Women’s Venture Summit in September 2024.
This series highlights the strength and resilience of women founders, showcasing their ability to innovate and lead in the entrepreneurial landscape. It also underscores the remarkable networks cultivated through pitch competitions, where founders gain invaluable connections, mentorship, and opportunities to propel their businesses forward. These events not only foster a supportive community but also amplify the visibility and impact of women-led ventures in the startup ecosystem.
What is special about the Midwest Innovation Ecosystem, especially for female founders and female angel investors?
Cost of Living & Doing Business: Compared to coastal hubs like Silicon Valley and New York, the Midwest offers a lower cost of living and more affordable business operations. This financial advantage allows startups to stretch their funding further and provides a more sustainable growth environment.
Diverse & Robust Industry Base: The Midwest boasts a diverse range of industries, from manufacturing and agriculture to healthcare and technology. This diversity creates numerous opportunities for innovation and cross-industry collaboration, allowing female founders to explore unique niches and markets.
Increasing Recognition and Opportunities: There is a growing recognition of the contributions and potential of female entrepreneurs in the Midwest. This recognition translates into more opportunities for women to pitch their ideas, secure funding, and gain visibility in the broader business community.
Cultural and Social Support: The Midwest's cultural emphasis on work-life balance and family-friendly policies makes it an attractive location for female founders and investors who prioritize personal and professional well-being.
Meet the Founders! All of these exceptional founders are leading their respective industries in innovative design and being very customer-centric.
MIDWEST Stella Foundation Women's Fast Pitch Semifinalists:
Laura Meemken | All Clean Food | Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
All Clean Food, founded by Laura Meemken , is dedicated to transforming our food system by providing clean, organic, and allergen-free meal options. Driven by her passion for helping people eat well and feel well, Laura created All Clean Food to offer solutions that are both nutritious and accessible. The company's organic pasta meals are meticulously crafted to be free from the top 14 allergens, ensuring that everyone around the table can enjoy a wholesome meal, regardless of dietary restrictions. Laura Meemken is renowned for her innovation, communication skills, and empathetic leadership. With a strong background in consumer research, product validation, and process creation, she has successfully driven growth for All Clean Food. Laura's commitment to transparency in food ingredients and her belief that everyone deserves to feel their best underpin the company's mission. All Clean Food's organic pasta meals can be found at major retailers, including Target, Amazon, Hy-Vee, Lunds & Byerly's, Meijer Stores, and Giant Foods, as well as co-ops and independent stores. By offering clean, allergy-friendly, and plant-based meal options, All Clean Food is making it easier for families to enjoy nutritious meals together. For more information and to explore their meal options, visit All Clean Food.
Haley Marie Keith | MITO Material Solutions | Carmel, Indiana
MITO Material Solutions , co-founded by Haley Marie Keith , is at the forefront of innovation in composite materials. The company has developed MITO additives, specifically E-GO and ACRE, which can be directly infused into resin systems and applied to composite components used in the manufacturing of planes, cars, trains, wind turbines, and even sporting goods. These advanced additives significantly enhance the interlaminar toughness of composite materials, enabling manufacturers to create parts that are both lighter and more durable. This improvement reduces the likelihood of mechanical failure, offering a significant advantage in various industries and being non-toxic and safe to handle. By incorporating MITO-powered epoxy, RV, boat, and aerospace manufacturers can produce lighter materials, leading to savings in fuel and material costs, or tougher materials, which can greatly reduce the risk of mechanical failure.
Nicole Armstrong is a trailblazing advocate for workplace equity, leveraging design thinking, social innovation, and human-centered design to transform the way we work. In 2018, Nicole was honored with the People's Liberty Haile Fellowship. This prestigious recognition provided the foundation for creating the nation's first certification for workplace equity. Nicole then launched Ellequate , a social enterprise that helps people leaders build workplaces that work for everyone. In 2019, her company earned a CLIMB Award for Advancing Gender Equity. With Nicole at the helm, Ellequate has developed an advanced analytics platform rooted in cutting-edge behavioral science research and evidence-based practice. Examining the complex relationship between workplace systems and employee experiences, the Equity Navigator platform identifies unique employee needs, generates targeted recommendations, and offers a full suite of action planning tools and personalized 1:1 support to promote employee well-being and enhance the organizational bench strength needed to adapt to a world that is constantly evolving. Nicole is building a community of changemakers and thought leaders who are challenging the status quo, redefining the future of work, and creating a race to the top. Ellequate-certified employers have made incredible strides, increasing the representation of women and women of color in leadership and significantly improving employee experience.
Under the leadership of CEO and Co-Founder Lanna Last , My AIMA Inc . has developed a proactive pain management system that revolutionizes access to personalized care. For over four and a half years, Lanna has guided the company with a commitment to creating affordable and accessible solutions for pain management. AIMA's mission is deeply rooted in addressing and alleviating the often overlooked and underserved area of women's health, particularly focusing on the prevalent and debilitating issues of period and pelvic pain. The company is dedicated to empowering women and individuals born with a uterus to manage their pain with dignity and freedom, fostering a community that promotes understanding, support, and open dialogue about pelvic health. Lanna's role as a Board Member at Peach Corps Inccomplements her mission at AIMA, focusing on contributing to a future where effective pain management is a standard, not a privilege. Driven by a belief in innovation and social responsibility, AIMA ensures that every initiative contributes to a healthier, more equitable society.
Sarah Hill is a distinguished media technologist and former TV broadcaster, recognized as a 12-time Mid-America Emmy award winner. With a career spanning 25 years, she has successfully led media and immersive media teams and is currently the CEO of Healium . Hill holds several patents for biometrically-powered media, and her company's mental fitness products are clinically validated in eight peer-reviewed journals. Her immersive experiences have garnered over 7 million views. Under Hill's leadership, Healium has received accolades from the NFL Player's Association, Consumer Technology Association, P&G Innovation Prize, MassChallenge, and the International VR Healthcare Association, which honored her team with a "hero award.” Healium originated from Hill's virtual travel program for veterans. In 2013, her team developed "Honor Everywhere," a program utilizing mobile, virtual, and augmented reality to enable aging veterans to virtually visit their WWII, Vietnam, Korea, and Women’s Memorials. Healium's products are available on mobile devices via Apple and Google Play, as well as on VR platforms like Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest, and Pico. For more information, visit
Five to six outstanding women will be showcasing their entrepreneurial talents regionally & weekly, vying for cash, prizes, and the opportunity to compete live at the Women’s Venture Summit (EVS) Finals in San Diego! Get your tickets for WVS HERE: https://www.womensventuresummit.org/
REGISTER TODAY for the Women’s Fast Pitch MIDWEST regionals to listen, learn and invest in these exceptional 5 semifinalists on Thursday, June 13, 2024, 4-6 pm EST / 1-3 pm PST, to pick the winner to go onto the Women’s Venture Summit in September 2024.
35° and Fog
Laura Meemken | All Clean Food | Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
Haley Marie Keith | MITO Material Solutions | Carmel, Indiana
Nicole Armstrong | Ellequate | Cincinnati, Ohio
Lanna Last | My AIMA Inc | Detroit, Michigan
Sarah Hill | Healium | Columbia, Missouri
