Harvard Undergraduate Women in Entrepreneurship

Big shout out to Vienna Sparks, Co-Founder of MabLab and member of the Harvard Undergraduate Women in Entrepreneurship community, whose venture was recently featured in the Harvard Innovation Labs weekly newsletter! “Every year, more than 109,000 people in the U.S. die from drug overdoses. In well over half of these cases, the overdose is caused by a lacing agent in the drug. For Skye Lam (Harvard College ’26) and Vienna Sparks, the co-founders of MabLab, these statistics are far from abstract. “In 2022, we had a friend overdose on laced drugs,” says Sparks. “We were motivated to create a more comprehensive solution to prevent all overdoses from laced drugs.” Since launching last year, MabLab has been developing a single test strip that can quickly detect the five deadliest lacing agents in drugs with unparalleled accuracy. The startup was a $25,000 winner in the 2024 Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge, and is currently a student i-lab member and a resident at the Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eAzzBgXS

? 170+ Women. 15+ Schools. One Incredible Night. ? On behalf of Foundess and the Harvard Undergraduate Women in Entrepreneurship (WiE) team, a HUGE thank you to the 170+ womxn who joined us for the Womxn Networking + Pitch Night on Monday! ?? This event was truly impactful and inspiring! From the buzzing networking session to the thought-provoking panel discussions to the inspiring pitch for feedback sessions, the room was filled with talent, creativity, and unstoppable energy. ???? A massive shoutout to the Foundess team—Emmy Thamakaison, Riya Dev, Irawadee T., Sirin Thamakaison, and Pear Manyasiri Chotbunwong—for your incredible commitment and leadership. Your hard work and vision made this event possible, and we couldn’t have done it without you. ??? Thank you for traveling from Stanford, UMich, and Tufts to make this happen—you are all rockstars! ?? ?? A Few Highlights from the Evening: ?? 170+ attendees ?? 15+ schools and organizations represented ?? 70+ minutes of pitches and thoughtful Q&A A special thank you to our phenomenal speakers Abigayle Peterson, Bobbie Carlton, and mallory contois, who shared their wisdom, stories, and tips to inspire the next wave of female founders. ?? This event reaffirmed what we already know: women are building incredible solutions and deserve more spaces to connect, get feedback, and collaborate. ???? I’m incredibly proud of the spaces Harvard WiE has been creating over the past year and excited to see our community and partnerships continue to grow! Excited to announce that our commitment to fostering this community is stronger than ever with more in-person events planned for both the East and West Coasts! ?? Feel free to DM me if you’d like to join our email list for updates on future events and opportunities!

On behalf of?Foundess?and the Harvard Undergraduate Women in Entrepreneurship (WiE) team, we want to express our heartfelt thanks for joining us at the Womxn Networking + Pitch Night last evening! ? It was such a joy to meet so many talented womxn and witness the energy, creativity, and passion that filled the room. The atmosphere created last evening means the world to us! Some statistics from the evening: ?? 170+ attendees ?? 15+ schools and organizations represented across regions ?? 70+ minutes of incredible pitches and thoughtful Q&A We’re thrilled to share that this is just the beginning!?Foundess?is committed to growing this community with more in-person events on both the East and West Coasts. Thank you for making our very first event so special—we can’t wait to see you at future gatherings as we continue to celebrate and empower womxn founders everywhere! ?? ????: Emmy Thamakaison, Irawadee T., Riya Dev, Pear Manyasiri Chotbunwong, Sirin Thamakaison, Daniela Andrade, Sahar Maisha, Bobbie Carlton, mallory contois, Abigayle Peterson

In the past month, our co-founders Farida Abdelmoneum and Betty Z. had the pleasure of attending the Girls Into VC X Harvard Undergraduate Women in Entrepreneurship Conference and receiving first place in the pitch competition. The team also had the opportunity to attend the Princeton University FEMALEFOUNDED Conference, gaining invaluable insights and connections. Thank you again to Isabella Mandis, Daniela Andrade, Sahar Maisha, Maggie Wang, and Jana Pak for the wonderful events!

Three years ago, an editor told me that women and fintech coverage don’t mix. One year ago, I was told that Fintech Is Femme just “doesn’t make sense.” Today, standing here at Harvard University, wrapping up the first leg of my book tour, I can’t help but reflect on how far we’ve come— and the incredible importance of community in making it happen. The truth is, no one succeeds alone. The most powerful opportunities I’ve had—jobs, deal flow, partnerships— came from a community that shares abundantly. A community that doesn’t just open doors but builds entirely new ones. When we act in abundance with each other— sharing jobs, funding, connections, and ideas— we create more than enough. (As I’ve learned from Asya Bradley) And it’s within community that we find authenticity, the key to long-term success. Because knowing who you are, and bringing out your best self, only happens when you’re surrounded by people who strengthen you and challenge you to grow. That’s why I’m building the Fintech Is Femme Membership Community— to create the connections, mentorship, and opportunities that women in fintech deserve. This isn’t just about celebrating the women breaking barriers. It’s about rewriting the narrative of fintech leadership and creating a movement where women don’t just participate—they lead. ?? Join us at The FEMMY Awards & Celebration to celebrate the launch of this movement: ?? December 9, 2024 ?? Rise by Barclays Founding Members will gain access to: ? Mentorship with top fintech leaders ? Strategic networking with game-changers ? Career coaching, branding support, and job opportunities ? Voting rights to shape the future of this community ?? Reserve your ticket now: https://lu.ma/Femmys Together, we’re not just rewriting history— we’re building an economy where we all win. #TheFemmys #FintechIsFemme #WomenInFintech #Community #Leadership #Abundance Shoutout to Daniela Andrade and Harvard Undergraduate Women in Entrepreneurship for hosting us! *** Ps. None of those naysayers have accomplished what our lean 2-person team has done in one year. Anton Briones. Keep going. ??

What, like it’s hard? Loved being the keynote speaker at the Harvard University Women in Entrepreneurship Summit ?? Spoke about the big things coming soon for Phia ?? ?? try our Beta on your computer, GoPhia.com Did you know that less than 2% of venture capital funding goes to women? It’s time to break barriers, pave the way for more inclusive innovation, and ensure female founders get the support they deserve!

?? Celebrating Female Student-Led Innovation in Women’s Health ?? I’m thrilled to spotlight the incredible Biomedical Engineering students Clara Kyumin Kim, Erica Liu, Emily Rose, and Sean D'Mello from the University of Waterloo for their groundbreaking innovation, PeriGuard! This transformative device, designed to reduce perineal tears during childbirth, won the $4,000 grand prize at FemTech Canada’s Innovation Challenge. ?? PeriGuard is a game-changer in women’s health. Each year, 90% of women experience perineal tears during natural childbirth—a significant yet under-addressed challenge. PeriGuard offers a simple yet effective solution by combining consistent, controlled heat with a disposable component to reduce tearing, alleviate discomfort, and improve health outcomes for women during labor. With a cost of just $10.40 USD per use, PeriGuard has the potential to integrate seamlessly into standard obstetric care. ?? ?? The FemTech Canada Innovation Challenge brought together over 100 students, encouraging them to tackle critical issues in women’s health, including menopause, gynecological health, and breast health. With workshops, mentorship, and an exciting final pitch competition judged by female health founders and professionals, the competition showcased the brilliance and passion of these student innovators! Special shoutout to Rachel Bartholomew (MBET ’14), founder of Hyivy Health and alum of the Faculty of Engineering, for her inspiring leadership in this challenge. Rachel reminded participants of the vast gender gap in healthcare innovation, noting, “We are fundamentally almost 30 years behind in core research and innovation… but the challenge doesn’t end here.” Through initiatives like this, University of Waterloo students are proving that innovation in women’s health is not only possible but essential. ?? ?? Congratulations to the PeriGuard team and to all the participants for moving the needle forward in women’s health. Your dedication inspires us all, and I can’t wait to see how your work continues to impact women’s lives worldwide.

Thanks to Nicole Casperson, Harvard Undergraduate Women in Entrepreneurship, Aleksandra Medina and Katrin Kaurov, the founders of Frich Money for an exciting evening, discussing women entrepreneurs in the Fintech space as part of the Fintech Feminists book tour. Aleksandra Medina and Katrin Kaurov were inspiring as they told us about their journey getting Frich Money launched. #Frich #Fintech #FintechIsFemme

?Reflecting on an inspiring weekend at the Girls Into VC x Harvard Undergraduate Women in Entrepreneurship Summit 2024 ? ??This summit was not just an event—it was a celebration of ambition, resilience, and the incredible potential of women in venture capital and entrepreneurship. Huge thanks to Isabella Mandis, Daniela Andrade, and Sahar Maisha for bringing this vision to life! ??From the opening session to the final conversation, the energy was contagious—fueled by so many talented women and allies dedicated to shaping a more inclusive and innovative future. Hearing from inspiring speakers like Adela Jamal, Shruti Venkat, Sophia Kianni, and others left me with valuable insights and a fresh sense of purpose. ??The connections, mentorship, and shared drive to push boundaries reminded me of how powerful our collective action can be. This experience strengthened my belief in creating spaces where diverse perspectives are not just welcomed but celebrated. ??Leaving the summit, I feel more motivated than ever to contribute to this change. Here’s to breaking barriers, uplifting each other, and building a brighter future for VC and entrepreneurship! ?? Girls Into VC #WomenInVC #Entrepreneurship #HarvardSummit #Innovation #BreakingBarriers #GirlsIntoVC #WomenInEntrepreneurship #VentureCapital #Networking #GrowthMindset #WomenEmpowerment #HarvardUniversity #GrowJourney

Feeling beyond grateful to have experienced the Girls into VC & Entrepreneurship Summit for a second time a few weeks ago?? Each conversation and connection left me more inspired and determined than ever. Huge thanks to the organizers Isabella Mandis Daniela Andrade and Sahar Maisha for creating such a powerful space. A special metion to Nomiki Petrolla & Emily Herrera — you both spoke right to my heart. Your insights brought clarity and motivation that I didn’t even know I needed. Amen to amazing women lifting each other up and paving the way forward together! ??