SXSW 2026 ⎸ Austin, TX ⎸ March 12th

📍Google Downtown Campus (500 W. 2nd Street)

Women Future Forward is where the momentum for SXSW begins.

We're bringing together the most ambitious women founders, seasoned investors, and influential ecosystem builders under one roof - Google's Austin headquarters - for a full day that will redefine how you experience SXSW.

Fifteen powerhouse women's organizations. Industry-shaping thought leaders. One goal: to create the connections, insights, and energy that carry you through SXSW and beyond.

What Makes This Different

Most conferences give you access. We're giving you transformation. While others are still networking over coffee, you'll walk away with:

• Strategic insights from founders who've raised millions, scaled companies, and disrupted industries
• Direct access to decision-makers who are actively deploying capital and building ecosystems
• Personalized expert guidance in 1:1 sessions across legal, marketing, finance, and investing
• Real relationships forged through intentional, high-value networking—not just business card exchanges

This is where substance meets strategy. Where conversations become collaborations. Where your SXSW journey starts with purpose.

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What To Expect

Kick off SXSW with a full day of programming, networking, and expert guidance designed to support and spotlight women driving the future of tech and entrepreneurship.

Robust Content

Strategic insights from founders and leaders who've raised millions, bootstrapped to success, scaled companies, and disrupted industries.

Access & Relationship Building

Don't just listen and learn - connect directly with panelists and industry/thought leaders through curated networking sessions.

Activations

Get an updated headshot complete with touch-ups, plot your 2030 future goals, sync 1:1 with speakers and experts and more throughout the day.

Giveaways

From 1:1 advisory sessions and marketing audits to community memberships and board strategy, get ready for some of the best giveaways at SXSW!

Speakers

Cate Luzio

CEO and Founder, Luminary

Melissa Wallace

Founder, Fierce Foundry; fivefoottwo Marketing

Aravinda Seshadri

Founding Partner, Venturous Counsel

KK Hart

Chief emPOWERment Officer, Ghost Democracy; Generational Growth

Tricia Taitt

Founder and CEO, Fincore

Sarah Foley

Managing Partner, InViNext Growth Capital

Sally Mueller

Co-Founder and CEO, Womaness

Randi Plevy

Founder, Angelhive

Michelle Adelman

Founder and CEO, Crossover Meats

Maribel Lara

Founder and Principal, BeGet Love Consulting

Lyanne Alfaro

Founder and CEO, Project Reliable

Katie Dunn

Founder, Masthead Strategies; Advisor, Investor

Esosa Ighodaro-Johnson

Co-Founder, Black Women Talk Tech

Breen Sullivan

Co-Founder, The Fourth Effect

Autumn Kyoko Cushman

Founder and CEO, ShiftRX

Suneera Madhani

Founder and CEO, Worth AI; CEO School

Regina Gwynn

Co-Founder, Black Women Talk Tech

Nomiki Petrolla

Founder, Theanna; Advisor; Investor

Maria Weaver

Founder and CEO, XO Maria Louise

Marcia Dawood

Host, Angel Next Door Podcast; Advisor; Investor

Margot Carter

President, Living Mountain Capital; Co-Founder, Cien.ai

Kat de Haen

Co-Founder, The Fourth Effect

Hillary Watson

Founder, Xmartlabs

Fernanda Carapinha

Founder, founderverse.ai

Carrie Kerpen

Founder and CEO, The Whisper Group

Andrea DeVos Abraham

Founder and CEO, Woosh Beauty

Luna Aziz

Founder, Legendary Milk

Agenda

9:00 AM - 9:20 AM

Networking & Breakfast

9:20 AM - 9:30 AM

Welcome Address

Entrepreneurship Track

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Fireside Chat - Building While Flying

Autumn Kyoko Cushman, Co-Founder and CEO, ShiftRX

Esosa Ighodaro, Co-Founder, Black Women Talk Tech

Michelle Adelman, Founder and CEO, Crossover Meats

Moderated by Dana Jacoby, CEO, Vector Medical Group

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

The Who, The What, The How [Operationalizing the Business for Growth]

Luna Aziz, Founder, Legendary Milk

Tricia Taitt, Founder and CEO, Fincore

HiIlary Watson, Founder, Xmartlabs

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Bootstrapping to Success

Maria Weaver, Founder and CEO, XO Maria Louise

Carrie Kerpen, Founder and CEO, The Whisper Group

Andrea DeVos Abraham, Founder and CEO, Woosh Beauty

Moderated by Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO, Luminary

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM

Table Talks

The Power of Networking with Katie Dunn

The Power of Community Building, Cate Luzio

Investing 101 with Randi Plevy and Marcia Darwood

Power of the Pitch with Regina Gwynn, HiIlary Watson, and Esosa Ighodaro

Why Invest in a Board with Breen Sullivan and Kat de Haen

12:15 PM - 1:00 PM

Lunch & Networking

Leadership Track

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM

Navigating Your Path

Margot Carter, President, Living Mountain Capital; Co-Founder, Cien.ai

Lyanne Alfaro, Founder and CEO, Project Reliable

Fernanda Carapinha, Founder, founderverse.ai

1:45 PM - 2:15 PM

Owning Your Personal Brand

Sally Mueller, Co-Founder and CEO, Womaness

Moderated by Julie Castro Adams, Managing Partner at How Women Invest and CEO of How Women Lead

2:15 PM - 2:45 PM

Leveraging AI To Power Forward

Funder/Investor Track

2:45 PM - 3:15 PM

Writing Your First Check

Katie Dunn, Founder, Masthead Strategies; Advisor, Investor

Marcia Dawood, HostHost, Angel Next Door Podcast; Advisor, Investor

Nomiki Petrolla, Founder, Theanna; Advisor, Investor

Moderated by Randi Plevy, Founder, Angelhive

3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

The Power of Your Team & Beyond

Aravinda Seshadri, Founding Partner, Venturous Capital

Melissa Wallace, Founder, Fierce Foundry; fivefoottwo Marketing

Breen Sullivan, Co-Founder, The Fourth Effect

3:45 PM - 4:30 PM

Building A Brand/Built with Purpose

Regina Gwynn, Co-Founder, Black Women Talk Tech

Sarah Foley, Managing Partner, InViNext Growth Capital

KK Hart, Chief emPOWERment Officer, Ghost Democracy; Generational Growth

Moderated by Maribel Lara, Founder and Principal, BeGet Love Consulting

4:30 PM - 4:45 PM

Hot Seat Rapid Fire

4:45 PM - 5:15 PM

Closing Remarks

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Cocktail Reception

Thank You to Our Sponsors

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Become a Sponsor

About The Hosts

Women Future Forward

Women Future Forward represents a united network of change-makers proving that when women lead, the future looks different and better. We’ve brought together some of the most ambitious women founders, seasoned investors, and influential ecosystem builders under one roof:

• Fifteen powerhouse women's organizations.

• Industry-shaping thought leaders.

• One goal: to create the connections, insight, and energy that carry you through SXSW and beyond.

Google

Google Cloud is the B2B technology & service division of Google, focusing on empowering Startups, Small Businesses & Enterprises with the best of Google. Cloud's mission is to accelerate every organization’s ability to digitally transform its business and industry. The portfolio includes productivity solutions such as Google Workspace, GCP for data center services, and Mandiant's cybersecurity offerings.