---
title: Women Future Forward
---
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-1.png?width=1600&height=700&name=Women%20Future%20Forward%20(3)-1.png "Women Future Forward (3)-1")
## REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
# 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
•Giveaways throughout the day (you'll need to be in the room to win) including 1:1 advisory sessions, marketing audits, memberships, company valuations, and more!
This is where substance meets strategy. Where conversations become collaborations. Where your SXSW journey starts with purpose.
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Days
Hours
Minutes
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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
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## Aravinda Seshadri
Founding Partner, Venturous Counsel
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## KK Hart
Chief emPOWERment Officer, Ghost Democracy; Generational Growth
-
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## Tricia Taitt
Founder and CEO, Fincore
-
## Sarah Foley
Managing Partner, InViNext Growth Capital
-
-Feb-06-2026-04-14-12-6434-PM.png?width=480&height=480&name=HUBSPOT%20ASSETS%20Headshots%20%20160x160%20(1)-Feb-06-2026-04-14-12-6434-PM.png)
## Michelle Jacobs
Co-Founder and COO, Womaness
-
-Jan-29-2026-09-48-23-6321-PM.png?width=500&height=500&name=HUBSPOT%20ASSETS%20Headshots%20%20160x160%20(1)-Jan-29-2026-09-48-23-6321-PM.png)
## Randi Plevy
Founder, Angelhive
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## Michelle Adelman
Founder and CEO, Crossover Meats
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## Maribel Lara
Founder and Principal, BeGet Love Consulting
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## Lyanne Alfaro
Founder and CEO, Project Reliable
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## Katie Dunn
Founder, Masthead Strategies; Advisor, Investor
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## Jessica Wong
Founder and CEO, Yorkseed
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## Breen Sullivan
Co-Founder, The Fourth Effect
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## Autumn Kyoko Cushman
Founder and CEO, ShiftRX
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## Regina Gwynn
Co-Founder, Black Women Talk Tech
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## Maria Weaver
Founder, XO Maria Louise & MD, Oaklins
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## Marcia Dawood
Host, Angel Next Door Podcast; Advisor; Investor
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## Margot Carter
President, Living Mountain Capital; Co-Founder, Cien.ai
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## Kat de Haen
Co-Founder, The Fourth Effect
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## Hillary Watson
GTM Strategist, Xmartlabs
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## Fernanda Carapinha
Founder, founderverse.ai
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## Carrie Kerpen
Founder and CEO, The Whisper Group
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## Suneera Madhani
Founder and CEO, Worth AI; Founder and CEO, Stax (Exited)
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## Andrea DeVos Abraham
Founder and CEO, Woosh Beauty
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## Luna Aziz
Founder, Legendary Milk
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## Kristin Thomas
Founder and CEO, Marble Collective
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## Corinne Goble
CEO, Association of Women’s Business Centers
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## Sara Brand
Founding General Partner, True Wealth Ventures
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## Julie Castro Adams
Managing Partner at How Women Invest and CEO of How Women Lead
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## Robyn Siers
Co-Founder of Speed M&A, Partner at JonesSpross
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## Sarah Fillmore
VP of Partnerships, Justworks
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## Andrew Smith
Customer Engineer, Startups, Google Cloud
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## Sophia Falco
Field Sales, Early Stage Startups, Google Cloud
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## Shwetha Mallya
Customer Engineering Leader, Early Stage Startups, Google Cloud
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## Evelyn Kim
Manager, EisnerAmper
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## Ryan Keating
Partner, EisnerAmper
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## Agenda
9:00 AM - 9:20 AM
Networking & Breakfast
9:20 AM - 9:30 AM
Welcome Address
Sarah Fillmore, VP of Partnerships, Justworks
- Matt Gaither, Field Sales Leader, Early Stage Startups, Google Cloud
---
## Entrepreneurship Track
---
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Fireside Chat - Building While Flying
**Autumn Kyoko Cushman, **Co-Founder and CEO, ShiftRX
**Jessica Wong****, Founder and CEO, Yorkseed**
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**
Corinne Goble**, CEO, Association of Women’s Business Centers**
Robyn Siers, Co-Founder of Speed M&A, Partner at JonesSpross
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Bootstrapping to Success
**Maria Weaver, **Founder, XO Maria Louise & MD, Oaklins
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 Dawood
Power of the Pitch with Regina Gwynn and HiIlary Watson
Why Invest in a Board** with Breen Sullivan **and** Kat de Haen**
The Tough Decisions That Drive Scale with** Ryan Keating**
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**
**Moderated by **Kristin Thomas**, Founder and CEO, Marble Collective**
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM
Owning Your Personal Brand
**Michelle Jacobs, **Co-Founder and COO, Womaness
Moderated by Julie Castro Adams**, ****Managing Partner at How Women Invest and CEO of How Women Lead**
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Google AI for Business & Technical Leaders
- Andrew Smith, Customer Engineer, Startups, Google Cloud
- Sophia Falco, Field Sales, Early Stage Startups, Google Cloud
---
## 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**
Regina Gwynn, Co-Founder, Black Women Talk Tech
**Moderated by **Randi Plevy**, Founder, Angelhive**
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
The Power of Your Team & Beyond
Aravinda Seshadri, Founding Partner, Venturous Counsel
Ryan Keating, Partner, Eisner Advisory Group, EisnerAmper
Breen Sullivan**, Co-Founder, The Fourth Effect**
**Moderated by **Melissa Wallace**, Founder, Fierce Foundry; Fivefoottwo Marketing**
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM
Building A Brand/Built with Purpose
Sarah Foley**, Managing Partner, InViNext Growth Capital**
KK Hart**, Chief emPOWERment Officer, Ghost Democracy; Generational Growth**
Sara Brand,** Founding General Partner, True Wealth Ventures**
**Moderated by **Maribel Lara**, Founder and Principal, BeGet Love Consulting **
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
In Conversation With
Suneera Madhani, Founder and CEO, Worth AI; Founder and CEO, Stax (Exited)
Cate Luzio**, Founder and CEO, Luminary**
5:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Closing Remarks
Shwetha Mallya, Customer Engineering Leader, Early Stage Startups, Google Cloud
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Cocktail Reception
# Thank You to Our Sponsors
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[.png?width=150&height=61&name=Founderverse_Vert_Black%20(1).png "Founderverse_Vert_Black (1)")](https://www.founderverse.ai/)
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[-2.png?width=200&height=54&name=image%20(2)-2.png "image (2)-2")](https://www.shoott.com/)
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## In Partnership with Justworks
Justworks is an HR technology company that aims to level the playing field for small businesses. We offer a range of global HR and payroll products and services that simplify the complexities of running a business, including access to benefits, multi-state employer-related compliance concerns, and international hiring solutions.
## We have an exclusive offer for Women Future Forward attendees - 3 months free! Learn more [here](http://justworks.com/lp/sxsw?utm_source=events&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=fy26_events&utm_id=4ZN1YC&utm_content=central_austin_SXSW_promo_luminary_WomenFutureForward_mar11).
# 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.