Women building the future

An 8-part series featuring founders and change-makers, sponsored by Project Entrepreneur, a program by UBS.

Founded By event series hero image showing event hosts and logos

About the Series

It’s 2020, and the workplace is still a deeply inequitable space for women. Women of color are starting businesses at a higher rate than any other group in the United States, and yet they receive a tiny fraction of overall funding. The gender wage gap persists. 

That’s why The Riveter teamed up with Project Entrepreneur, a program by UBS, to support female founders!  Over a thousand founders, business owners, and socially-conscious consumers came together to share insights and discuss their work championing equity in a meaningful and lasting way.

Missed a couple of events along the way or looking to rewatch your favorite moments from the series? Every episode of Founded By is available to replay!

All episodes were moderated by Ann Shoket, author of The Big Life and former editor-in-chief of Seventeen magazine. 

Watch the Recap

8 Key Learnings from the Founded By Series

Portrait of Ann Shoket

Read author Ann Shoket’s lessons and takeaways from the series.

The 8-part Event Series

How To Change The World: Female Founders and Investors Building Solutions for Systems Change

June 25th Event
Playing by the rules to change the rules is an outdated notion — the entire system needs an overhaul. Courtney Leimkuhler, Co-founder of Springbank Collective, and Nnena Ukuku, CEO of 5/3 Solution, tell us how they are working on systemic change.

Meet the Experts: Grow, Market and Brand Your Business

June 18th Event
Chanel Cathey, Founder and CEO of CJC Insights, and Sarika Doshi, Founder of Rank and Style, share practical and strategic advice for founders looking to build meaningful partnerships and authentically align their brands with like-minded companies.

What’s Next? Meet the Black Female Founders Shaping Retail and Media

June 11th Event
Chana Ginelle Ewing, Founder of GEENIE and author of An ABC of Equality, and Kori Hale, CEO and Co-Founder of CultureBanx, tell us how they are disrupting generations-old industries like retail and media to center the Black community.

How to Build Community and Show Up for Each Other as Allies and Advocates

June 4th Event
Protests and demonstrations against systemic racism are moving each of us to examine our every-day work and better show up for racial justice in the workplace. Listen to Dee Poku-Spalding of WIE Network, Bea Arthur of The Difference, and Giovanna Gray Lockhart of The Riveter as they discuss how.

Investors Unfiltered: Insider Strategies for Entrepreneurship

May 28th Event
Ita Ekpoudom, Partner at venture capital firm GingerBread Capital, and Angela Lee, educator, entrepreneur, and founder of 37 Angels, dive into predictions for the post-COVID-19 capital landscape and how to prepare now to conquer a post-COVID-19 world later.

A Masterclass in Money and Power with Arlan Hamilton & Alli McCartney

May 21st Event
Arlan Hamilton, Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, and Alli McCartney, Managing Director at UBS, know a thing or two about harnessing your power and using it to propel the change you want to see.

The Female Founder Support System: What to Know About Getting the Financial Support You Need

May 14th Event
Elizabeth Gore, Co-Founder and President of Hello Alice, and Jeeho Lee, Partner at O’Melveney & Myers, share small business resources for getting through tough times — and for deciding when to close up shop.

The Founder’s Journey with Jamie Sears and Amy Nelson

May 7th Event
Jamie Sears, Head of Community Affairs and Corporate Responsibility for UBS, and Amy Nelson, Founder and CEO of The Riveter, tackle business challenges, pivots, and triumphs in the time of COVID-19.

Resources for Entrepreneurs

PJT Entrepreneur to provide

About Project Entrepreneur 

Project Entrepreneur accelerates the growth of female-founded companies by increasing their investment readiness, building bridges to capital, and investing in ecosystems that empower our most innovative entrepreneurs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT ENTREPRENEUR, a program by UBS.



“Our power is ours to disseminate and push forth our values.”


Arlan Hamilton
Managing Partner, Backstage Capital
Author of It’s About Damn Time