Women's Small Business Month

October is National Women’s Small Business Month and a great time to celebrate those women-owned businesses everywhere! This year marks 32 years since the passage of The Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 ending discrimination in lending and eliminating state laws requiring a woman to have a male cosigner for business loans. Women business owners now number more than 11.6 million in the United States and there’s no sign that their rapid growth will slow down in the years to come. These massive strides women are making in small business ownership call for celebration! 

Brainchild Studios is founded and owned by a woman and is operated by women and we try to pay it forward and support our fellow women entrepreneurs and business owners. This year, we launched the Brainchild Fund, a nonprofit initiative that we started to support women and girls in business and entrepreneurship. The Brainchild Fund provides grants to these women and girls to help them pursue their goals. When women in business and entrepreneurship flourish both society and the economy benefit.

We encourage you to use this month to show your appreciation for female small business owners that you admire. We’ve partnered with, featured, and supported numerous women small business owners over the last four years. Here's a sampling of some of those we especially adore!

Stephanie Melnick, President	Melnick & Melnick, S.C. :  We're a law firm of women for women. Our clients are entrepreneurs running businesses and keeping teams—at work and at home—moving forward, together.
Pia Silva, Partner Badass	Pia Silva: As a fellow know-it-all-preneur, one thing I know is you will never get the results you want until you set your business up for profit, with a brand to back it up.
Gwen Washington, Founder	Luv Talk: LUV Talk is a a website for women to share their experiences and gain knowledge from our gurus to have healthy relationships.
Susannah Lago, Founder & Owner	Style Up Group: A Milwaukee lifestyle company bringing style and ease to events, entertaining, and home.
Julie Novack, CEO & Co-Founder	PartySlate: Find the best venues and event professionals for any Wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Gala, or Corporate Event.
Victoria Haas, Founder	Affinity Accounting: Affinity Accounting is a Milwaukee-based public accounting firm focused on providing financial clarity. Our team of experts uses a proactive, transparent strategy – tailor-made to your goals – to streamline your accounting and transform your business. You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers.
Alexandra Frumberg, Founder	ALX Creatives: ALX Creatives is a full-service, strategically driven agency. Fueled by opportunity, creativity, community, and coffee. We have spent over a decade helping companies find their voice and build their communities online.
Michele Linn, Co-Founder	Mantis Research: Mantis Research helps marketers create, publish, and amplify original research they can use get attention and build an audience.
Reva Minkoff, Founder & President	Digital4Startups Inc.: Digital4Startups is a digital marketing consulting firm founded in 2012 specializing in marketing strategy, search engine marketing, analytics, and SEO. We help companies use their marketing budgets more efficiently while providing education along the way.
Donata Kalnenaite, President	Termageddon, LLC: Termageddon is the longest-running Privacy Policy generator listed as a vendor by the  International Association of Privacy Professionals (iapp.org). The company is founded and run by a licensed privacy attorney who also serves as the Vice Chair of the American Bar Association – ePrivacy Committee.
Ab Yang, CEO & Sports Massage Therapist	RPM Bodywork: RPM Bodywork specializes in treating sports injury and chronic pain.
Rachael Kay Albers, Digital Strategist & Business Comedian	RKA Ink: This is RKA ink, the reinvention studio for businesses that burn the rulebook. Go ahead. Be the topic of conversation.
Jessica Bell, President	HaloVino: Enjoy wine anywhere you go with our plastic stackable wine glasses that optimize taste.
Lynette Xanders, CEO & Chief Strategist	Wild Alchemy: Wild Alchemy gives creative people and companies the tools to create something amazing. Ostensibly creating gold from lead.
Beth Ridley, Founder & CEO	The Brimful Life: The Brimful Life is here to help your organization thrive in all times by putting people and culture first.
Alex Wehrley, Founder, TV Host & Executive Producer	Empowerista: Female Founders Are Killin' It. play. Redefining the female sports fan. play. Zig where others zag | #Empowerista. play.
Jamie Andrzejewski, Founder & Owner	Nourish Natural Products: High-Quality Natural Beauty & Wellness Products. No Fillers or Synthentic Ingredients. Ever. Handmade Daily in Small Batches.
Alexa Alfaro, Co-Founder	Meat on the Street: Meat on the Street is a Filipino food truck in Milwaukee serving - you guessed it - Filipino infused meats (and vegan options!) for the hungry food truck.
Maggie Joos, Owner	The Real Good Life: Each week we offer a nutritious menu of creative entrees and healthy side dishes focusing on family favorites and seasonal ingredients. Also, we promise to always have a gooey dessert on the menu. Yep, we believe there is a place for flour, sugar, cheese, and meat in a well-rounded diet. It’s all about balance, no?
Kristina Mousseau, Owner	Musso Creative: Provide marketing services for local small businesses, new entrepreneurs, and nonprofits.
Katie Daly Weiss, Owner	Big White Yeti: Small Batch Soy Candles Handcrafted in Milwaukee.
Katherine Ramirez, CEO	adBidtise: adBidtise is among the top marketing firms and advertising agencies in Milwaukee.
Molly Sullivan, Owner & Founder	Miss Molly's Cafe: A cozy neighborhood cafe that specializes in fresh, seasonally inspired meals and scratch-made bakery served by people who care about the food we make and the people we feed.
Christiana Trapani, Owner	Door County Delivered: Door County Delivered is a service delivering Door County products to your doorstep! Boxes include seasonal subscriptions, gifts, weddings, and hospitality.
Dana McIntosh, Owner	Urbaine Oasis Spa Boutique: Urbaine Oasis Spa Boutique is committed to providing Five Star customer service while maintaining the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct. We stay current on the latest technology and skin care industry trends, while providing guests a tranquil setting to escape the hustles of life.
Gini Dietrich, CEO	Spin Sucks: Professional development and training for communicators. Learn new skills, stay sharp, and keep up on social media trends.
Sarah Nelson, Co-Owner	The Ruby Tap: The Ruby Tap is Milwaukee's neighborhood wine bar featuring self-serve wine machines and wines on tap. Yeah, we said self-serve wine machines.
Inge Plautz, Co-Founder & CEO	PumpHero: The only mobile app and resource curated for the on-the-go breastfeeding mom. Connecting her to vetted PumpSites, safe, clean, and comfortable locations.
Betty Allen, Owner	Seadog Creative: Specialize in video post-production - offering editing, sound design, and 2D animation services.
Nadeena Granville, CEO & Content Creator	Gaining Visuals: Gaining Visuals is a creative agency based in Milwaukee, WI. We help startups and small businesses build their brand.
Adrienne Shea, Owner	Little Sprouts Play Cafe: At Little Sprouts Play Cafe, we inspire imaginations and caffeinate parents.
LeAnn Conway, CEO / Image Consultant & Speaker	Conway Image Consulting: Conway Image Consulting is happy to serve clients in the Greater Milwaukee Area and Chicago. We also offer virtual services to US based clients.
Megan Pazdera, Owner & Personal Trainer	High Def Health: Private functional training fitness studio dedicated to helping you feel confident in your bodies and in life.
Katy Lynch, Co-Founder and CMO	Codeverse: Change the world with code. Codeverse helps bring your kid's ideas to life through 1:1 virtual coding sessions.
Cayla Weisberg, Partner	InvestHER Ventures: Investing in and promoting the well-being and potential of women and girls.
Ari Krzyzek, Co-Founder & Creative Director	Chykalophia: We're a creative and technology agency that gets excited about social, cultural impact, and innovation with data and tech along with visionaries behind them.
Holly Glowaty, Founder	K+H Connection:  K+H Connection is a leading gift card consulting firm supporting specialty, ecommerce, and premium merchants who are ready to see their brands grow.
Kristen Stoner, Wordsmith Wonder & Inspiration Creator	Girls Can! Crate: A monthly subscription box for fearless girls delivering empowering and inspiring women's history and hands-on STEAM fun!
Brigette Breitenbach, Principal	B&Co:  B& Co is a full-service branding and marketing communications firm specializing in hospitality.
Tyshun Wardlaw, Owner, Director & Producer	Wardlaw Productions: We are a film and television production company owned and operated by millennials. Our core objective is working closely with our clients to develop a renewed focus on collaboration, creativity, and productivity by creating compelling media content to empower and inspire others.
Kaitlin Reimann, Co-Founder	uBack: uBack is a mobile fintech company that is revolutionizing the way we give, offering companies, nonprofits, and individual donors with the power to change the world in 8 seconds.
Lori J. Highby, President/Owner	Keystone Click: Digital marketing agency located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Drupal website design and development experts.
Becky Carroll, President & CEO	C-Strategies, LLC: C-Strategies LLC is a strategic communications and public affairs firm whose leadership has served on the front lines of major public policy, advocacy, and political campaigns in Chicago and Illinois for nearly two decades.
Terri Brax, Founder & CEO	Teacher Care: Everything we can to make sure your child receives exceptional care and enrichment. Women Tech Founders: Women Tech Founders advances women in technology through events. We are startup entrepreneurs, students, leaders, and investors in women.
Angela Quigley, Co-Owner	Married In Milwaukee: Milwaukee's top wedding blog - research your wedding vendors, trends, and more.
Kristi Ross, Co-CEO & President	tastytrade: tastytrade is not in the business of transacting securities trades, nor does it direct client commodity accounts or give commodity trading advice
Jill Salzman, Founder	The Founding Moms: The world's first and only collective of offline masterminds and online resources for mom entrepreneurs.
Minda Harts, Founder & CEO	The Memo: The Memo is devoted to helping women of color to take control over their careers by providing access to important resources and real-world advice on their career development.
Jody Michael, Executive Coach, CEO & Founder	Jody Michael Associates: Jody Michael Associates is an executive, career, and wellness coaching company. Since 1997, we've had one goal: helping clients achieve theirs.
Rachel Howe, Owner	Bite-Sized Media: Bite-Sized Media is a Milwaukee marketing agency that helps you rank on Google and win customers online with bite-sized strategies for incremental growth.
Lisa Nation, Co-Founder	LISA App: Bringing self-care services to work. We help your people look good, feel good, and work better.
Nydia Maurás-Jones, Partner	Odvant Creative, LLC: Odvant focuses your purpose into a brand. Odvant focuses your purpose into a brand. We provide worry-free branding and outcome-focused fun.
Brittany Chibe, Founder/Owner	Within / Without: Within/Without makes grain-free granola that's delicious and nutritious. Shop grain-free granola for Paleo, Keto and other special diets today!
Mel Husk, Founder & Financial Planner	MEL Consulting Co.: Chicago Financial Advisor. Helping your finances grow.
Andi Woodward, Owner	Seadog Creative: Specialize in video post-production - offering editing, sound design, and 2D animation services.
Theresa  Nemetz, Founder	Milwaukee Food & City Tours:  Book your Milwaukee Food Tour from a variety of options with historic neighborhoods, delicious eats, and cultural hotspots led by our local tour guide.
Morgan Phelps, Founder & Owner	Colorful Connections: Colorful Connections helps organizations and people become better versions of themselves, while supporting the advancement of the underrepresented.

Shiloh Caffrey, Owner & CEO

We Drink Bubbles  : A sparkling wine club featuring premium, hand-crafted, small batch champagnes and unique sparkling wines from around the world.

Elizabeth Rees, Founder

Chasing Paper : Variety of beautiful, well designed wallpaper that sticks to nearly any surface. Chasing Paper makes interior design accessible and functional.

Stephanie Ciatti, Founder

Babble Books  : Developed by a speech language pathologist and mom, Babble Books is a developmentally appropriate series of books that foster speech and language.

Brenda Malinki, Founder & CEO

Nango Malinki Consulting : Freelance Sales Coaching. I love coaching, especially sales. And I am good at it. Sales Coaching & Business Development Specialist.

Barbara Doran, CEO & CIO

BD8 Capital Investments : Provides comprehensive, independent and highly customized wealth advisory services, asset allocation, portfolio construction and investment management services.

If that sounds interesting to you, sign up for our four-part webinar where we’ll be exploring our findings and have amazing all-women panelists to talk about all things lady biz!

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