Building a purpose-driven brand often starts with a pivotal moment—an experience that sparks a desire for change. 

From tackling the challenges of sustainable clothing to reshaping postnatal care, these female founders have turned those moments into brands that strive to make a meaningful impact.

They’ve leveraged their insights to create companies with a higher purpose, whether it’s promoting mindful consumption or offering customizable, science-backed services. 

Join us as we explore their stories and how their journeys shaped their brands and continue to guide their decisions today. 

Ila Corcoran – Sengo

Experiencing the exclusivity of private investing motivated me to bring back community finance.

Sengo is a fintech platform designed to democratize capital access for founders while empowering everyday investors to participate in high-value crowdfunding opportunities by combining curated events, an innovative investment hub, and data-driven impact measurements, and is led by Ila Corcoran.

“As a Black woman, my experience in private equity opened my eyes to the exclusivity of private investing. My community, along with unaccredited investors as a whole, is often locked out of opportunities that could ultimately transform financial futures.

This inequity continues to grow as more companies choose to remain private, limiting wealth-building for the average person relying on the stock market. Similarly, as a founder, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges of fundraising in an ecosystem that consistently underallocates capital to BIPOC businesses.

I want to bring back traditional community finance, which emphasizes pooling resources for collective benefit while creating accessibility for both founders and funders.

Sengo isn’t just about democratizing access to private markets—it’s about rebuilding the collective bonds that enable meaningful investment and mutual aid possible.”

Michelle Stevens – The Refill Shoppe

Growing up in nature sparked my love for the environment.

The Refill Shoppe offers more than 80 custom scentable bath, body, home, beauty refills in-store or shipped right to your door, and is led by Michelle Stevens.

“Growing up on a sailboat on the bayou in Louisiana catching minnows for my pet duck, sailing through crystal clear waters in the Florida Keys, and mucking about in the Everglades during summer camp instilled a deep love for the environment at an early age.

We only have so much life energy and a finite amount of time on this planet, so I wanted to put my energy into something I believed in. In 2010, I had this wild idea for The Refill Shoppe® and couldn’t find anyone doing anything like it.

I decided to combine my love of ideas and innovation with my passion for making a difference.

These early experiences continue to influence every decision at The Refill Shoppe®, especially when it comes to ensuring we are always living up to the idea behind the scenes; just like when I had to be mindful of resources when living on a sailboat.”

Uchenna Ngwudo – Cee Cee’s Closet NYC

Seeing the gap in empowering spaces within fashion inspired me to create one.

Cee Cee’s Closet NYC is a vibrant, African-inspired brand that creates headwraps, clothing, body care, and home design, and is led by Uchenna Ngwudo.

“Growing up in Brooklyn, surrounded by the vibrancy of West African culture, I witnessed both its beauty and the challenges faced by immigrant communities.

A transformative trip to Nigeria as a young adult solidified my vision—captivated by the country’s warmth and traditions but struck by its economic struggles, I was inspired to create Cee Cee’s Closet NYC.

Through fashion and entrepreneurship, I aimed to celebrate West African culture while making a positive impact in both Nigeria and my Brooklyn community. I’m dedicated to serving others by offering high-quality products and fostering a space where every woman feels like a queen.”

Stephanie Barchetti – Innermore

Witnessing healthcare struggles motivated me to find a solution.

Innermore is a health-education platform that leverages AI to help individuals build advocacy skills and make informed health decisions, and is led by Stephanie Barchetti.

“My personal experiences observing how people navigate the healthcare system inspired the mission behind Innermore.

Witnessing firsthand the overwhelm and uncertainty people felt when trying to make informed decisions about their well-being crystallized the need for a more personalized, empowering solution.

Those hands-on observations of the importance of connection and customization continue to guide every decision I make.

I want to ensure Innermore stays true to its vision of equipping consumers with the knowledge and tools to take charge of their health journeys.”

Marianna Sachse – Jackalo

Frustration with unsustainable kids’ clothes drove me to create long-lasting options.

Jackalo is America’s first circular children’s clothing brand, breaking the fashion-to-landfill cycle with long-lasting designs that are bought back, renewed, resold, or responsibly recycled, and led by Marianna Sachse.

“As a mother, I struggled to find durable, sustainable clothing for my children that could withstand their active lives without contributing to the growing problem of textile waste.

That frustration inspired me to create Jackalo. My experience as a parent continues to shape every decision I make. I’m committed to reducing waste and providing families with better, more responsible choices for their children.”

Jenny Hanh Nguyen – Y’OUR Skin

Skincare struggles led me to create a science-back skincare brand.

Y’OUR Skin offers personalized skincare systems powered by data science and human expertise, using clean and proven ingredients, and is led by Jenny Hanh Nguyen.

“As someone who has battled acne for as long as I can remember, I knew firsthand the emotional toll that skin issues can take on confidence. My co-founder, a data scientist, also faced challenges finding effective, non-toxic products for her combination skin.

We both wanted to build a brand focused not on hype but on real, science-backed results and personalized care. Our past struggles with finding trustworthy skincare still shape our decisions today—from product development to quality control.

It pushes us to innovate, improve our algorithms, source clean and effective ingredients, and always prioritize our customers’ needs. Our mission is to help people feel confident in their own skin, which guides everything we do from product creation to customer experience.”

Amina Cush – Nurture Postnatal Care

Late-term pregnancy loss inspired me to support fellow mothers.

Nurture Postnatal Care is a wellness tech company that provides culturally competent, postnatal support, and is led by Amina Cush.

“My experience with late-term pregnancy loss profoundly shaped my mission to create Nurture Postnatal Care. Navigating my own postpartum journey highlighted the need for culturally competent care, which drives my commitment to ensuring every birthing person receives comprehensive, personalized support.

This experience continues to influence my decisions, from developing our offerings to fostering partnerships with like-minded organizations that prioritize equity and holistic well-being.”