Why we’re doing this.

As female founders of early-stage startups, we were experiencing a lot of the same pain points while building our scaleable businesses in women's health and wellness. Examples include lack of funding, male-heavy mentorship, relocation requirements for accelerator programs, child-rearing obstacles, and frustrating conversations with “business experts” who were NOT experts in women’s ideas.

Once we determined these similar experiences and were unable to provide solutions to them for ourselves or each other, we felt compelled to take action to prevent similar hurdles for fellow fempreneurs who want to make a major impact in the femhealth space.

We’re excited to roll up our sleeves and get to work with our partners throughout the region to make this a success throughout the heartland and beyond. Join us as we create a more welcoming eco-system for femhealth founders in the heartland.

Our Founders

CLICK PHOTO TO CONNECT W/ NATALIE ON LINKEDIN

CLICK PHOTO TO CONNECT W/ ELIZABETH ON LINKEDIN

CLICK PHOTO TO CONNECT W/ APRIL ON LINKEDIN

  • Co-Founder, FemHealth Founders; Founder & CEO, EmployWell

    Natalie Shew is the founder and CEO of EmployWell Inc., a Healthcare Engagement Platform to recognize, reward, and retain nurses with ease. Our mission is to dignify healthcare teams through meaningful connection. Natalie started the company after years of frustrating healthcare experiences as an Endometriosis and Infertility patient.

    Natalie is a 3x small business founder who enjoys building people-focused companies. She loves exploring new cultures and has lived in France, Afghanistan, Iraq, and India. Amidst founding startups, she has worked in retail, education, fundraising, international NGOs, and corporate manufacturing. Natalie has spent much of her adulthood working to improve education around women’s health conditions while advocating for better research, funding, and healthcare innovation for women. Her driving purpose is building a world where women have equal opportunity to live healthy and prosperous lives.

    Click on her photo to connect on LinkedIn.

  • Co-Founder FemHealth Founders; Founder & CEO, Assicle

    Elizabeth Prenger founded Assicle when she saw the massive lack of innovation in the postpartum CPG space. Birthing people today demand better options for their postpartum healing. a reusable cold/warm compress anatomically designed for the female body to provide relief from tearing, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and other ailments resulting from childbirth.

    Designed by women, including a double-board certified OBGYN, our patent-pending product is made of soft, flexible, silicone and can be frozen or heated depending on mom’s healing needs. It’s easy to use, easy to clean, and easy to talk about. Along with helping women feel better, the Assicle gives women a humorous approach to a topic that might be hard to discuss.

    Elizabeth is also the owner of branding firm Prose Creative which helps companies connect with their consumers through authentic content and storytelling strategies. With more than 15 years of leading marketing, public relations, communications, and fundraising strategies in the for-profit, nonprofit, startup, and political sectors, Elizabeth uses her skills in branding and storytelling to reach her consumers.

    Click her photo above to follow on LinkedIn.

  • Co-Founder, FemHealth Founders; Founder & CEO, femPAQ

    April is the founder and CEO of femPAQ Inc. where we take the oops out of unexpected periods, by providing accessible period care in every space menstruating people exist. Our mission is to improve Womxn’s Health through products, policies and storytelling. April is a Zane Access Best in Class Spr’ 22 grad, A GAN Founder, a multi-pitch winner, global accelerator winner and a period warrior and an advocate for Menstrual Equity. She has partnered with other local organizations to help push for change through legislation and advocacy. April has a degree in Fine Arts with a background in Design with over 10 years of product development experience. She is a champion and advocate for Women's Health through mentorship and speaking engagements like the Northwest Arkansas Women's Business Conference as well as a speaker for the ASBTDC AccelHerate NEA because Womxn’s Health is everyone's health. Period!

    Click her photo above to follow on LinkedIn.

“As women gain rights, families flourish, and so do societies. That connection is built on a simple truth: Whenever you include a group that's been excluded, you benefit everyone. And when you're working globally to include women and girls, who are half of every population, you're working to benefit all members of every community. Gender equity lifts everyone. Women's rights and society's health and wealth rise together.”

Melinda Gates, The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World