We’re celebrating International Women’s Day! Join us for a panel discussion with local female entrepreneurs who are making an impact in the St. Louis community and beyond. Come hear their founder stories and learn about how they have each grown their startups. Stick around after the panel for networking and sweet treats. We welcome anyone with a company, an idea, or simply an interest in entrepreneurship to join us!

Rachel Burns, Owner, Bold Spoon Creamery 

Rachel began Bold Spoon Creamery in 2020, with the first sale on May 2, 2020. Bold Spoon makes small batch super premium ice cream with a focus on sourcing local ingredients and creating imaginative flavor profiles. In May 2021, Bold Spoon’s home moved to a 57-acre farm in Park Hills, MO, in a barn converted into a commercial kitchen. Big gardens and a growing orchard just outside of the kitchen door will provide many of the fruits and herbs used in the ice cream, a true farm to bowl brand.

Rachel began a career in something very different from ice cream, she has over 20-years of experience in financial services. Rachel is also a corporate investment consultant and helps large corporations with the investment strategy and implementation within their Defined Contribution and Pension Plans.

Murielle Gaither, Founder & CEO, Venku

As part of an entrepreneurial family, Murielle gained her passion for business, an endless curiosity and her natural ability to network and make connections early in life. She is a do-er, with the ability to transform vision into reality through years of experience with strategic planning, goal-setting and rallying her team and stakeholders around a unified calling.

She is a natural fit as leader for Venku, the outdoor experience marketplace founded in July 2020. Years of management experience coupled with her gift for storytelling enable her to represent and advocate for the hundreds of guides, outfitters and private landowners who serve as the backbone of the platform. As a company rooted in a love for the outdoors, Venku works hard to bring America together through authentic outdoor adventures.

A variety of experiences can be discovered and booked through the site, including: guided, self-guided and all-inclusive hunting adventures, eco-tours, fishing trips, wilderness camping and curated glamping getaways. Venku hosts hail from every state, with listings readily available for the everyday adventurer.

Michelle Robinson, Founder of DEMIblue™ Clean and Vegan Nail Polish

Michelle has serviced the St. Louis healthcare system at Washington University as a Clinical Administrator for over 11 years, and served as a Proprietary Educator for 10 years. Her journey with the creation of DEMIblue Nail Polish was started as a desire to help her cancer-surviving mom through the creation of this personal nail polish brand. DEMIblue is now disrupting the nail care industry by not only educating women of the toxic chemicals found in many conventional brands and offering a healthier choice, but gaining retail placement as one of a few African American Female owned nail polish brands across the nation to do so.

Michelle has an M.B.A. in Business Administration, a MBA in Managerial Science, a B.A. in Organizational Development, is a Registered Medical Assistant and Licensed Manicurist. DEMIblue was awarded the 2020 Beauty Brand of the Year Award Winner and has earned over $100K business grants.

Join us at the Skandalaris Center!