Fierce Foundry, The Femtech Venture Studio

The Fierce Founders Fund is the nonprofit arm of Fierce Foundry, dedicated to closing the global funding gap for women-led innovations in FemTech. While Fierce Foundry drives venture studio efforts to co-found startups and guide founders through each stage of growth, the Fierce Founders Fund focuses on enabling early-stage female entrepreneurs by providing essential resources at no cost. This fund supports key services—like market research and product design—empowering founders to build beta products, test market fit, scale through structured growth plans, and receive long-term support for fundraising, HR development, and legal guidance for successful exits. By championing female founders from idea to impact, the Fierce Founders Fund not only fosters groundbreaking solutions in women’s health but also creates an investment flywheel that paves the way for future innovators.

Here's what we've accomplished in the last year with NO FUNDING:

• Met with over 100 brilliant partners
• Interviewed over 50 potential Foundry Founders
• Explored over 80 FemTech company ideas
• Held two all-female hackathons (FemTech)
• Hosted five Female Founder and Funder Networking Events
• 13 Press Features (See below for most recent and link to all)
• Raised $150,000 in initial operating capital
• Printed and distributed over 500 shirts, bags, buttons and magnets

Our Team

Melissa Wallace

CEO and Founding Partner

Known for her exceptional track record in revitalizing and propelling the marketing strategies of numerous startups, notably Buddy Media, which was acquired by Salesforce.com for $750M at just four years old.

 

Elizabeth PrengerHead of Experience & Founding Partner

 

A multi-femtech founder and advisor to emerging women's health-focused startups. She is the creator of an innovative postpartum recovery product called the Assicle.

 

Katie Dunn

Fundraising Director

 

Spent 25+ years financing over $10B in commercial real estate for various banks and financial institutions. Now pivoted to focusing on global angel investment portfolio and helping founders get funded faster.

 

Theresa NeilProduct Development

 

Recognized as a "Top Designer in Technology" by Business Insider and "Trailblazer" by Women of Wearables. O'Reilly author and founder of Guidea, a , women-led product design company specializing in medtech and digital health innovation.

 

Karen Li

Fundraising & Events

 

Dynamic Gen-Z entrepreneur and advocate for women, founder of a cutting-edge media production startup serving clients like NVIDIA and Coca-Cola, with strategic experience at Fortune 500 companies and top marketing agencies.

 

Leslee CohenStartup, M&A and Corporate Lawyer

 

25+ years experience as a corporate and securities lawyer at large law firms. Trained at Wall Street securities boutique firm. Co-Founded Chicago Women's Legal Organization.

 

Kristi DelozierStudio Operations

 

Startup and studio ecosystem expert. Formerly Techstars and High Alpha Innovation.

 

Danelle DiLiberoHR & Talent

 

Transformed talent acquisition operations and built centralized human resources functions as member of Global HR Leadership teams. Formerly Goldman Sachs, BCG, ONDeck and Anova.

 

Katie SchueleStartup Operations

 

Currently co-founder of Boostr. Former Time Inc., Yahoo and IBM.