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MAIA Community

The 1st Free Access Women-Owned Business Directory in the United States

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Project Description

MAIA.community is a resource that connects fired up consumers with women business owners.

Women influence or control trillions of dollars spent in the U.S. annually. We have immense authority to use our money with purpose and affect change. MAIA gives you access to millions of woman-owned business across the country, so you’ll be able to do exactly that. 

For Founder, Kateri Ruiz, 5 of the 6 people in her household are female - 83%

With four young and impressionable daughters, Kateri and her husband started to ask themselves if they were showing their girls a world where women had equal representation–and could they prove it. They started to pay attention to the things they did as a family and came up with a personal challenge. 83% of the things they bought, the things they watched, the things they did, or played, should be done or made by women or be done in the image of women.  The result to date? Impossible. There wasn't a single resource that helped her identify where she could find and support woman-owned businesses quickly for a busy human being.

 

83percent

From this brainchild, MAIA became a personal mission to raise awareness of women's influence on the economy.

Women Are 50.8% of the Population

Currently there are approximately 165M females and 160M males. From a consumer point of view, population size is pretty big. Did you know that women influence or control 73% of the household spend in the United States which is valued around $11.2 trillion dollars.

 

11.2Trillion (1)


What Do You Value?

For us personally, we value gender equality at the highest levels of leadership, so women are involved equally in the ideation, creation and decision making so our products, our services, and our solutions have the potential to truly represent all of us.  If women are not equally at the table, women’s perspectives will not be present in the product, service or solution.

We want to show girls a world where women have equal representation, we believe every child should be able to self-actualize their greatness through their own imagery.  We want to be the change.

By providing this free Woman-Owned Business Directory, you'll have access to 10 million woman-owned businesses across the country. This is your woman lens. Looking for a coffee shop with your girlfriends? How about a plumber? Maybe you’re a business owner and you need a new website development firm. Or, you’re a new college grad and you want to go work for one of the top woman-owned architecture companies in the country. The way you use the directory is limitless.

 

We're in production!Preview Coming Soon (2)

The Directory

Envision a directory that allows you to search for your specific need – an accountant, a clothing store, a restaurant, a mechanic – you'll be able to search by location, category, keyword, business name, or intersectionality to name just a few. Do you have an idea on what you'd like to see as a Woman-owned business or as a consumer/user? Send an email to [email protected]

Whether you're a consumer looking to support woman-owned businesses, or you're a woman business owner, we ask you to join the movement and be a part of the MAIA Change.

Do you want your purchasing power to align with your values?  Is equality an idea, a law to reference when it’s convenient, or is it something we should be able to act upon and more importantly, prove. Our directory enables your women-conscious decisions.

What Does Your Contribution Support?

 

We're in production!Preview Coming Soon (4)

Want more? Click here to watch the extended version of Kateri's story


Special Thanks!

We'd like to give a special shout out to the amazing women who have helped us, and continue to help us, with our mission:

Sweet Jules Gifts for letting us feature you in our (extended version) video and for being our go-to for the sweetest treats. These lovely ladies will be shipping fresh caramels to you with your $100 donation.

Urban Growler our featured woman-owned brewery. Not only do these women make incredible beer, they're also the primo spot for our Founding Member Party.

Peace Love Babies Brooke Walsh played a major role in helping us create a video that gives the who, what, and why behind MAIA. We are so grateful for her hard work.

Everthine Jewelry are you a Benevolent Badass? Aisha Formanski is the artist behind our signature ring. Wear this proudly as a reminder that you are an amazing woman–a true benevolent badass woman.

Sukhino Designs Taneisha Gordon's handcrafted laser cut wood expertise created the exclusive MAIA Change coin – each piece being unique and never exactly the same as another.


Correction: The extended video claims that 6% of Governors in the United States are female. Currently, six women are serving as governors of U.S. states, along with Mayor of the District of Columbia. The result being 8.5%

 

MAIA.community

 

Updates

The Campaign FAQs

FAQ:

Where did the idea behind MAIA.Community come from?
Kateri's story of 83% and the result of trying and failing. For the complete story watch our extended video - grab a beverage and a comfy chair because it's 8 minutes. MAIA is an acronym. It's the first initial of each of Kateri’s four daughters and the beginning of the MAIA Community.

How can I support the movement? 
One purchase matters.  Your personal challenge is for you and only you. Just start with one. Support Woman-Owned Businesses. Be the MAIA Change.

I'm a man and believe in gender equality, how can I help?
Thanks for the support! If you're willing, we'd love to receive your donation to help us get the directory live. Most of our rewards work for both men and women, and gifting your reward to a woman business owner is a badass idea! Once the directory is up, make it your go-to resource.

What about the Woman-Owned Logo?
Glad you asked! Pay attention to those companies and look for that logo. The nonprofits that vet these Women-Owned Businesses provide the vetting to ensure the companies are 51 percent owned, controlled, operated, and managed by a woman or women. WBENC states there are over 14,000 vetted Woman-Owned Businesses, and WBENC sells that directory to corporations, the government, and nonprofits. MAIA puts these vetted Woman-Owned Businesses plus the other 10 million more woman-owned businesses who have not done a certification into the hands of Consumers, where we can vote with our money and allow our purchasing power to align with our values. The majority of woman-owned companies do don’t employ people, so this gives visibility to ALL woman-owned businesses, no matter how small.

What about all of the awesome organizations and associations that currently exist for women in business?
Great question. There are so many groups doing great work – if you find value in those, please stick with them! They can provide so many tangible and intangible benefits: training, mentoring, networking, resource-sharing, fellowship, and strategic planning to name just a few. These women understand how you feel when the days are long and hard, and they're the first to sing your praises when things are groovy!

How will you BETA test?
We call the Twin Cities home so we’ll beta test the Minneapolis St Paul, MN metro market first. We know we will have some outdated information, a business may have moved or gone out of business. We are asking for help from all of you to get the directory accurate. We ask for your zip code when you sign up so we can track demand by location.

Will you curate these Woman-Owned Businesses?
We plan provide the MAIA Community lens on these businesses, in terms of:

  • Product or Service rating
  • Green, sustainable business practices
  • Do they source and buy from other woman-owned businesses
  • Do they pay their employees a “Livable Wage” for their area

We will need curators in every market to interview these woman-owned businesses, let us know if you want to be a part of the movement. Woman-Business Owners will: claim their listing(s), complete a profile, have the option to include their own intersectionality, and define what they're doing to make a difference in the way that matters to them.

How far along are you?
We are in development. We have thousands of records. We need money.

Who is a Consumer User?
A Consumer User is you. We are consumers looking to spend our money on products, services, and solutions from Women-Owned Businesses.

What is a WBO?
WBO stands for Woman-Business Owner. This woman legally owns her company, she is involved in the ideation, creation and decision-making. We will default to the description used in the vetting process by WBENC. We will do our best to interpret your proof of ownership, when it is too complicated, we’ll refer you to a vetting organization. A Woman-Business Owner is also a Consumer User!

How does creating a free access Woman-Owned Business Directory help to close the gender equality gap?
Women-Conscious Consumerism in an underutilized game-changer. MAIA empowers Consumers and connects them with women who have equal representation at the highest levels of leadership–currently, all Women Business Owners. When this happens a woman’s perspective is present in the ideation, the creation and the decision-making of her business and its product or service. Changing the status quo for corporate America and policy making will take time. BUT, as the CEO of your life, you can align your purchasing power with your values. You can be the MAIA Change.

Have other questions? Send an email to [email protected] 

05/09/2018
MAIA Supporting Member
$100
04/29/2018
MAIA Change Member
$25
04/23/2018
Monetary Contribution With No Reward
$50
04/17/2018
MAIA Change Member
$25
04/12/2018
Monetary Contribution With No Reward
$20
04/10/2018
MAIA Change Giver
$50
04/04/2018
MAIA Benevolent Badass
$250
04/02/2018
MAIA Supporting Member
$100
03/29/2018
MAIA Supporting Member
$100
Amy
03/28/2018
Monetary Contribution With No Reward
$50
Monetary Contribution With No Reward

Earn some good karma and a shout out on social media! Oh, don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

22 Supporters
Select this reward
MAIA Change Coin
25.00 USD
MAIA Change Member

Receive our signature

5 Supporters
Select this reward
50.00 USD
MAIA Change Giver

MAIA Change Giver - Keep One, Give One

4 Supporters
Select this reward
SweetJulesCaramels
100.00 USD
MAIA Supporting Member

8-Pack of Sweet Jules Assorted Caramels

11 Supporters
Select this reward
FirstYearDues
200.00 USD
Be a Sponsor Package ($100 Value)

Pay the First Year of Dues for a Woman Business Owner of your Choice ($100 value)

0 Supporters
Select this reward
BBRing
250.00 USD
MAIA Benevolent Badass

MAIA Benevolent Badass Ring - we'll be in touch for your preferred ring size.

20 Left
5 Supporters
Select this reward
MAIAThoughtLeader
300.00 USD
MAIA Thought Leader Package

MAIA Thought Leader Package

26 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
Founding Member Party at Urban Growler

Founding Member Party at Urban Growler

149 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward
LifetimeMAIAMember
1,000.00 USD
Lifetime Member of MAIA

Lifetime Member of MAIA.Community

52 Left
0 Supporters
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MAIASponsor
5,000.00 USD
MAIA.Community Sponsor

MAIA.Community Sponsorship for 12 months

15 Left
0 Supporters
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MAIAChange
10,000.00 USD
MAIA Change Advisory Board Member

MAIA Change Advisory Board Member - 2 Year Term

0 Supporters
Select this reward

About the Entrepreneur

Minneapolis, MN
Created 1 Campaign
Social Good

Rewards

Monetary Contribution With No Reward

Earn some good karma and a shout out on social media! Oh, don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

22 Supporters
Select this reward
MAIA Change Coin
25.00 USD
MAIA Change Member

Receive our signature

5 Supporters
Select this reward
50.00 USD
MAIA Change Giver

MAIA Change Giver - Keep One, Give One

4 Supporters
Select this reward
SweetJulesCaramels
100.00 USD
MAIA Supporting Member

8-Pack of Sweet Jules Assorted Caramels

11 Supporters
Select this reward
FirstYearDues
200.00 USD
Be a Sponsor Package ($100 Value)

Pay the First Year of Dues for a Woman Business Owner of your Choice ($100 value)

0 Supporters
Select this reward
BBRing
250.00 USD
MAIA Benevolent Badass

MAIA Benevolent Badass Ring - we'll be in touch for your preferred ring size.

20 Left
5 Supporters
Select this reward
MAIAThoughtLeader
300.00 USD
MAIA Thought Leader Package

MAIA Thought Leader Package

26 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
Founding Member Party at Urban Growler

Founding Member Party at Urban Growler

149 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward
LifetimeMAIAMember
1,000.00 USD
Lifetime Member of MAIA

Lifetime Member of MAIA.Community

52 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
MAIASponsor
5,000.00 USD
MAIA.Community Sponsor

MAIA.Community Sponsorship for 12 months

15 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
MAIAChange
10,000.00 USD
MAIA Change Advisory Board Member

MAIA Change Advisory Board Member - 2 Year Term

0 Supporters
Select this reward