2024 WSW Meet Ups
New Grant: designed for women owned brands without a physical location
2024 WSW Meet Ups
In 2022, ALIST launched the WSW Founder Meet Ups to bring much needed support to the restaurant industry while treating the boss community to lunch and inspiration. In 2023, we launched the new WSW Host Grant and offered 1K + up to 4K in services to 5 newly opened brick and mortar woman owners to host a WSW Meet Up. As a community of over 400 women, we drove foot traffic, awareness, and new customers to every one of these locations.
In 2024, we’re increasing the grant to $1500, providing a free venue and using the same collective power to accelerate women owned brands who don’t have their own physical location, but very much want to share their business with the WSW Community. Portland is filled with consumer packaged goods, health and wellness, skincare and beauty, footwear and apparel, music and entertainment, arts and crafts, farming and agriculture, and food and beverage brands who don’t have a brick and mortar. With the help of venue sponsors this year, we’re giving entrepreneurs a free open space to grab at least one other collaborator to design their own WSW Meet Up to host a minimum of 60 boss women.
Venue Sponsor: EcoTrust
We’re excited to announce that we applied to the EcoTrust community grant and won. On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, we’ll host the first 2024 meet up on the roof top terrance of the EcoTrust Building in the Pearl District. The selected grant winner hosts will have 2200 square feet of open canvas to bring their vision to life. Don’t worry, you won’t do it alone. We are increasing the host grant to $1500 to share with your co-applicant to put towards your idea. You’ll also receive the support of the WSW partner team offering up to 4K in event and marketing services.
Tickets will still be $25 per person. In order to keep the ticket price down and compensate our organizers, OnPoint Community Credit Union has signed on for another year as our series sponsor to help subsidize the cost. Interested in becoming a venue or meet up sponsor for a future WSW Meet Up, please contact us today.
Program Overview
HOW IT WORKS
Utilizing the capital raised through donors and sponsorships, ALIST is awarding selected owners a $1,500 grant, a free venue space, and up to $4,000 in ALIST services to be applied when co-hosting a WSW Meet Up. This is an exclusive experience for the WSW founder community. Grant money must be applied towards paying women-owned businesses for goods and services supporting the event.
ALIST SERVICES
ALIST is responsible for raising capital, marketing, advertising, ticket sales, attendee communication, waitlist management, vendor collaboration, and day of logistics. Crowdfunding donations, sponsorship contributions and all ticket sales go to ALIST to fund this program.
WSW Host Grant Winners
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The Petal Dispatch
The Petal Dispatch opened in 2021 by Kelly Rae. It’s a Filipina owned and operated cut flower micro-farm and design studio in Portland. With an emphasis in sustainability, Kelly strives to use organic and natural practices to continue nurturing the delicate ecosystem within her tiny space.
Details of the June Meet Up Coming Soon!
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Mermosa PDX
Award-winning winemaker Desiree Noisette is the co-owner of Mermosa PDX and founder of Mermosa Wines, which pay homage to the Noisette family's ancestral heritage combining Haitian, French and Southern American flavors. Mermosa PDX invites you to sip, dine and vibe with them offering a wine centered full bar, brunch, live music, and community centered events. Watch Video.
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Tita's Juice Bar
Fabiola Chipoco is the owner of Tita’s Juice Bar, the inspiration behind three cities that Fabiola holds dearly in her heart: Lima, Miami & Portland. Born in Peru, Fabiola immigrated to the US in her 20s. She first opened Tita’s Kitchen and the Juice Bar can next. Now with 5 locations, you can experience family recipes and delicious peruvian fare inspired by flavors of home. Watch Video.
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Flow in the City
Vanessa Gomez is the founder, owner, and yoga instructor at Flow in the City, an urban sanctuary in Downtown, Chinatown. First generation Colombiana with 10+ years in the sports and fitness industry. Vanessa birthed the studio to create and hold space for people to experience ease and belonging through their yoga practice. Watch Video.
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Goodies Snack Shop
Joyce Chung is the founder, co-owner and CEO of Goodies Snack Shop, a first generation, Korean American woman-owned snack shop and market located in Old Town/China Town. Recently opened in September 2022, Goodies offers thoughtfully curated snacks, nostalgic treats, cold beverages, and house plants while centering emerging and AAPI owned brands. Watch Video.
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Mister OK's Essentials
Precious Hannah is the owner and Chief Creative Officer of Mister OK’s Essentials, a Black woman-owned shop on Alberta Street that offers clean nontoxic soy candles, soaps, and body butters safe for the whole family. She even has a makers lab you can book for private events or just walk in and pick scents to create your own signature candle. Watch Video.