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Hi !
As we shift from summer into fall and all things cozy (pumpkin spice, anyone? ☕🍂), it’s a good time to reflect on what matters most—our communities, our health, and the impact we can create together.
That spirit of connection is what inspires us to show up at gatherings that support our goal of a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem and bring us closer to the people working toward that. This month, we were honored to to participate in the Women Investors Forum hosted by the Angel Capital Association, and we're excited to be part of the We Mean Business Summit and the 12th Annual Women's Venture Summit. These events allow us to learn and connect with more folks who are taking or ready to take action.
Keep showing up for each other and for the world. A smile or friendly "good morning" might be enough to turn around someone else's day.💚 Together, we can make a difference.
- Jill & the IFEL Team
P.S. In support of our wellness goals for ourselves and the IFEL community, we’ve started the IFEL Step Club to gently encourage folks to walk/run/get moving. Join the "IFEL Step Club" group on StepUp, a fun step challenge app. No pressure, just for support. We hope you will join us.
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Apply Now
Learn How to Be an Angel InvestorDeadline Fast Approaching
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From sourcing and evaluating deals to negotiating and closing your first investment, the Pipeline Angels Signature Angel Investing Training is designed to give you the skills, confidence, and network to start angel investing. Spots are almost gone and the deadline is days away—apply now and claim your seat at the table.
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| Learn more and apply to Pipeline Angels
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Know someone who is a fit for this opportunity? Please share! 💕
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Register to Attend
Financial Education 3.0: Angel Investing through the Lens of the Latine Community |
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Join us for the Making of Latine Angels, a FREE online webinar that covers the fundamentals of angel investing, an asset class that is a mystery to most. It takes less money than you might think to join the angel investor community that drives the innovation that gets to market.
This is a virtual event.
Tune in from wherever you are with an internet connection
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| Register for Making Latine Angels
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Join UsElevate, Innovate, Thrive: Join ‘We Mean Business Summit 4’ in Puerto Rico |
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We’re excited to host Creating Conscious Collisions (CCC) Puerto Rico at the National Women's Collective We Mean Business Summit, a high energy event in sunny Puerto Rico where you’ll network with top industry experts, gain game-changing insights, and connect with high-achieving women ready to make big moves. This event is being held at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino in Puerto Rico, September 17-20, 2025. Secure your spot today. We hope to see you there!
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| Register for We Mean Business
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Share with a Business OwnerCapital Readiness Week |
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Do you know a small business that needs to get capital ready? Invite them to sign up for Capital Readiness Week, September 16–19, 2025, where they’ll learn how to implement a financial management system, prepare financial statements, create projections, and develop a strong pitch presentation. Share this opportunity and help them take the next step toward funding their growth!
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Taking Action |
From "Secret Society" to Purpose-Driven Investor: Juliana Found Alignment |
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To Juliana Marcus, a skilled tax attorney and CPA at Airbnb, the world of angel investing once felt like an exclusive, "secret society." Despite growing up in an entrepreneurial family that taught her grit, she was looking for the right entry point to make a real, purpose-driven impact with her resources. She needed a path that went beyond traditional stock portfolios. Through the renowned Pipeline Angels program, she found more than just an education in due diligence; she discovered a supportive community and embarked on a journey that would fundamentally change her perspective as a person, professional,
and business owner. Her story details how she successfully transformed her entire approach from "soulless" market investing to powerfully aligning her capital with her personal values.
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| Learn more about Pipeline Angels
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The Power of One: How Individual Contributions Multiply Corporate Impact
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KPMG’s Impact Day event showcases how personal contributions are just as important as the company’s collective efforts. It’s easy to focus on corporate impact, but when each of us finds ways to apply our unique, everyday skills to service, we create a multiplying effect that goes beyond a single event. Contact us to find out how you, and your organization, can make a difference.
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| Sign up to volunteer with IFEL
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IFEL In The Ecosystem |
Courage to LEAD! |
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Jill Johnson, IFEL CEO, joined Gloria Feldt and other amazing leaders at the Take the Lead Power Up Conference 2025 in Washington, D.C. held August 25–26. The two-day gathering with the theme
“Courage to Lead" featured a VIP dinner and private concert, thought-provoking speaker sessions, a vibrant SHEposium showcasing women-led brands, and powerful award presentations honoring inclusive leadership. Well done Gloria!
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Pipeline Angels Meet Up at the ACA Women's Investor Forum in Boston |
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Jill Johnson, IFEL CEO, and Stephanie Fowler, President of Capital Access, joined women investors and leaders from across the country at the Angel Capital Association Women Investors Forum in Boston on September 3–4. Jill served as a moderator for The Future of Angel Investing, adding her insights to a dynamic lineup that included Lyne Landry (AgeTech Capital), Melissa Widen (First Women's Bank), and Barbara Clarke (Pipeline Angels, Tethered, and Impact Seat Foundation).
We also got to catch up with friends, collaborators, and partners in action including: Lorine Pendleton (Pipeline Angels/125 Ventures), Lisa Frusztajer (Pipeline Angels/Get Unstuck), Lisa Dyson (Invest for Better), Danna Redmond (Golden Seeds/FBomb Angels), Allison Byers (Scroobius), and Kristina Montague (JumpFund/ACA Board Chair).
Thank you Marcia Dawood (Forum Chair/Angel Next Door/SEC Advisory Committee) for the invitation!
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After the event, Stephanie Fowler kept the fun going with Pipeline Angels members Tinu Diver and Barbara Clarke. Work hard, do good, and have fun together.
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Shout Outs |
Wondercurl Opens First Storefront |
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From a city girl to a powerhouse founder, Wonder Curl's Scarlett Rocourt has opened her first storefront in Phillipsburg, NJ! Her journey from Bloomfield to Main Street is a testament to passion and perseverance. This exciting milestone is a big win for the natural hair community and a shining example of what happens when we invest in visionary founders. Read about the opening.
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Robert Johnson and Mary Frances Palisano Named to Best Lawyers in America
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Let's give a huge shout-out and a massive congratulations to Robert Johnson and Mary Frances Palisano, attorneys with Gibbons P.C., for being named to the Best Lawyers in America list! The recognition by Best Lawyers is a testament to their exceptional work. Robert, a past IFEL Volunteer of the Year awardee, has been a long-standing supporter of our mission and the businesses we
serve. Mary Frances has been a champion for IFEL volunteer engagement, and we are appreciative of her support. Their recognition is well-deserved, and we are proud to call them friends of IFEL!
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Keep Learning |
Did you know...
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It's a time dedicated to raising awareness, remembering those lost, and connecting individuals to the help they need. Suicide is a serious public health issue that is preventable. Take time to learn the warning signs and where to get help for yourself or someone else. Let's work together to create a culture where talking about mental health is normalized and no one has to suffer in silence.
In September we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins September 15. We honor visionary leaders like Tony Jimenez, the founder of the multi-million dollar IT company Micro Tech; Beto Perez, who turned a single idea into the global fitness phenomenon, Zumba; Jessica Alba, the actress-turned-founder of The Honest Company, a brand focused on ethical consumer goods; and Maria Contreras-Sweet, a groundbreaking entrepreneur who founded Pro America Bank before serving as the head of the Small
Business Administration. Their stories highlight the incredible diversity and innovation within the Hispanic business community.
September 11 is the National Day of Service and Remembrance — honoring the lives lost and inspiring acts of service, unity, and community impact.
September 20 marks World Cleanup Day — uniting people globally in a collective effort to clean and protect our planet.
September 29 is the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste — spotlighting the importance of reducing waste and promoting sustainable food practices.
And of course, we can’t forget a few fun days that keep us smiling:
☠️ Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19)
🍎 Hot Mulled Cider Day (September 30)
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Copyright (C) 2025 Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership. All rights reserved.
The Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership is a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Learn more at www.weareifel.org. You are receiving this information because you requested information about or enrolled in a program of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership. Our primary mode of communication will be through email. If you choose to unsubscribe, you will not receive the information that you need for the program in which you enrolled. If you no longer wish to receive information from us however, you may use
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Our mailing address is:
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