Caress Alumni Ambassador Startup School Program
For the fifth year, IFW and Caress are partnering to support entrepreneurs with capital, coaching, and connections. Led by a roster of successful IFW • Caress Dreams Fund Alumni Ambassadors, Caress is offering free coaching and education to the entire IFW community, including expert-led workshops, exclusive networking opportunities, and tailored resources to fuel their business growth.
Meet the 2024 Alumni Ambassadors
This year, we are so excited to offer coaching by Caress Dreams Fund Alumni Ambassadors! Get to know these fierce entrepreneurs and their inspirational founder journeys.
Naibe Reynoso, a multi-Emmy award-winning journalist, founded Con Todo Press to address the representation gap in publishing. The company creates children’s books that amplify underrepresented voices, starting with “Be Bold, Be Brave: 11 Latinas Who Made U.S. History,” which celebrates Latina women.
In 2022, Reynoso became an IFW member and received the Caress Dreams Fund grant, which facilitated Con Todo Press's expansion and the hiring of diverse talent, including BIPOC illustrators. This support helped enhance operational efficiency, allowing the company to launch ten new book titles annually and develop educational products like bilingual flashcards.
Con Todo Press aims to disrupt traditional publishing norms by providing a platform for BIPOC authors and creatives. Its commitment to social change is reflected in its culturally authentic resources and partnerships to distribute books in underserved communities.
Love Cork Screw is a lifestyle brand focused on wine, entertainment, and relationships on a mission to reinvent the wine industry and create a more inclusive, sustainable experience for all.
Chrishon Lampley’s desire to build something successful and impactful to the world, support underrepresented communities, and promote sustainable practices drives her. Lampley noted pivoting during challenging times as one of her greatest strengths and did just that when she founded Love Cork Screw after a flood destroyed her Chicago art and wine bar.
In 2023, Lampley became a member of IFW and received the Caress Dreams Fund Grant. This provided Love Cork Screw the support needed to achieve growth and success, including partnerships with H.E.B and Hyatt, and will be the official wine for the Chicago Urban League Gala in November 2024.
Love Cork Screw has sold over 1 million bottles of wine nationally and also offers a line of ethically sourced wine-scented candles and self-care products. “Love Cork Screw is more than just wine, it’s a whole mood.”
Arion Long, Founder and Chief Estrogen Officer (CEO) of Femly™, launched the company after being diagnosed with a tumor linked to chemicals in traditional period products. Struggling to find organic and sustainable alternatives, she created Femly™ to provide healthier period care and education. With products made from organic ingredients sourced in Houston, TX, Femly™ aims to remove barriers to access for menstruators everywhere.
In 2020, Arion joined IFW and received a Caress Dreams Fund grant, which helped her navigate supply chain challenges due to the pandemic. This support enabled her to raise awareness for her mission, rebrand, and pivot to assist organizations. Femly™ launched its first corporate restroom offering and received recognition, along with a $10,000 grant from Beyoncé’s BEYGOOD.
In 2021, Arion designed a groundbreaking smart dispenser for free period products, ensuring inclusivity with sensors for all skin tones. Femly™ dispensers and products are now available in restrooms at universities, NFL stadiums, schools, and offices nationwide.
Through her work, Arion Long and Femly™ advocate for equitable access, dignity, and choice for all menstruators. “Because high-quality menstrual products should be accessible for all.”
Caress's Impact!
Since 2020, Caress has invested over $5 million through its partnership with IFW, ensuring that no idea goes down the drain.
Caress’s commitment extends beyond financial support; it aims to transform the entrepreneurial landscape. By providing essential resources such as crowdfunding programs, grants, personalized coaching, and invaluable connections, Caress, in partnership with IFW, is leveling the playing field for aspiring founders. This comprehensive approach not only empowers individual entrepreneurs but also fosters a more inclusive and vibrant economy.
“Caress embodies inspiration, transformation, and those 'ah!' moments essential to entrepreneurship," said Karen Laker, Senior Marketing Director at Elida Beauty. “We want these programs to ignite entrepreneurial journeys and equip founders for lasting success."
The Caress Dreams Fund and IFW Startup School grant programs exemplify this dedication, offering education, tools, resources, and funding to help founders realize their entrepreneurial visions.
"We recognize the barriers entrepreneurs face, particularly in accessing capital, and we are proud to drive change through funding, resources, and connections.” Our data reflects the profound impact of Caress’s dedication to supporting early-stage entrepreneurs,” said Karen Cahn, Founder and CEO of IFW. “Grant recipients achieve 440% more annual revenue and raise 240% more capital than the IFW average, emphasizing the significance of strategic investments and collaborative efforts in promoting entrepreneurial growth and addressing systemic inequities.”
Resource hub
We know it’s about more than just the funding. Whether you’re working to grow your project, side hustle, small business, or start up, these are the tools that will help you get to the next level.
You’ve told your friends and family, you’ve bought a domain, you’ve designed the website, and even changed your LinkedIn job description to that coveted “Founder” title. You’re ready to launch this business and see your idea revolutionize the world. Yet, the night before your launch, you’re tossing and turning in bed with one dreaded question circling your brain, attacking your will to sleep: “What if no one even wants this product?” Here’s the truth. You won’t ever completely get rid of this feeling as a founder. But, you can put your mind a bit at ease by spending some time on this important step: Customer Discovery.
The key to your success is in the power of your network. The best CEOs, founders and creatives attained their positions not just because of what they knew but the friends, colleagues, relationships that supported them along the way. If you're building a new business, especially if you're endeavoring into a new industry, networking is essential to the success of your business. Watch this workshop to learn how to define your network, how to find people that are a part of your industry vertical, and how to expand your network whether you're an industry newbie or veteran.
Whether your business is on the Fortune 500 or just starting out, strategic partnerships can make a huge difference in driving growth for your business. Strategic partnerships allow businesses the opportunity to reach new customers, deepen relationships with their current audience, increase brand presence, and expand the product set. Watch this workshop to learn the strategy behind identifying, pitching, and closing deals with companies that can take your business to the next level.
Our best ideas start in the shower
We know that every big dream starts with a small spark of possibility. Caress has always been committed to creating products that turn every shower into a fully immersive sensorial experience - moments that are proven to spur creativity. It's what inspires Caress' belief that no great idea should go down the drain and our passion for the Caress Dreams Fund.