Verdigris Group

Carolyn is a two-time founder/CEO experienced in bringing hardware products in regulated industries to market and global scale. Carolyn is Principal and Co-Founder of a founder-run, founder-focused consulting firm, Verdigris Group. In the last two years, Carolyn has supported over 40 companies, raised $200M of funding for startups and ecosystem projects, and established a successful startup accelerator in the UP. In her most recent VC-backed startup, she raised $5M+ and led growth of a novel surgical device from idea through the first $1M in revenue.

Femology

Meagan Ward is a globally recognized entrepreneur, ecosystem builder, and founder of Femology, a platform advancing women-led ventures through capital, innovation, and community. With over a decade of experience and $50M in economic impact, she has supported thousands of founders through strategic initiatives and partnerships. As a diplomatic speaker for 8+ years, Meagan has represented the U.S. globally on inclusive innovation and women’s economic mobility. She launched Michigan’s first female founder hub at Michigan Central and leads cross-sector efforts to expand capital access and scalable growth for women entrepreneurs.

Verdigris Group, Everwork Ventures

Katie is a founder/operator turned Venture Capitalist focused on developing diverse communities to build health and wealth. As a startup founder, she ran business development to catalyze $6 million in venture and non-dilutive investment while developing market strategy for a WHO-approved medical device. In ecosystem development, she co-founded and established first year operations for an advanced materials and manufacturing accelerator. Her other work has spanned across public and private sectors to drive innovative partnerships for value-based care and marginalized entrepreneurs, including raising additional funding for startups and academic programs.