May is Women’s Entrepreneur Month at Startup Grind, and we've got an exciting event planned!

Fireside Chat

We're excited to talk with Kim Dow, Founder of Sass Studios and Sass Magazine. She'll share how you can be sassy, classy and super bad-assy while staying true to your mission and values as your business evolves.

Specifically, Kim will discuss with us:

• Her evolution from a “corporate person” to successful entrepreneur and leader
• How her corporate values and mission support her brand
• Planning the move from the corporate world to establishing her own business(s)
• The importance that her staff plays in the success of her business
• Commitment to the woman entrepreneurs in Frederick
• How to be “Sassy, Classy and Super Bad-Assy”

Kim founded Kalico Design (now Sass Studios) in 2008 and grew the business over the last 10+ years, from her living room where it all started, to an office space in Downtown Frederick with full and part time staff. Sass Studios offers a variety of creative services, including branding, print design, web design, and marketing, with a focus on women entrepreneurs and petpreneurs (pet focused businesses). She then launched Sass Magazine, a women’s lifestyle professional magazine for Western Maryland and the surrounding regions, and later acquired and launched Everyday Dog Magazine, a dog owners and lovers lifestyle digital magazine. 

Open Panel Discussion

Kim will be joined by two other amazing women entrepreneurs for a Panel Discussion: 

♦ Jane Helm, Certified Financial Coach and Principal, Money Mentor Group, which offers financial coaching and education to individuals, couples and small groups as part of a commitment to help people create healthy relationships with their money, resulting in lifelong financial confidence. 

♦ Monica Pearce, Founder & Boss Lady with Tenth Ward Distilling Company, a woman-owned micro-distillery located in the heart of downtown Frederick and specializing in whiskey, brandy, seasonal liqueurs and absinthe.

We are quite excited to have such a great group for this interactive Panel Discussion, representing the smart, talented women in the Frederick area. Panelists will share their experiences and insights on a variety of questions:

• Why did you start your own business and what were the top 2 or 3 challenges?
• What was/is your mission and vision?
• How do you strategically deal with competition?
• Biggest obstacle(s) in growing your business in the short and long terms?
• What is your competitive advantage?
• Do you have an exit strategy?
• What's the one standout piece of advice you can share with us to build and sustain success? 

Attendee participation is encouraged, and there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions and talk with the panelists. It's all about engagement, so feel free to ask questions as they come up naturally, rather than waiting until the end. Have something on your mind you'd like to pose in advance? Email us at startupfrederick@gmail.com.

Eat, Drink & Be Merry

Keeping with tradition, we'll begin the evening with light fare and time to connect with new friends and strengthen existing relationships over smoky jalapeno margaritas, generously provided by our very own, 10th Ward Distilling. 

We're all about education, connection, and inspiration, and this event is certain to deliver on all three! 

Register today! We can't wait to see you on May 14th!