The Founding Females® Heartbeat August 2026
Credit: Hannah Knight of Always Flourishing Photography
The Women Who Lead Campaign, New Local Meet Up Chapters, and the Compounding Power of Our Network
August has been a busy month around here.
We're leaning hard into one of the things I believe makes Founding Females® different: the incredible women who are already in our community.
There is so much knowledge, talent, creativity, experience, and opportunity sitting inside this community. It’s part of our ethos to be intentional about how we can create opportunities for our members to put that expertise to work.
From a pretty exciting photography collaboration to new Meet Up chapters, member spotlights, and some big things coming this fall, there's a lot happening.
So here's your August Heartbeat.
#1 “Women Who Lead” Is Loading!
For the second year in a row, we teamed up with our dream photographer, Hannah Knight, founder of Always Flourishing Photography, for the Founding Females® Women Who Lead campaign.
This collaboration brought together ten incredible women from the Founding Females® community for a collaborative brand photography experience. Meet our dream squad!
Paola LaManna, founder of Compass Star Distribution
Stacy Brooks, CEO and Co-Founder of SKB Cyber
Kaitlyn Wagner, founder of Captured Photography by K Wagner
Eliza Tyler, realtor licensed in multiple states and founder of Harvest Legacy Farms
Nicole Miller, CFP®, RLP® and yoga instructor
Dr. Ashley Steffens, founder of Helioshield UPF 50 swimwear
Cathy Plouzek, founder of Studio C Fitness
Anastasia Lindsey, award winning author and speaker
Hannah Knight, founder of Always Flourishing Photography, The Studio on Sampson, and The Studio at Grand Prairie
Francie Hinrichsen, founder of Founding Females®
Collaborations among female entrepreneurs can become the lynchpin of momentum. They provide the opportunity to celebrate the women behind the businesses, expand awareness among all parties’ netoworks, give them beautiful imagery they can actually use, and create visibility for women who are doing really meaningful work.
Hannah Knight of Always Flourishing Photography specializes in strategic brand photography (emphasis on strategic - she’s not just a photographer, she’s a marketing genius) designed to help business owners show up confidently online and she brings that same community-first spirit to each collaboration that’s coincidently so on-brand for Founding Females®.
We've already added a few sneak peeks from the gallery below because, well... we couldn't wait.
But you're going to have to wait until September for the full reveal.
We'll be introducing all ten women, sharing more of their stories, and giving you a behind-the-scenes look at this collaboration.
Stay tuned. This one is so GOOD!
#2 Meet Founding Females® Member, Hannah Hernandez
One of the best parts of Founding Females® is connecting with an entire community women who run their own businesses.
There are so many talented founders inside this community who are building incredible companies, taking risks, figuring things out, and becoming better leaders along the way.
This month, we spotlighted Hannah Hernandez, founder of EQBM Design Company in our spotlight feature.
Hannah helps entrepreneurs build brands that actually match the vision they have for their businesses. Her work spans brand strategy, visual identity, and websites. For Hannah, great branding is about helping a founder feel confident enough to take up space, raise their hand, pursue bigger opportunities, and show up like they mean it.
Hannah joined the Founding Females® Mastermind because she wanted proximity to women who had already achieved some of the things she was working toward. Since joining, she's found support, accountability, wisdom, and a group of women genuinely invested in one another's success.
That's exactly why we love doing these features. The women in this community are the story.
We want to celebrate the businesses they're building, the lessons they're learning, and the humans behind the logos and websites.
And keep an eye out. we have many more women we're excited to introduce you to.
#3 We're Getting Serious About Strategic Collaborations
We've been talking a LOT about strategic collaborations and brand partnerships lately, for good reason: They’re the epitome of the compounding effect.
At Founding Females®, we're increasingly focused on one simple question:
How can we leverage the incredible expertise already sitting inside our network?
Breathe easy: You don't need to know how to do everything; you need to know who does.
Maybe there's a photographer in your network who could help you create the imagery you've been putting off for years.
Maybe there's a bookkeeper who can help you finally understand your numbers.
Maybe there's a designer who can help your brand catch up with the business you've built.
Maybe there's a copywriter, coach, systems expert, attorney, web designer, financial advisor, or strategist who knows exactly what you're trying to figure out.
Instead of constantly looking outside your network, start looking inside it. Here’s how…
Here are three ways to start making strategic connections:
1. Pay attention to what people are good at.
When you're at a Meet Up, inside the Mastermind, or chatting with another founder, listen for the areas where people light up. Content comes naturally to some, systems to others. What do they know exceptionally well? What problems do they solve over and over again?
2. Look for complementary expertise, not identical businesses.
Your best collaboration opportunities may come from someone who serves the same audience in a completely different way. Think photographer + brand designer. Financial advisor + business coach. Wedding planner + florist. Marketing strategist + web designer.
3. Stop thinking of your network only as a source of referrals.
Your network can become a source of education, strategic partnerships, bundled offers, co-created content, events, introductions, visibility, and so much more.
We've been putting this philosophy into practice ourselves, and we're excited about where it's headed.
Read our full article on strategic brand partnerships →
When the right women bring their strengths together, everyone gets stronger.
#4 Founding Females® Meet Ups are Expanding Across the Country!
One of the most exciting things happening inside Founding Females® right now is watching this community grow beyond our original chapters in Illinois.
We're thrilled to announce that we're adding TWO brand-new Meet Up chapters to the Founding Females® lineup!
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Our newest chapter in Connecticut will be hosted by Paola LaManna, who is bringing the Founding Females® community to women entrepreneurs throughout Fairfield County.
CSRA, Georgia
And we're heading south! Foila Thomas will be hosting our newest Georgia chapter in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), creating a new space for female founders across the Augusta-area region to connect, collaborate, and grow together.
We're so excited to see Founding Females® taking root in new communities across the country and even more excited about the women who will find one another because of it.
Stay tuned for the official launch announcements, dates, and details for both chapters!
If you're in Fairfield County or the CSRA, keep an eye on your inbox. You won't want to miss this one. ✨
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#5 Founding Females® September Meet Ups Are Live!
Founding Females® Meet Ups are your favorite kind of business hang-out, minus awkward networking vibes.
Come join a group of real, passionate women entrepreneurs for a free monthly in-person Meet Up where we chat, laugh, share wins, and crowdsource solutions together. Think of it like grabbing coffee with a circle of supportive founder friends who actually get what you’re juggling: business ideas, challenges, breakthroughs, and all.
Free + Open to All Women Entrepreneurs - Bring your business challenges, your goals, an open heart, and a friend!
✨ Champaign/Urbana, IL - 1st Tuesday at 8:45a CT at The CU Flower House (@thecuflowerhouse).
September 1st. Hosted by Holly Birch (@hollybirchphoto), Ali Kreider (@thisisalikfitness) and Andrea Hunt, owner of The CU Flower House (2006 S Neil St, Champaign, IL 61820).
✨ Livingston County - 2nd Thursday at 10a CT hosted by @ChristineBrownPhotography at Christine Brown Photography (117 S Main Street, Suite 3, Flanagan, IL 61740). See you September 10th!
✨ Peoria Area, IL - 2nd Tuesday at 10a CT @cafesantarosa_co (1327 E Kelly Ave, Peoria Heights, IL).
September 8th hosted by Hannah Knight of @AlwaysFlourishingPhotography and @thestudioonsampson and Francie Hinrichsen, founder of Founding Females®.
*Please note - No outside drinks allowed. Please support your locally owned coffee shops.
✨ Danville, IL - Third Thursday at 4p CT. September 17th hosted by Jessica Nemecz of @two.roads.wellness at La Positina at 12pm CT.
✨ Covington, IN - Last Friday of the month at 9a CT/10a ET. September 25th. Hosted at Julie’s Java by Jessica Nemecz of @two.roads.wellness and Amanda Galloway with Country Financial (@amanda_galloway_insurance).
All Founding Females® events and details are listed on our website at the link below.
#6 What's Happening Inside the Mastermind
One of the best parts of the Founding Females® Mastermind is that you don't have to wait for a big conference or retreat to get access to smart women, fresh perspectives, and practical business conversations.
There is always something happening inside the community and we've got a great lineup coming up.
August 27 | Mass Marketing vs. Relational Marketing with Vanessa Wilde
12:00 PM CT
What's actually driving sales in today's marketing landscape?
This session will explore why the marketing everyone sees isn't always the marketing creating the most sales and why building genuine relationships can be such a powerful growth strategy.
September 1 | The Authority Gap: How to Get Compensated, Not Just Recognized
10:00 AM CT
We're talking about a challenge so many women entrepreneurs experience: being respected, appreciated, and recognized for your expertise but not necessarily paid accordingly for it.
This interactive 60-minute session will unpack the "authority gap" and give you a framework for thinking about how you position, communicate, and ultimately get compensated for your expertise.
September 9 | Hot Seat with Oreet Schwartz
12:00 PM CT
One of the things we love about the Mastermind is that you don't have to figure everything out by yourself.
In this Hot Seat, Oreet Schwartz will bring a real business challenge to the group as she works through positioning questions around the two businesses she operates under one brand.
It's a great example of the kind of real-time strategy and collective problem-solving that happens inside the Mastermind.
September 15 | The Founder's Chair: A Virtual Meet Up with Laila P
12:00 PM CT
If you've attended one of our in-person Founding Females® Meet Ups, you're going to love this virtual version.
The Founder's Chair is designed to create space for honest conversations around the realities of leading a business, with Laila P hosting this virtual Meet Up for our community.
And this is just what's on the calendar for the next few weeks.
Inside the Mastermind, you'll find ongoing conversations, spaces dedicated to different types of businesses, accountability, and women who are willing to share what they're learning along the way.
Until Next Month...
August has reminded us of something we've been talking about a lot lately: You don't have to build your business alone.
There are women all around you who have skills you don't have, experiences you haven't had, connections you haven't made, and perspectives that could completely change the way you think about your business.
Sometimes the next level isn't about learning one more thing but about finding the right person to build it with.
That's the energy we're carrying into September.
More women, connections, collaboration and opportunities to build something bigger together.
We'll see you next month.
Cheering for you!
Francie Mueller Hinrichsen
Founder, Founding Females®
Let’s chat about your business!
Have a personal business struggle or win you want someone to get excited about with? I’d love to talk through it with you! Comment below or click to email me.
Recent Blog Posts About Female Entrepreneurship
Past Founding Females® Heartbeat Newsletters
The Founding Females® Heartbeat June 2026
The Founding Females® Heartbeat May 2026
The Founding Females® Heartbeat April 2026
The Founding Females® Heartbeat March 2026
P.S. Here are some of my top favorite female small business resources:
Dream, Build, Grow: A Female’s Step-by-Step Guide for How to Start a Business available on Amazon- a guided handbook including everything you need to know from business idea to launch to profiting and scaling your business.
Dream, Build, Grow Free Resource Suite - free business templates for your business plan, marketing plan, ideal client persona, financial statements, and more!
Founding Females Mastermind- an online female mastermind space for entrepreneurs to connect, support, and get inspired
Free Downloads for Female Entrepreneurs
Free PDF Download: 25 Ways to Market Your Business (Aside from Social Media)
Free PDF Download: 33 keys to Business Success
Free PDF Download: SEO Tips for Entrepreneurs
Related Articles for Female Entrepreneurs
Starting a business or side hustle this year? Take the guesswork out of what to do next with a copy of Dream, Build, Grow: A Female’s Step-by-Step Guide for How to Start a Business.
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Dream, Build, Grow: A Female’s Step-by-Step Guide for How to Start a Business by Francie Hinrichsen provides realistic, achievable, and step-by-step guidance to finally start the business you’ve been dreaming about.
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Hi, I’m Francie!
Nice to meet you. I’m the founder of Founding Females®. Some call me a business sage because I love to empower female entrepreneurs to breathe life into the business dreams God called them to.
After feeling like a misfit in the corporate world, I discovered a life I loved waking up to through business ownership.
I’m the author of Dream, Build, Grow: A Female’s Step-by-Step Guide for How to Start a Business, a guided journal helping hundreds of women start and grow their businesses.
I’m also a passionate entrepreneurship hype girl, female leader, public speaker, and community enthusiast.
My MBA and 10 years in a corporate career and in business ownership positioned me as an entrepreneurship educator with forward-thinking strategies for starting and growing successful businesses.
As a community leader, I realized other women could thrive with the right guidance and support. I created the Founding Females® Mastermind Community that provides a safe space for women to build better businesses.
I believe that anyone with a dream on their heart can pull up a seat to change the world through entrepreneurship. Looking to grow your own business? Click for info about how to work with me.
About Founding Females®
The mission of Founding Females® is to help women build thriving businesses. We create safe spaces for women to share business challenges and receive peer support.
In addition, Founding Females® offers an online female business mastermind, a how-to guidebook for female entrepreneurs called Dream, Build, Grow: A Female’s Step-by-Step Guide for How to Start a Business, and in-person events, like an annual women’s business conference and local Founding Females® Meet Ups.
Founding Females® was founded by small business educator, Francie Hinrichsen. She believes anyone with a dream on their heart can pull up a seat to change the world through entrepreneurship. Click to learn more about working with Francie.
Catch up on the August Founding Females® Heartbeat: Women Who Lead, member Hannah Hernandez, strategic collaborations, new Meet Up chapters, and upcoming events. Click to view…