Why start New York Female Founders?

This may sound controversial, but as a female entrepreneur, I've learned that men who claim they want to "help" it often comes with a caveat. Let me give some context. Since middle school, I’ve consistently led and created organizations. In college, I served as Assistant Entertainment Director for TSTV at the University of Texas at Austin, became Executive Director for multiple television shows, produced events, and launched my own projects. After graduating, I spent over a decade as a journalist, working at Univision, TheStreet, and Bloomberg. Along the way, I built a media company (Raccoon Eyes Media), a cleaning company, and most recently, a startup called ChefXperience.

In nearly every single chapter of my entrepreneurial endeavors, there has been a man who wanted to “help.”

It usually starts innocently enough — a coffee meeting, a business lunch, a conversation framed around mentorship or growth. They share their vision, explain how I could “level up,” and position themselves as someone with access, experience, or influence. More often than not, that support comes with unspoken expectations. When those expectations are not met, the offer of help quietly disappears.

This has happened to me far too many times to be a coincidence.

Growing up, I didn’t have a strong safety net — no go-to mentor, no family member to lean on for professional or legal advice. Moving to New York after college was a huge leap, especially coming from Texas. NYC is filled with driven, ambitious people who want to make an impact, build meaningful careers, and yes, create generational wealth. I expected to find community here — especially among women.

But when I searched for female-led organizations or nonprofits, I struggled to find spaces that truly felt welcoming. When I did find them, many felt closed off or cliquey, which defeated the purpose entirely.

That gap is exactly why I started New York Female Founders.

NYFF exists to be a safe, supportive, and inclusive space for women founders, entrepreneurs, and creatives. A place to exchange real business advice, build genuine connections, and grow professionally — without hidden agendas, pressure, or “help” that comes with strings attached.

This community is about collaboration, not transactions. Support, not leverage. Let's build something great ya'll!