Sold-Out Florida Retreat Signals New Power Base for Women Founders

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – April 22, 2026 – This week, more than 300 of North America’s most ambitious women entrepreneurs will descend upon the iconic PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens. The reason: Entreprenista Media’s annual Founders Weekend, a sold-out, three-day retreat that has become a powerful symbol of the burgeoning ecosystem supporting women in business. From April 30th to May 3rd, founders from the United States and Canada will engage in an immersive experience designed not just to scale their companies, but to forge the connections and community essential for navigating a challenging entrepreneurial landscape.

The event’s sold-out status is more than a logistical success; it’s a clear indicator of the immense demand for dedicated spaces where women leaders can connect, learn, and grow. It represents a groundswell movement where female founders are actively building the networks and support systems historically unavailable to them.

The Power of Community in a Challenging Landscape

While the number of women-led businesses is on the rise, founders continue to face significant systemic hurdles. Access to capital remains a primary obstacle. Recent industry reports show a stark disparity, with all-female founding teams securing a mere 2.3% of venture capital funding in 2024. Beyond funding, women entrepreneurs often contend with implicit gender bias, limited access to established male-dominated networks, and the societal pressure of balancing business growth with disproportionate caregiving responsibilities.

Events like Founders Weekend are engineered to counteract these challenges directly. By creating an environment of shared experience and mutual support, the retreat fosters a unique atmosphere of collaboration over competition. “There is something truly powerful that happens when you put hundreds of driven, generous, visionary women in the same room,” said Stephanie Cartin, Co-Founder of Entreprenista Media, in the event's announcement. Her partner, Courtney Spritzer, Co-Founder of Entreprenista, added, “We’ve watched partnerships form, deals close, and lifelong friendships begin over a single weekend. We build this experience from the ground up for exactly that kind of magic.”

This sentiment underscores the core value proposition: the retreat serves as an incubator for relationships that provide both professional leverage and personal sustenance, which are critical for long-term success.

A Blueprint for Empowerment: Curated Content and High-Caliber Speakers

The intense demand for Founders Weekend can be attributed to its meticulously crafted agenda, which blends high-level strategy with practical, actionable advice. The programming moves beyond generic business platitudes, featuring curated panels, intimate mastermind sessions, and a brand marketplace designed for tangible takeaways.

The credibility of the event is anchored by its impressive lineup of speakers, each a titan in her respective industry. Attendees will hear from luminaries such as:

• Anne Mahlum, the serial entrepreneur who founded the national non-profit Back on My Feet before creating the fitness empire [solidcore]. Mahlum scaled [solidcore] to 100 locations and exited the company for nearly $100 million, demonstrating a profound capacity for building impactful organizations in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors.
• Tisha Thompson, the visionary founder of LYS Beauty. Thompson made history by launching the first Black-owned clean makeup brand at Sephora. Her company recently secured a significant eight-figure Series A funding round, a landmark achievement that provides a powerful and inspiring roadmap for other women of color seeking to disrupt the beauty industry.
• Amanda Goetz, a two-time founder and marketing powerhouse who built and sold the CBD brand House of Wise. Now serving as the CMO of Alix Earle’s Reale Actives, Goetz is a prominent voice on branding, growth, and the realities of being a founder.

This strategic curation extends to its brand partners. Companies like Justworks and BILL will offer insights on streamlining HR and finance, while lifestyle brands such as LolaVie, IT Cosmetics, and Glamsquad provide experiences that speak to the founder's personal brand and well-being. This holistic approach ensures attendees leave with tools to strengthen both their business infrastructure and their leadership presence.

South Florida's Growing Allure for Entrepreneurial Talent

The choice of Palm Beach Gardens for this high-profile gathering is no accident. It reflects South Florida's rapidly growing reputation as a vibrant hub for business and innovation. Once known primarily for tourism and retirement, the region is increasingly attracting top-tier entrepreneurial talent and major corporate events. Hosting over 300 business leaders at a premier venue like the PGA National Resort generates a significant, immediate economic impact through spending on accommodation, dining, and local services.

More importantly, events like Founders Weekend contribute to the region's long-term economic narrative. They position South Florida as a destination where business gets done, where networks are built, and where innovation is celebrated. This influx of talent and capital helps diversify the local economy and cements its status as a competitive and attractive place for entrepreneurs to live and work, particularly for women who are building a new center of gravity away from traditional tech hubs.

More Than Business: A Holistic Approach to the Founder's Journey

Perhaps what most distinguishes Founders Weekend is its explicit recognition that a successful business is run by a healthy, resilient founder. The retreat’s agenda is intentionally balanced with wellness programming designed to help attendees “restore and recharge.” From guided meditation and walks to an energizing fitness class with Pvolve, these elements address the pervasive issue of founder burnout.

This focus on nourishing the “whole founder” is a progressive and necessary evolution in the world of business conferences. It acknowledges that the relentless pace of entrepreneurship can take a toll, and that sustainable success requires practices that support mental and physical well-being. By integrating wellness into its core programming, Entreprenista sends a powerful message: taking care of oneself is not a luxury, but a fundamental business strategy.

The gathering in Palm Beach Gardens is more than a conference; it is a declaration. It showcases a powerful and growing movement of women entrepreneurs who are not waiting for the system to change but are actively building their own tables, fostering their own communities, and defining success on their own terms. Through its media platforms and flagship events like Founders Weekend, Entreprenista Media continues to build a vital ecosystem that provides the connection, support, and access women need to move their businesses forward.