FEMPIRE summit puts Denver on women’s business map

By AI, Created 11:40 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Le Méridien Downtown Denver is hosting FEMPIRE, a two-day women’s business summit that brings more than 200 attendees to Denver on May 1, 2026. Organizers say the event is designed to help women founders grow businesses, build leadership skills, and connect with sponsors and partners.

Why it matters: - FEMPIRE is part of a broader push to make Denver a national hub for women entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders. - The summit is built to deliver business outcomes, not just networking. - Expand Leadership Initiative is using the event to expand access to high-impact leadership experiences for women.

What happened: - Le Méridien Downtown Denver is hosting FEMPIRE: Women’s Business Summit in Denver on May 1, 2026. - The two-day event brings together more than 200 attendees from across the country. - The summit combines keynote talks, expert panels, facilitated mastermind sessions, and curated networking. - Expand Leadership Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, produces FEMPIRE. - Chelsea Carter is the Founder and Executive Director of Expand Leadership Initiative. - Katelyn Brush is the Marketing Director for Expand Leadership Initiative.

The details: - FEMPIRE is aimed at women entrepreneurs, founders, and industry leaders. - Organizers say the event is designed to accelerate business growth, expand leadership capacity, and foster collaboration. - Colorado ranks among the top states for women-owned businesses per capita. - Denver is emerging as a city for innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic growth. - The summit is intentionally being held in Denver because organizers see the region as aligned with the future of women-led business. - Expand Leadership Initiative says its events and scholarship programs are working toward a goal of funding 1,000 women to attend high-impact leadership experiences over the next three years. - The summit includes experiential programming meant to create tangible business outcomes. - FEMPIRE offers integrated partnership opportunities, including experiential activations, vendor booths, and brand placements. - The event is attracting attention from brands, sponsors, and partners seeking access to women entrepreneurs. - The summit is also available for sponsorships, partnerships, and seat reservations at the FEMPIRE website.

Between the lines: - The event reflects a shift in how women are choosing to scale businesses, with emphasis on both strategy and sustainability. - Denver is being positioned not just as a host city, but as part of the brand story for women-led economic growth. - The partnership model suggests FEMPIRE is trying to build a recurring ecosystem around the summit, not a one-off conference.

What’s next: - Organizers plan to scale FEMPIRE into additional U.S. cities. - Expand Leadership Initiative expects the summit to grow as a platform for women’s leadership, business development, and community-driven economic impact. - Chelsea Carter is available for interviews about FEMPIRE and Expand Leadership Initiative.