March Recap: Celebrating Innovation, Women’s Empowerment & Baltimore’s Bright Future ✨
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Hi Reader, Spring has officially sprung, and so has the energy around here. March was one for the books, filled with community, creativity, and a whole lot of women-led magic. Let’s rewind and relive some of the incredible moments from this month: 🌟 Pava LaPere’s Legacy Lives OnWe were honored to participate in the Maryland Student Venture Showcase hosted by UpSurge Baltimore, where 39 student-founded ventures were celebrated for their bold ideas. Nine winners—including our very own Hazel Geary and Rachel McFadden—were awarded $50,000 grants through the Pava LaPere Legacy of Innovation Act. Hazel and Rachel took the stage to share the vision behind WholeSite, our new AI-powered platform helping small businesses build sleek, strategic websites. It was a powerful evening that paid tribute to Pava’s mission: making entrepreneurship accessible and building the next generation of changemakers in Baltimore. 💡 Read the full recap here: Technical.ly article 🏆 Drio Named to Technical.ly’s RealLIST Startups 2025We’re thrilled to share that Drio was named one of Technical.ly’s RealLIST Startups of 2025, a curated list of emerging ventures that are shaping the future of Baltimore’s economy through innovation and impact. This recognition means a lot to our small but mighty team. It highlights the work we’re doing through WholeSite, our AI-powered platform that helps small businesses and nonprofits shine online with purpose-driven websites and strategic storytelling. Being included on the RealLIST alongside so many inspiring, forward-thinking startups is a reminder that Baltimore is the place for creative problem-solving, community-building, and bold ideas. 💬 Read the full list and meet the changemakers: Meet the RealLIST 💜 International Women’s Day 2025: What a Night!On March 7th, we hosted our 3rd Annual International Women’s Day celebration, and it was nothing short of magical. From the powerful panel discussion to the dance-floor-worthy moves of our moderator Glenda Lezeau, the evening was packed with wisdom, laughter, and serious inspiration. Special thanks to Lt. Governor Aruna Miller for her moving words, and to our phenomenal speakers Brittany Young, Mary Ann Scully, and Julie Filderman. Red Emma’s, you nailed the vibes—and the snacks. ✨ See the photo gallery: IWD 2025 Gallery 🎤 Catch Rachel at the 2025 WOW Festival Baltimore!We’re excited to share that our Left Brain, Rachel McFadden, will be representing Drio at the upcoming WOW Festival Baltimore on Saturday, April 5 at the Rita Rossi Colwell Center in downtown Baltimore. Rachel will be speaking on the “Baltimore’s City Makers: Leading the Build Toward Equity” panel from 10:30–11:30 am, alongside Tonika Garibaldi, Delshan Baker, and Amber Wendland. This powerful session will explore what Baltimore could look like if more women were leading the way in designing and building the city’s future.
You can expect:
Monument Women’s Creative Alliance will also have a booth at the festival! Be sure to stop by and say hello. Don’t miss this chance to support local leaders and engage in meaningful conversations about Baltimore’s future! 🎟️ Learn more + grab your ticket: wowbaltimore.org 🔧 Championing Women in Trades & Tech
To close out the month, Hazel and Rachel were invited to speak at CCBC’s Think & Grow Seminar Series on March 20th in celebration of Women’s History Month. Alongside powerhouse panelist Krystal Henry, they dove into a dynamic conversation about how women are breaking barriers, shifting narratives, and leading innovation in the trades and tech industries. From sharing their personal journeys to unpacking the role of mentorship, representation, and community, the panel sparked honest dialogue and inspired attendees to envision new possibilities for the future of women in these fields. It was an energizing evening filled with wisdom, connection, and a whole lot of encouragement for the next generation of change makers. Check out the full discussion here. 🎯 Coming Up Next...We're already deep into planning mode for IWD 2026 (we can’t help ourselves), building out WholeSite’s next features, and continuing to invest in the community that keeps us inspired. Stay tuned for what’s next—and thank you for being part of this journey. Together, let's stand out and carve our path forward—one bold step at a time. |
Hi! I'm Rachel, the Left Brain of Drio.
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Hi Reader, At first, it felt a little strange being the oldest students in the room. Rachel and I were at the MD Venture Student Showcase, where we and 9 other student startups were awarded $50,000 for student-led entrepreneurship ventures. We were recognized for WholeSite, our AI-assisted website creation platform (in case you missed it, here’s a link to the press release.) The youngest recipients were an 11th grader and a 12th grader, which means Rachel and I were literally old enough to be...