Food & Drink
Teen Spirit
Shining the spotlight on girl entrepreneurs
By Rob Smith September 30, 2022
![IMG_7754(1) copy-min IMG_7754(1) copy-min](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai2/q_lossy+ret_img+to_webp/staging.seattlemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_77541-copy-min.jpg)
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2022 issue of Seattle magazine.
Kate Isler and Susan Gates launched TheWMarketplace with a simple purpose in mind: to support women-owned and “gender-balanced” businesses. It now features products from more than 550 women entrepreneurs.
Currently in partnership with The Startup Squad, Seattle-based TheWMarketplace has launched a teen seller collection to fuel the next generation of women entrepreneurs. The initial collection features almost 100 products from eight girls between the ages of 8 and 16.
The new line comes on the heels of the e-commerce company’s recent Wefunder campaign, which raised $1.4 million.
“When girls are mentored at an early age to see themselves as business owners and leaders, there is nothing that can stop them,” says Isler. “They are an important part of our mission in closing the economic gender gap.”