Founder & CEO · ICW® Capital
Katie Kupstas
Chairwoman · Keynote Speaker · Advocate
“Behind every successful businesswoman is herself.”
Katie Kupstas is a Philadelphia-based entrepreneur, speaker, and human rights advocate whose life's work sits at the intersection of access, innovation, and community capital. As Founder and CEO of ICW® Capital, she built a grassroots network into a nationally expanding founder-to-investor access platform — now operating across five cities and on a clear path toward strategic acquisition by 2028. She holds a Human Rights Consultant certification through USIDHR and grounds her work in UDHR Articles 17, 23, and 25 — the belief that access to capital is not a privilege, but a right.
5
Cities
Philly · LV · DMV · NYC · San Diego
10+
Stages
USPTO, SBDC National, IEEE, Villanova & more
3+
Years Building
ICW® Capital founder-to-investor ecosystem
50+
Founders Connected
Pre-Seed through Series A
Building the rooms that didn't exist.
Her Story
Katie started ICW® Capital because she saw a persistent, systemic gap: too many brilliant founders — especially women — were locked out of capital not because their ideas weren't strong, but because they lacked proximity to the right rooms.
She built the rooms herself. From early gatherings in Philadelphia to a multi-city network spanning five chapters and counting, ICW® Capital grew from a passion project into a nationally recognized platform.
Featured in SheExist Magazine, highlighted in the book Standing Out: Innovators, Influencers & Disruptors, and recognized at the USPTO, SBDC National Conference, and IEEE Women's Conference, Katie has become one of the most trusted voices at the intersection of innovation, funding, and access.
Her husband Tod Kupstas, an IP attorney at Offit Kurman, serves on the ICW® Capital Board — making their household a live working model of the legal, strategic, and capital infrastructure she teaches founders every day.
Key Milestones
Est.
Founded ICW® Capital
Launched Innovators Club for Women® as a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) founder access network
Early
Cocktails & Capital™ Launch
Launched the flagship event brand, redefining what founder programming looks and feels like
2025
USPTO · SBDC National Conference
Spoke alongside USPTO officials and VC leaders on the "Golden Key to Funding" panel
2025
Villanova Law · SheExist Book Launch
Interviewed by Villanova Law's Idea Lab; featured in SheExist Magazine at the Ron Dyce Fashion Show, NYC
2025
AI for Good Forum · Philadelphia
Attended Global Silicon Valley × Penn State "Accelerating AI for Good" forum alongside YouTube, Vimeo, and Google leaders
2026
Multi-City Expansion
Lehigh Valley, DMV, NYC chapters launched; San Diego co-brand with Founders Alley in July; 2028 acquisition roadmap underway
Featured In & Recognized By
Media & industry recognition.
Now Booking · Katie as Speaker
Keynote Speaker
When you learn,
teach.
When you get, give.
“Women rightfully belong at the forefront of innovation.”
Katie Kupstas is a highly regarded keynote speaker renowned for dynamic presentations that inspire, educate, and energize women innovators and entrepreneurial communities. Having spoken at prestigious platforms including the America's Small Business Development Center National Conference, the IEEE Women's Conference at the Franklin Institute, and university innovation labs, Katie leaves audiences armed with actionable insight.
Based in Bryn Mawr, PA · Available throughout the Northeast corridor (Washington DC → NYC) and beyond
The Katie Kupstas Experience
Every talk is designed to move people forward.
Empower
Confidence & Access
Katie ignites a sense of possibility in every room. Her talks help founders and innovators recognize that the gaps they face are systemic — not personal — and that access is something that can be built.
Educate
IP, Funding & Strategy
Drawing on her deep expertise in intellectual property, investor readiness, and capital strategy, Katie equips audiences with the frameworks and language to protect their ideas and pursue funding with confidence.
Energize
Community & Action
Great talks end with momentum, not just notes. Katie closes every engagement with clear next steps, community connection opportunities, and a feeling that the right rooms are within reach.
Speaking Topics
Built for real audiences. Customized for yours.
01
Investor Readiness & Capital Access
How founders get investor-ready, secure funding, and connect with corporations in the innovation ecosystem. Practical insights on fundraising, partnerships, and turning ideas into impact.
02
Intellectual Property for Innovators
Demystifying IP strategy for founders and entrepreneurs. What to protect, when, and why — and how legal readiness is the foundation of enterprise value, not a luxury for later.
03
Design Thinking Workshop
A hands-on, interactive workshop experience for universities and corporate teams. Available at institutions including Millersville and Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. Contact info@icwcapital.org to bring this to your campus.
04
Women at the Forefront of Innovation
The systemic barriers women founders face — and what it actually takes to dismantle them. A keynote grounded in human rights, community capital, and the tangible architecture of inclusion.
05
Building Access: The ICW® Capital Story
How a grassroots network became a nationally recognized access platform. A founder's journey through community-building, investor relations, chapter expansion, and positioning toward acquisition.
06
AI, Innovation & the Future of Funding
Drawing on her experience at the Global Silicon Valley × Penn State AI for Good Forum and engagements with YouTube, Vimeo, and Google — exploring how AI is transforming innovation, funding, and access.
On Stage
Katie in the room.
What They Say
“Katie Kupstas inspires, educates, and motivates in her electrifying keynote, offering invaluable perspectives on intellectual property and the inclusive journey of product development.”
— Conference Attendee · SBDC National
Work With Katie
Bring Katie to your stage or campus.
Keynote & Conference Speaking
National & Regional Conferences
Katie is available for keynote addresses, panel appearances, and fireside chats at conferences, innovation summits, university events, and corporate gatherings. Formats are customized to fit your audience and objectives.
- Keynote presentations (30–60 min)
- Panel moderation & participation
- Fireside chats & intimate roundtables
- Available: Northeast corridor & national travel
Workshops & University Programs
Design Thinking & IP Workshops
Katie brings interactive Design Thinking and Intellectual Property workshops to university campuses, innovation labs, and corporate teams. Previously delivered at Millersville and Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.
- Design Thinking for Innovators workshop
- IP fundamentals for student founders
- Investor readiness bootcamp format
- Available for multi-session programming
Access Starts Here
Ready to put Katie on your stage?
Whether it's a national conference, a university campus, or an intimate leadership summit — Katie brings energy, expertise, and impact every time.