In today’s episode, host Megan Swan sits down with Hailey Handler, powerhouse founder of KAIA, for a raw and inspiring conversation about shaking up the funding world for female entrepreneurs. Hailey shares her journey from her MBA corporate world existential crisis to launching a revolutionary funding marketplace, and how her lived experiences across 50+ countries sparked her mission to democratize access to capital for women.

Key Points Discussed:

• The Origin Story: How a career crossroads and a heartfelt nudge led Hailey to build her own path in alternative funding for women.

• Gender Funding Gap: Why the struggle is real, the education gap that persists, and the difference it makes when women are capital allocators.

• Crowdfunding, Reimagined: How KAIA’s donation and rewards-based platform keeps founders and contributors safe, inspired, and genuinely connected.

• Global Insights: How witnessing women’s resilience worldwide from Kenya to Beirut fuels Hailey’s passion for economic empowerment.

• Community & Self-Actualization: The power of female-led networks, long-game thinking, and what it means for women to build legacy and autonomy.

• Behind the Scenes: The messy, vulnerable realities of tech entrepreneurship, learning curves, and building wellness non-negotiables into the process.

  
  

TLDR: Traditional funding models aren’t built for women but KAIA is flipping the script by creating a safe, empowering space for female founders and their supporters to thrive. Hailey and Megan unpack why alternative funding routes matter, how real connection and education are changing the game, and why the future is female-led.

Thank you for listening!

If this episode inspired you, please screenshot and share it on social media—be sure to tag @meganswanwellness so we can cheer you on. Your support means the world!

Connect with Megan Swan

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/meganswanwellness

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-swan-wellness

Website: www.meganswanwellness.com

Connect with Hailey Handler & KAIA

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/kaiawomen

Website: https://kaiawomen.net/

Keywords

female founders, gender funding gap, alternative funding, crowdfunding, KAIA, women in tech, entrepreneurship, community, economic empowerment, financial education, wellness routines, legacy building, career pivots, global women, democratizing capital, self-actualization, rewards-based crowdfunding, startup life, impact investment, resilient women, empowering women, holistic wellness, personal growth.

In this inspiring episode, Megan Swan sits down with Maureen Codispodi, founder of Help Clinic Canada, to explore how one woman’s vision is transforming mental health support across the country. From cycling solo across Canada to founding a groundbreaking online mental health platform, Maureen shares her entrepreneurial journey, hard-earned wisdom, and her commitment to serving even the most remote communities.

Key Points Discussed:

• The Origin Story: How Maureen’s cross-Canada cycling trip sparked her awareness of community needs and the seeds for Help Clinic Canada (HCC).

• Breaking Barriers: HCC’s mission to make therapy accessible, including their unique $25 low-fee student therapist program and work with underserved populations.

• Tech-Enabled Impact: Navigating the challenges both personal and professional of founding a tech-enabled mental health company without a tech or business background.

• Serving the Underserved: Building relationships with rural and northern communities, such as delivering counseling via Zoom to schools in the Northwest Territories.

• Vision for the Future: Growth plans including a nonprofit arm, expanding online resources, and building a learning community.

• Combating Stigma: The ongoing work of breaking down barriers and normalizing seeking mental health support, especially in smaller communities.

• Advice for Founders: The importance of clarity of vision, trusting your intuition, seeking mentorship, and building a supportive community.

TLDR: Maureen Codispodi is rewriting the rules of mental health access in Canada by fiercely pursuing inclusivity, connection, and innovation. Her story is a testament to intuition, tenacity, and the life-changing power of community-focused entrepreneurship.

Thank you for listening!

If this episode inspired you, please screenshot and share on social media—tag @meganswanwellness! Your support makes a difference.

Connect with Megan Swan

http://www.instagram.com/meganswanwellness

http://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-swan-wellness

www.meganswanwellness.com

Connect with Maureen Codispodi and Help Clinic Canada

https://helpclinic.ca

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureencodispodi/

Facebook

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/maureencodispodi/

https://www.instagram.com/helpcliniccanada/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@helpclinic

Keywords

mental health access, female founder, rural communities, online therapy, low-fee counselling, Help Clinic Canada, entrepreneurship, women in tech, nonprofit vision, student therapists, building communities, trusting intuition, mentorship, stigma, mental wellbeing, accessible therapy, school counseling, northern Canada, startup journey, community partnerships, holistic wellness

Curious about where women’s health and femtech are headed? In this episode, Megan Swan welcomes Anna Butterworth, founder of Ultra Violet Agency, the world’s first trend forecasting agency dedicated to women’s health. Together, they illuminate how holistic foresight and technological innovation are reshaping the way we approach reproductive health, aging, femtech, and preventative wellness for women everywhere.

Key Points Discussed:

• The Origin Story: Anna shares how her professional journey from marketing to femtech trailblazer was fueled by a personal awakening to the gaps in women’s health education and resources.

• The Power of Strategic Foresight: How UltraViolet Agency predicts trends for the next decade, and why this matters for brands, investors, and consumers in the rapidly evolving femtech landscape.

• Beyond Point Solutions: The problem with industry fragmentation and the urgent need to solve women’s health challenges on a strategic, global scale.

• Building Future-Proof Wellness: The methodology behind forecasting reports covering menopause, maternal care, women’s sports, and more, including input from multidisciplinary experts and a focus on diversity and risk mitigation.

• Tech & Nature, Not Tech vs. Nature: Exploring the tension (and potential harmony) between technological innovation and environmental stewardship, with a forward-thinking look at how tech can empower rather than undermine women’s health and the planet.

• Preventative & Personalized Care: Why the future of wellness is about actionable insights, hyper-personalization, and putting true agency back in women’s hands without amplifying anxiety or bias.

• Healthy Aging and Menopause: Redefining aging for women, shifting from “lifespan” to “healthspan,” and supporting a new generation of women spending half their lives post-menopause.

TLDR: Ultra Violet Agency is at the frontier of forecasting the next era in women’s wellness, one that combines tech innovation, inclusivity, longevity, and women-first design to democratize health, prioritize prevention, and empower the next billion women.

Thank you for listening!

If this episode inspired you, take a screenshot and tag @meganswanwellness on social media. Let’s amplify the future of women’s health together!

Connect with Megan Swan

http://www.instagram.com/meganswanwellness

http://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-swanwellness

www.meganswanwellness.com

Learn more about Anna Butterworth and UltraViolet Agency:

https://www.ultraviolet.agency/reports

*You can download the 2035 trend report!

Keywords

femtech, women’s health forecasting, preventative care, personalized wellness, health data equity, trend reports, longevity, menopause, diversity in tech, gender health gap, holistic aging, future of healthcare, tech for good, environmentalism, social activism, female founders, digital wellness, inclusivity, reproductive health innovation, agency, healthspan, wellness strategy, lifestyle design.