MELBOURNE, Fla. — weVENTURE Women’s Business Center, a program of the Florida Tech Bisk College of Business, is continuing its mission to fuel economic opportunity for women across the Space Coast with a series of high-impact events, including the return of its signature fundraiser, Wine Women & Shoes, on Saturday, August 2.
Now in its third year, the event blends fashion, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship into a vibrant afternoon of wine tastings, boutique shopping, and designer showcases—all in support of women in business. Taking place from 2 to 6 p.m. at Florida Tech’s Clemente Center, the event serves as a key funding source for weVENTURE’s year-round programs.
The event’s 2025 title sponsor is Wells Fargo and for the third year in a row, For Your Best Self Dermatology + Plastic Surgery is the presenting sponsor. “Their investment has helped grow this event to be the hottest event of the summer,” noted weVENTURE Executive Director Kathryn Rudloff.
Last year, weVENTURE WBC served nearly 1,000 unique small business clients, hosted 53 educational seminars, and awarded close to $50,000 in business grants and scholarships—much of it made possible through proceeds from the Wine Women & Shoes event.
“Supporting this event means investing directly into the growth and sustainability of women-owned businesses in our region,” added Rudloff.
Following Wine Women & Shoes, weVENTURE has two more major community events on the horizon:
The Hispanic Business Summit returns on September 20 at the Vertex Applied Innovation Hub at Florida Tech, bringing together entrepreneurs and business leaders from the local Spanish-speaking community for a half-day of connection and collaboration.
Then on October 2nd, the Impact Summit takes place at Premiere Oaks in Melbourne, offering workshops, panels, and networking opportunities across all industries. The event will also include the presentation of IMPACT Grants, partially funded by weVENTURE’s League of Extraordinary Investors.
Founded with the goal of “igniting the economic power of women,” weVENTURE continues to serve as a vital resource for Central Florida’s business community, offering low- and no-cost mentoring, training, and leadership development programs that help women start, grow, and lead businesses with confidence.
For more information on upcoming events or how to get involved, visit weventure.fit.edu or follow @WineWomenShoesSpaceCoast on social media for event updates and vendor previews.
