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ABOUT US
THE WOMEN BEHIND THE BRAND
Kate Isler and Susan Gates are the cofounders of The WMarketplace, The Economic Engine for Women. Seasoned business professionals with decades of experience in starting, growing and running businesses, Kate and Susan joined forces in 2020 to start The WMarketplace and support other women entrepreneurs and close the economic gender gap.
Susan and Kate know that when you invest in women, you are investing in their families, their communities and, most importantly, in their economic security. With women starting businesses at record rates and the skyrocketing global opportunity for marketing and selling online, they bring their years of experience to helping women access, sell and grow in the digital economy.
Both cofounders bring years of international business experience to WMarketplace, and their support for female founders quickly found an overseas market. With the urgent need to support women in Ukraine as they are sustaining and rebuilding their country, WMarketplace leveraged its knowledge of entrepreneurship in the digital econonomy and experience in public/private partnerships to bring WMarketplace training, market assessment, and consulting services to this vital group of entrepreneurs.
WMarketplace continues to support digital access and technical skills of U.S.-based women entrepreneurs through ongoing partnerships with Women's Business Centers through which we deliver our ecommerce Accelerator. Our partnership with California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development resulted in customized training for new-to-export businesses in California ready to explore global markets.
Our government relationships include our Official Strategic Partnership with the International Trade Administration, working with the U.S. State Department’s Academy for Women Entrepreneurs and workshop training with ITA’s SABIT program. This is a growing part of our business and we are deeply committed to supporting women entrepreneurs around the world.
Kate and Susan have been friends since 2003 when they briefly worked together at a tech start up in Seattle. While the startup didn’t last, Susan and Kate became fast friends with their shared values and mission for gender equity. Kate and Susan both are married, live in Seattle and have kids ranging from teenagers to grown men in their 30s. They are firmly committed to building a more equitable world for everyone.
