CEO and Partner of Create & Cultivate

Marina Middleton is the CEO and Partner of Create & Cultivate, the leading events and media platform advancing women through access to resources, connections, and opportunities. Within six months of becoming CEO, she raised nearly $3 million in venture capital, a rare milestone for a first-time CEO and first-generation Egyptian immigrant in a funding landscape where women of color receive just 0.39% of VC dollars. A former corporate strategist turned founder and VC-backed CEO, Marina has led the launch of the world’s largest festival for women in business and created CONNECT, the largest AI-powered matchmaking platform for women. Prior to acquiring Create & Cultivate in 2023, she built digital media campaigns at Yahoo! and Tumblr and advised hundreds of female founders, and she has since been featured in Forbes, Inc., and Business Insider as a leading voice in entrepreneurship, venture capital, and inclusive community building.

Find Marina on Instagram @marinaamiddleton