KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In light of celebrating Women’s History Month, female entrepreneurs through InnovateHER KC met to support each other’s businesses on Saturday.

Founder and CEO of InnovateHER KC Lauren Conaway says events like this help women in the community find opportunities for leverage and collaboration.

The number of women-owned businesses continues to grow year after year, but according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, women are still underrepresented in the market, making up only 21% of employer businesses.

For Cynthia Fails, founder and CEO of LaunchCrate Publishing, her decision to start a publishing business came from a desire to close an existing profit gap within the industry, especially for minority writers.

She is hoping to teach young writers how to open up those gates and empower them to reap the benefits of their own hard work.

“Find a network of support who is willing to lift you as you climb, and be willing to lift someone else up as you go as well,” Fails said. “The support that I have received from other women has been invaluable in my journey, and it usually comes right at the moment where I’m doubting whether or not I should be continuing on this path.”