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“And ironically, we created a to-go concept that was so cozy and so warm and welcoming and charming and something so different than what was offered in New York at the time that people wanted to stay.”
In this episode of the Entreprenista Podcast, Elisa Marshall, co-founder of Maman, shares the inspiring story behind building one of the most beloved café brands in the country. What started as a cozy Soho storefront in 2014 has grown into more than 50 locations across North America, all fueled by passion, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to community and connection.
Elisa opens up about her entrepreneurial roots, from flipping Spice Girls collectibles on eBay at 12 years old to balancing careers in fashion, baking, catering, and event planning before finally creating a business that combined everything she loved under one roof. She reveals how she and her husband bootstrapped Maman with savings, sweat equity, and help from family, hand-painting walls and sourcing vintage décor themselves to bring their vision to life.
What We Talked About:
Building a Business From Passion [1:55]
The Magic of Opening Day [15:44]
Going VIRAL [18:52]
Expanding Beyond New York [28:45]
The Importance of Personal Connection [30:37]
Connect with Elisa:
@_byeelisa_ on Instagram
@_mamannyc_ on Instagram
Visit a maman cafe near you!
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Guests
Elisa Marshall
Hosts
Stephanie Cartin
Stephanie Cartin is a serial entrepreneur, investor, podcast host, community builder, and a champion for women founders. She created the Entreprenista League, a community for women founders, to provide resources and support necessary at all business stages. She’s also the Co-founder of Socialfly, one of the first social media marketing agencies, as well as Entreprenista Media and Pearl Influential Capital which was recently acquired by Cherub. Stephanie has shared her journey managing her health challenges with Multiple Sclerosis, Infertility, and a complicated pregnancy and is an advocate for women going through similar challenges. Her story and businesses have been featured on the Today Show, Bloomberg and Forbes. Consider Stephanie your biggest business cheerleader.
Courtney Spritzer
Courtney Spritzer is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, author, and community builder with a passion for creating brands and platforms that empower women to lead, grow, and thrive.
In 2012, she co-founded Socialfly, a leading social-first digital and influencer marketing agency. Over the course of a decade, she helped scale the business into an award-winning agency working with Fortune 500 brands and emerging startups, building a powerhouse team and culture along the way. In 2024, Socialfly was acquired.
In 2018, Courtney launched the Entreprenista Podcast to spotlight the stories of inspiring women founders. That passion evolved into Entreprenista Media in 2021, a media platform and community supporting women entrepreneurs at every stage of growth. She now co-leads the continued expansion of The Entreprenista League, a membership-driven community and ecosystem for founders.
As an angel investor, Courtney supports female-led and mission-driven startups aligned with her vision for a more inclusive and equitable business landscape.
She is the co-author of Like, Love, Follow: The Entreprenista’s Guide to Using Social Media to Grow Your Business (2015), a strategic guide for leveraging social platforms to drive business success.
Her work and ventures have been featured in Bloomberg, Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and The New York Times. She is committed to championing visionary founders and helping build the next generation of impactful, community-driven businesses.
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