Making new friends and connections as an adult is hard, and it can feel even harder if you’re an entrepreneur. After I graduated college and started building my business, I quickly realized that making genuine connections wasn’t going to happen automatically. It took effort and some trial and error.
The good news? I found some amazing resources along the way, and I want to share them with you!
If you’re a female entrepreneur looking to make connections, expand your network, and even find new friends, you’re in the right place. I rounded up my favorite networking groups for female entrepreneurs in South Central PA.
Whether you’re looking for business networking groups focused on growth, or simply a community of inspiring women, there’s something on this list for you. Let’s get started!
8 Networking Groups for Female Entrepreneurs in South Central PA
1. The Beauty Boost
Location: Lancaster
The Beauty Boost is a community for women that helps them feel “empowered, healthy and beautiful.” There are chapters all over the country, and we’ve got one right in Lancaster. The Beauty Boost hosts a variety of monthly events, and there’s something for everyone.
On top of their quarterly Women in Business Networking Nights, they’ve also got other fun events where you can make connections:
- Workout classes
- Game nights
- Clothing swaps
- Spa nights
- Creative workshops
- And more!
Learn more about The Beauty Boost Lancaster.
2. Faire Sol
Location: Lancaster & beyond
Faire Sol curates aesthetic themed events for women. It was founded in 2024 by Hannah and Amy, a wedding planner and stationer who recognized how hard it was to make friends as an adult. Their mission is to “curate events where women choose kindness over competition, grow in community, and feel free to be wholly themselves.”
You can go to their events with a friend or try them solo! Either way, you’ll definitely leave with new connections.
A few of their past events:
- PJs & Pop (slumber party theme)
- Glitz & Spritz (New Year’s Eve event)
- That’s Amore (upscale pizza night)
Learn more about Faire Sol.
3. Young Professionals
Location: Lancaster, Harrisburg, & York
The Young Professionals groups in Lancaster (LYP), Harrisburg (HYP), and York (YYP) are great organizations for connecting with others in your community. Joining one is an excellent way to network both professionally and personally while getting to explore your city. Each city’s group hosts happy hours, networking events, guest speakers, community volunteer opportunities, sports leagues, and more. I’ve been part of both HYP and LYP, and have made connections with many wonderful people.
Check out Harrisburg Young Professionals, Lancaster Young Professionals, and York Young Professionals.
4. Silo
Location: Lancaster & York
Silo is a creative community founded by photographer Austin Gingerich. Austin notes it’s “a community of beautiful creative humans who come together and make a safe space to freely practice and grow talents and creative endeavors.” There are regular in-person and online events for creatives. These events focus on building community and navigating the world of creative entrepreneurship. If you have a creative business, you’ll want to check out Silo!
Learn more about Silo on Instagram and check out their resources on YouTube.
5. Polka Dot Powerhouse
Location: Capital Region, Lancaster, & York
Polka Dot Powerhouse is “a worldwide community of positive, purpose-driven women in every stage of life who are committed to connection, collaboration, and celebration.” It’s a sisterhood for women who want to support and inspire each other while building real relationships. They host in-person lunches, guest speakers, monthly connection meetings, and more! If you’re interested in becoming a member, they welcome you to attend a monthly meeting for free to check it out.
There are currently six Polka Dot Powerhouse chapters in Pennsylvania, with three of them in the South Central region. Come join me at the Capital Region chapter!
Find more information on the Capital Region, Lancaster, and York chapters.
6. Leading Ladies Summit
Location: Lancaster
The Leading Ladies summit is an annual event that takes place in Lancaster. Their goal is to bring together “trailblazing women entrepreneurs and thought leaders” for a day of learning and networking.
Some of the activities you can expect:
- Panel discussions
- A keynote speech
- Interactive workshops
- Networking opportunities with attendees and vendors
If you want to build new connections with other women-owned businesses, the Leading Ladies Summit is a great place to start.
Check out the Leading Ladies Summit.
Note: While the Leading Ladies Summit only happens once per year, there are likely plenty of other local conferences in your area to choose from too. Search around and see what you can discover!
7. Chambers of Commerce
Location: Your town or city
A chamber of commerce is an organization made up of local businesses that promotes the commercial and community interests of its area. Chambers of commerce help make their towns and cities wonderful places to live and work. They host networking events, mixers, guest speakers, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers, and more. Joining a local chamber of commerce can give you access to excellent networking opportunities in your area.
Some of the chambers in South Central PA:
- New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce
- Mechanicsburg Chamber of Commerce
- Harrisburg Regional Chamber
- West Shore Chamber of Commerce
- Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
- Northern Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce
Find a chamber near you with the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce Directory.
8. Create Your Own Business Group
Location: Your community
Finally, if you’re looking for something a little different than typical networking groups, I’d encourage you to create your own! Forming your own group of like-minded entrepreneurs can help inspire you and keep you accountable. In fact, a few other creatives and I got together to form a group called “Creative Collective”. We meet bi-weekly and it has been an amazing experience. We help each other set goals, discuss the challenges of being an entrepreneur, and encourage each other when we have wins.
Maybe the community you’ve been looking for is just waiting for you to start it!
Additional Ways of Networking for Businesses
Networking groups don’t have to be official to be effective. Even if the event or community isn’t networking-focused, it doesn’t mean you won’t still make valuable connections. The following are a few unofficial ways I’ve connected with other entrepreneurs in my community.
Attend Local Events
Attending local events is a great way to meet people who are interested in the same things as you.
Some ideas to try:
- Craft events
- Local theater events
- Community movie nights
- Open mic nights
- Volunteer events
- 5ks
Pro Tip: Check out your local YWCA. They host a variety of events!
Join a Sports League or Workout Class
If you want to meet new people while staying active, joining a sports league or going to a workout class is a great way to do that. I personally have made connections through participating in a kickball league, a volleyball league, playing pickleball, going to cycle studios, and more.
A few of my favorites:
Work Remotely (in Public)
Lastly, one of my favorite ways to meet other business owners who are working remotely is through local coworking spots and coffee shops. I’ve made connections just by editing content on my computer and people asking me what I’m working on. I even made a friend once at a coffee shop when we both noticed we were working on something similar!
Local to Mechanicsburg? Check out my favorite coffee shops to work from in Mechanicsburg.
Advice for Finding Your Networking Groups
One of the best pieces of advice I can give you:
Go where your desired network already is.
For example, my ideal connections are women between 22 and 50 who are community-minded, active, and interested in beauty and lifestyle. So, that’s exactly where I show up! I go to wellness events, Galentines nights, local workout studios, creative workshops, etc.
When you put yourself in the right places, connections come naturally.
Ready to Grow Your Network in South Central PA?
Whether you’re just getting started with networking for your business or looking to expand on the connections you’ve already built, this list of entrepreneur resources in South Central PA is a great starting point. These groups have genuinely changed my life (professionally and personally). I hope they can do the same for you.
➡️ If you’re local to PA and found these business networking resources helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and let me know which group you’re going to try first.
➡️ Was there a networking group that you think should be included in this list? Comment your suggestions below and let’s help each other out!
April 2, 2026
