MIDDLETON, Wis. — A Wisconsin baker who just opened her first storefront is going the extra mile to help others achieve their goals.

What You Need To Know

  • Miggy's Bakes opened its first storefront on Frank Lloyd Wright Ave in Middleton in June

  • Owner Shelby Olstad is working to empower other women, holding networking events through Events By Miggy's

  • Madison ranks 5th lowest in the country for the percentage of business owners who are women, according to OnDeck

  • Olstad also co-hosts the podcast "Screw It, Let's Do This!" with Therese Merkel, owner of Tricky Foods

Shelby Olstad, 26, is the founder of Miggy’s Bakes. The business opened its first physical location in June at 6712 Frank Lloyd Wright Ave. in Middleton.

She said it was a lifelong dream.

“I would say, ‘Oh yes, I’m going to have a bakery,’ and I was like six years old, and people would laugh at me,” Olstad said.

Olstad began her bakery out of her apartment when she was a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She always loved desserts and baking and would make things for friends and family. She started sharing photos on Instagram and gradually started taking more orders for baked goods and charging for them. Popular items include her unique cookie cups, s’mores bars and raspberry cheesecake cookies.

She quit her full-time job in 2021 to pursue her baking business full time.

While business is booming, Olstad said it wasn’t always an easy road, especially as a woman.

“They would ask me, ‘So who’s funding this, is it your dad helping you?’” she said. “And I would be like, ‘Nope!’”

Olstad is trying to do her part to help other young women pursue their business dreams. Earlier this year she launched Events by Miggy’s, which are professional development and networking opportunities for women in the Madison area.

According to a study by financial services company OnDeck, Madison ranked 5th lowest in the percentage of businesses owned by women, out of the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Olstad said the inspiration to start Events by Miggy’s came from the sense of community she got from her own group of female friends, many of whom are entrepreneurs.

“A lot of people don’t have that, so I was like ‘Okay, I’ll try to start something for all women in the area to have a group and meet other people and be there for each other with different things that they might not know’,” Olstad said.

Olstad also co-hosts the “Screw it, Let’s Do This!” podcast alongside Therese Merkel, owner of Tricky Foods. She hopes to use her platform to inspire others to follow their dreams, just like she did.