Michelle A. Wainwright

Cute as a Cupcake! Cupcakery & Bake Shop

Owner and Founder

Michelle A. Wainwright is the Owner and Founder of Cute as a Cupcake! Cupcakery & Bake Shop, a certified minority- and women-owned dessert company established in 2015 in Merrillville, Indiana.

Following a successful career spanning more than 14 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Michelle transitioned into entrepreneurship, transforming her passion for baking and cherished family recipes into a growing, multichannel dessert brand.

Under her leadership, Cute as a Cupcake! has expanded beyond traditional retail into e-commerce, nationwide shipping, wholesale distribution, hospitality partnerships, corporate gifting, mobile dessert experiences, and automated retail through its signature Cupcakes in a Jar.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University Bloomington and an MBA from Indiana University Northwest. She is also a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program and Dartmouth’s Tuck Executive Education program.

Beyond entrepreneurship, Michelle is passionate about mentorship, community engagement, and creating opportunities for others. Through her nonprofit initiative, Cutie Cares, she supports programs addressing food insecurity, community wellness, and families in need.

A wife, mother of three, and dedicated community advocate, Michelle continues to build her legacy around a simple philosophy: “A life without Cupcakes is a Life without Love!”