WHAT IS
FEM-START?
Not all incubator and accelerator programmes are made equal. FEM-START is an intentionally inclusive programme that seeks to empower women techpreneurs to change the world. We support women-led startups, based in Europe, that focus on tech or social impact. We provide communication and confidence training as well as giving access to capital and important business tools.
HOW WE WORK
FOR WOMEN, BY WOMEN
We help entrepreneurs like you to thrive by providing you a safe space to build your business. We work with women of all backgrounds, regardless of race and religion. We don’t just want to get you a seat at the table, we want to help you build your own table.
COACHING & CONFIDENCE
Our intensive business training programme helps you to build your confidence and develop your communication skills. From pitching to financial management, you’ll learn how to communicate your value effectively to investors, with the help of a personal mentor.
MONEY & MORE
We not only give you access to capital,
we also provide you with practical resources such as coworking space, networking opportunities and help marketing your business.
MEET OUR FEM-PRENEURS
Here are some of the women-led startups we’ve worked with
Lotte Leufkens
CloudCuddle
“The TEDxAmsterdamWomen Startup Award trajectory was extremely instructive. First off you meet 25 other inspiring entrepreneurial women and you receive workshops and coaches during the trajectory towards the final. Because of this you are able to analyze your company from many different angles such as finance, legal and marketing.
In the following months we were able to learn a lot and bring the company further due to the experience of all of the coaches and especially of course Marian Spier.”
Diem Do
CodeGorilla
“Winning the TEDxAmsterdamWomen Startup Award in 2018 was a game changer for CodeGorilla. We were able to instantly connect with key players and big corporates. The media buzz surrounding the award helped us to gain even more traction.
For me personally, meeting the other female entrepreneurs was really inspiring and I had to commit myself to help other female entrepreneurs whenever I can and if we will all do that then many more will follow and we can be a force to be reckoned with.”
Christina Moreno
SheMatters
“The TEDxAmsterdamWomen Startup Award has been highly beneficial for She Matters. Not only did it give us great PR and exposure, but it also gave me a large network of like minded women who I lean on for support – both for my company and as an entrepreneur.
It’s been a crucial part of our success,
and will always be part of the She Matters’ story.”
Our Founder
As one of the leading social entrepreneurs in The Netherlands, Marian is passionate about creating positive social change and seeing women excel in business. In 2018 she was awarded a EU Business Angel Award for her work with the TEDxAmsterdam Women StartUp Awards. The award is granted to a woman who has made a positive impact in the Early Stage Investment arena. It’s also awarded to women who are inspiring role models – who have pushed for inclusivity, female empowerment, innovation and diversity.
By launching FEM-START, Marian seeks to continue this work and build a sustainable ecosystem for women-led startups in the Netherlands and Europe.
AWARDS
Webby Awards, 2012
Cannes Lion Awards, 2012
Inspiring Fifty 50 Women in Tech NL 2013, 2017 and 2019
Lean in EU Women Business Angels –
Best Newcomer Award 2018
Nominee Black Achievement Awards, 2018
BLOG
Our latest news and activities from our community
Meet Sandra van der Pal, co-founder of FEM-START’s latest initiative FEMpreneurhulp, an online platform and mentoring program empowering female entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 pandemic
By Azaina Shaikh and Paola Hasbun The COVID-19 pandemic brought about an array of challenges for businesses worldwide, disproportionately affecting women-led businesses. From working remotely to losing revenue, running a business during a pandemic has not been easy...
Meet Ebere Akadiri: Founder of Rise and Lead Women, changing the face of leadership in workplaces
By Azaina Shaikh and Paola Hasbun We spoke with Ebere Akadiri, a social entrepreneur and visionary leader, whose zeal for gender inclusivity and leadership development amongst women is inspirational. With over 20 years of business experience, Ebere is a successful...
Meet Živilė Meškauskaitė: Building community and connections one event at a time
By Azaina Shaikh and Paola Hasbun As part of our interview series showcasing and celebrating women leading the forefronts of FEM-START, we had the pleasure of interviewing Živilė Meškauskaitė, co-founder of FEM-START Lithuania. Živilė is dedicated to generating social...
SIGN UP
Hey, FEM-PRENEUR! We’d love to work with you.
Got a social impact or tech startup? Our next programme starts in Spring 2020 and we’’ll start accepting applications in October 2019. Sign up to get notified when applications open.
ARE YOU AN INVESTOR?
Email us at info@fem-start.com