
Launching a Platform for Change – Nadine Ridder
In 2016, Nadine Ridder didn’t launch her freelance career with a flashy business plan or investor pitch. What she did have was a clear intention:
As a female entrepreneur, securing funding for your startup can be daunting, especially in a world where only a tiny percentage of venture capital funding goes to women-led businesses. However, funding is crucial to starting and growing a business, and various ways exist to secure it. In this article, we will walk you through the funding process for a female-led startup and provide tips on securing funding. In addition, you will learn the stories of female founders in the FEM-START network that have been successful at securing funding.
Funding comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes and there are various methods you can explore to grow your business. Before exploring the best ways for your business let’s understand the three most common methods to raise funds. These methods can be broadly classified into four groups: bootstrapping & crowdfunding, investors, loans and grants, and subsidies.
Now that you understand the main funding options, below you can find the first steps towards funding your startup.
Starting and growing a business as a female entrepreneur can be challenging, especially when securing funding. Despite the challenges, many female-led startups in the Netherlands have successfully raised funding for their businesses. At FEM-START we aim at changing this and supporting women entrepreneurs to get ready to go through the funding process. Below are a few examples of three outstanding female-led startups in the Netherlands that have successfully raised funding, Quan Well Being, Minite Works, and Breeze Social. In the section below you can get insights into their approach to the funding process.
While securing funding as a female entrepreneur can be challenging, it is achievable. To increase your chances of securing funding for your business, it is essential to have a well-thought-out approach, a clear and compelling pitch, and persistence. Additionally, various resources and programs are available to help female entrepreneurs secure funding.
One such resource is a free course on “Introduction to Funding,” which covers the basics of funding, including the different types of funding available, the funding process, and how to create a compelling pitch and business plan. By following the insights and best practices from successful female-led startups, combined with knowledge from the course, female entrepreneurs can increase their chances of securing funding and turning their business vision into a reality.
In conclusion, funding should not be a hidden secret for female entrepreneurs. By learning from the experiences of successful female-led startups and taking advantage of the resources and programs available, female entrepreneurs can increase their chances of securing the necessary funding to start and grow their businesses. Follow our free course on “Introduction to Funding” to learn more.
In 2016, Nadine Ridder didn’t launch her freelance career with a flashy business plan or investor pitch. What she did have was a clear intention:
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