GET TO KNOW OUR STORY
After five years of celebrating female entrepreneurship through the Startup Awards, Marian Spier knew in 2020, it was time to change. That’s why amid the pandemic, Marian teamed up with Sandra van der Pal, Simone van Bijsterveldt, and Ellen Tacoma to establish FEM-START. FEM-START exists to bridge the funding-gap for female entrepreneurs. FEM-START is an e-educational platform offering courses on funding and entrepreneurship to help female entrepreneurs achieve their dream! We aim to get 100.000 women funded by 2030. FEM-START is a thriving community for women entrepreneurs, offering education, mentorship, and support to build their businesses and bridge the funding gap. Join us and unleash the full potential of female entrepreneurship today!
Interested in joining FEM-START?
Meet the FEM-START founders
Marian Spier
FOUNDER
As one of the leading female social entrepreneurs in the Netherlands,
Marian Spier is passionate about creating positive social change and seeing women excel in business. In 2018 she was awarded an EU Business Angel Award for her work with the TedxAmsterdamWomen StartUp Awards. The award is given to a woman who positively impacted the Early Stage Investment arena. It’s awarded to women who are inspiring role models — who have pushed for inclusivity, female empowerment, innovation, and diversity.
Marian seeks to continue her work and passion by launching FEM-START to build a sustainable environment for women-led startups in the Netherlands and throughout the world.
Awards
- Webby Awards, 2012
- Cannes Lion Awards, 2012
- Lean In EU Women Business Angels: Best
- Newcomer Award 2018
- Nominee Black Achievement Awards, 2018
- Inspiring Fifty: 50 Women in Tech NL, 2013, 2017 and 2019
Simone van Bijsterveldt
CFO & CO-FOUNDER
Simone van Bijsterveldt is an experienced CFO and has helped countless companies with organising their financial structure and strategy. Ranging from experience with Dutch Charity Lotteries to Media Monks to the absolute beginning of start-ups, Simone has worked with people and organisations from all walks of life. Simone has a passion for finances, culture and people. She’s a member of the supervisory board of the Dutch Film Fund and TivoliVredenburg as well as the chair of the audit committee.
As a woman in the c-suite, Simone has always strived to be a strong team player that uplifts others. By joining FEM-START Simone combines her passion and expertise; creating change for others by utilizing her experience and knowledge.
Sandra van der Pal
CO-FOUNDER
Sandra van der Pal has worked with Marian for years as a volunteer at the Startup Awards of TEDxAmsterdamWomen, where they found each other in their passion for female entrepreneurship. In her role as Innovation Acceleration Manager, she has years of experience in leading and training social startups throughout the world. She has contributed to setting up an accelerator program and hub in South Africa for social startups.
At present, Sandra is active at The Next Web as a Senior Manager of Open Innovation.
Ellen Tacoma
CO-FOUNDER
Ellen Tacoma has years of experience as both an entrepreneur and holding diverse management positions in the corporate field.
Ellen is the co-founder of Women on Wings, whose mission is to create one million jobs for women in India’s rural areas, with offices in both the Netherlands and India. As of now, a total of 284.000 jobs are realized in collaboration with Indian entrepreneurs.
She’s also built her expertise by being responsible for an international accelerator with hubs in the Netherlands, Uganda, Kenia, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Why FEM-START?
FEMPRENEURHULP
A SOCIAL CAUSE WE SUPPORT
FEMPRENEURHULP was born from the idea to support, nurture and stimulate growth amongst female entrepreneurs, for free. FEMPRENEURHULP matches mentees with an expert within their field, ranging from finance to HR to strategy.
Did we pique your interest?
Join FEM-START now! Find out more about what FEM-START can mean to you. We provide educational courses on funding, nurture a growing community of female entrepreneurs and organise events all year long.
