#StepFWD Archives

Why having a diverse team can contribute to a startup’s success

Did you know that companies that are diverse, are 35% more likely to gain higher financial returns according to research made by (McKinsey, 2015)? That’s mainly because having a startup that prioritizes diversity and inclusion leads to increased creativity, improved decision-making, and faster problem-solving. When we’re surrounded by people like us, there’s a tendency for everyone to agree on the same things, or have similar weaknesses and blindspots. A more

Why should you pre-accelerate with StepFWD?

Before diving into what you will actually get by spending your time with us during a couple of intense pre-acceleration weeks, I believe it would be helpful for any founder to have some insights into why are we (still) doing StepFWD! Being honest and straight to the point are 2 things that we value and proactively practice, as they are the fundamental things in working towards achieving our mission. So

5 things to consider when going after your first round of investment

Have you ever dreamed of taking your first rounds of investments in order to make your company a success? Well, think again because in reality not all the investments that have been made or will be made in the future will be successful. There are gonna be ups and downs throughout the negotiation phase, how you interact with your investor, and how you move forward with your startup. That’s why

Marketing Coordinator @ StepFWD

At StepFWD we are on a mission to grow the number of diverse startup teams by teaching them “how to” startup properly, facilitating the connection with experienced mentors, and making them investible. For the past 3 years, we’ve worked with 31 startups from 13 industries, comprised of 60 founders (27 being female founders), from 7 countries. We had 60+ mentors volunteering their time to help our entrepreneurs grow and 50+

Listen. Learn. Lead.

I want to tell you three real stories about the ups and downs of founding a startup, building a team and growing a business. There’s a lesson in each of these stories and my aim for this presentation is not to provide you with more answers, as it’s usually the case with these kinds of presentations, but for you to have more and deeper questions about why you’re doing what

Licenseware, The License Management App Ecosystem, raises 500,000 euro in Seed round from Early Game Ventures and Fortech Investments

Licenseware, the Romanian startup that helps companies manage their IT costs, raised its second investment round worth 500,000 euros. Early Game Ventures led the round with participation from Fortech Investments. More than the capital, this follow-on round proves and strengthens the connection and understanding between the start-up and its two strategic investors. “I’m happy to say that, over the past 6 months since the initial Pre-Seed investment, Licenseware has gained

StepFWD Stories – Hiring DnA

HiringDNA proposes a solution that redefines the way of hiring. Did you have a not so pleasant experience in the process of hiring? Let’s see how they want to revolutionize the industry. The Team behind the startup We have worked for quite a while together, building amazing products for other businesses and startups. We all have technical backgrounds, but Teodor made a transition to business in the last few years.

StepFWD Stories – Underdog Station

Creating a platform for indie and alternative music is a great way to contribute to the local community. Underdog Station is the indie music platform made in Romania. Its mission is to help artists to get more exposure and be a meeting point for the community of indie / alternative artists and listeners. The Team behind the startup We are a somewhat unlikely mix of people that came together for

StepFWD Story – Bright Living

The interaction with the next team was flawless from the beginning. This is because the founders are so dedicated, and their mission is to bring inner peace closer to us. The selection interview was the first contact in the context of StepFWD, and we know that it’s a perfect match. Guessed the team? Well… Today we find more things about Ema and Chris, the people that build Bright Living. Bright

StepFWD Demo Day 2021

On November 22, StepFWD will have the 3rd Demo Day. The 2021 Cohort will showcase their progress through the 8-weeks pre-accelerator in front of an audience of entrepreneurs, investors, industry professionals, and the extended community. Throughout the 8 weeks, the selected startups have been through an intensive experience. StepFWD has brought together 54 mentors with diverse backgrounds, from entrepreneurs and investors, all the way to professionals from the tech industry.

Category: #StepFWD