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 Behind the Scenes > Musings, Insights + Growth at Female Founders Rise        

?? Join us, LinkedIn, Friday at 12 noon > Getting female founders funded ??

Week ending 25th Feb '23 - 1604 applications and 3321?LinkedIn followers. Busy week - lots of movement in the right direction.

Challenges

1) Ongoing challenge of who is FFR for? I know we can't serve everyone but I don't want to leave people out ?? which always makes it hard. With limited time, energy, and money I have to focus on one or two core segments initially. Probably going to start with those looking to get funded and open this up over time. Currently thinking 'founders of UK Ltd businesses that are looking to get some kind of funding over the next few years'. Also need to start looking at the other segments (and interviewing them). There's also the tech challenge behind that - getting people that apply to self-select correctly and then funneling them into the right segment. Sounds easy but in practice isn't always.

2) Currently doing most of FFR myself - from planning events, sponsorship, getting masterclasses booked, sending emails, replying to messages, and doing social media. I love it but I need help. I need to find the right person that enjoys and is able to help with all these things - which is always difficult, especially with limited budgets at the mo. Maybe it's time to start generating some revenue!

3) Still struggling with getting VCs to our IWD event but I'm getting to the bottom of understanding why that is. There are SO many other IWD events that people are being pulled in so many directions. Will be interesting to see how it goes with future ones. If you want to come or you know anyone that might please DM me.

Maybe this was a good week I don't feel that there have been so many challenges

Highlights

1) Big excitement is that we're going to be hosting an event at 谷歌 (thanks to Neil Lock ) - this was one of my goals for FFR for 2023. Save the date for May 18th morning for female founders raising ??

2) An unexpected highlight - Spoke to 13 members of our community for 20-30 mins each. Blown away by these women doing incredible things - people join FFR daily - so this was a great opportunity to get to know members and to understand more about our audience.

Research is so underrated and is so critical to making improvements. Asking them

• why they joined FFR
• what they want from it
• what is missing in the eco-system
• where else they go for help
• ideas to make it better

3) Popped in to see Bharti Radix at BloomsYard to talk through our IWD event. We have 140 people coming - mainly female founders raising, but also going to do a mini VC/ investor showcase. Got ideas from the research project above about what works well at events (and what doesn't)

4) Been on 3 podcasts this week. Loved this, I don't prep or do anything beforehand (apart from if I have time putting on a clean jumper and some lipgloss!) Thanks to Grace Temporal Sorabji + Ollie Henderson + Melissa Parks, Ph.D. for taking the time to chat with me about life, being a mum of 4 and female entrepreneurship.

5) Co-hosted a dinner for VCs with Bill Cogan , my client from Seven Legal - was great to connect with some fab people working in venture capital, build relationships, and better understand what goes on behind the scenes (they work bloody hard!)

6) Finished the week on a high with our first LinkedIn Audio event with some members joining us on stage Lucy Killerby MCIPD + hatice ugurel + Sally Page + Yolanda Sissing + Liz Hamlet + Ellen Kelly + Irina Gheorghiu and about 100 people in the audience. We had so much fun and amazing feedback. We'll do this again next week and you can join > Getting more female founders funded register here

Upcoming events

LINKEDIN AUDIO - Getting more female founders funded.

All invited -?register here. Friday 3rd at 12 noon.

We'll be joined on-stage by Gareth Hawkins Fergus Bell and Antonia Burridge , and some of our members that are raising.

Turn up and listen in the audience (think Clubhouse) or come and join us on stage.?

MASTERCLASSES ONLINE (delivered by the best!)

?? Check your Friday morning emails and if not already registered do so here?Female Founders Rise.

1. Your time to shine;?overcoming imposter syndrome and building confidence for female entrepreneurs?with?Nonie M C White,?Debbie Clarke ?? aka debbiedooodah?and?Sophie Clyde-Smith?--?ONLINE panel event 14th Mar
2. Early-stage marketing essentials and Q&A?with?Maya Moufarek?--
3. Pitch Practice?-- Anyone who is raising, come and pitch to each other + some friendly investors will be there to help.?
4. Is VC right for you with Dan Bowyer

Have a fab week and love to know any thoughts or feedback.

Connect with me here Emmie Faust and this is a LinkedIn newsletter that I send Monday highlighting behind the scenes at FFR - if you want to unsubscribe, comment or share (thank you) here is the link

Have a great week

Emmie