Post by Cello Wealth

Never stop learning. On Thursday I sat in a room surrounded by female entrepreneurs. All building something. All figuring it out. And I was one of them. I have been selected by FEM-START to join the Growth programme and build my start-up. And I love it. FEM-START supports female entrepreneurs with growth ambitions who want to explore or prepare for funding. Leonie Ebbes put it simply: "Who is the customer? What is the problem? And does your company help provide the solution? Ultimately, it often holds true: the complaint is your strength." Berrit Blok on her funding story was equally sharp: “How much goes in and how much comes out? That’s what investors want to know.” Simple questions. Most founders can’t answer them when it matters. But here’s what struck me most. It wasn’t the content. It was the room. Women who showed up to learn the rules of a game they were never taught. Not waiting for permission. Not waiting until they felt ready. Just showing up. Access to capital starts with insight. And insight starts with showing up. Thank you Berrit Blok for the honesty, Leonie Ebbes for the clarity, Sandra Doevendans from City of Amsterdam for the impact words, and Rabobank Amsterdam for sponsoring and hosting. This is just a start. And I am there. As a founder. #FEMSTART #AccessToCapital #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #CelloWealth