avant now // innovation for impact

The future of entrepreneurship is female – and it’s unstoppable. Hundreds of ambitious women stepped forward in our latest round, making our selection process anything but easy. The sheer quality of ideas and the diverse challenges they address made our job tougher than ever - but that’s exactly why we love what we do! Behind the scenes, our incredible jury played a crucial role in ensuring that only the most promising and driven founders made it to the next stage. 🙏🏻 A heartfelt thank you to: 🔹 Dr. Johanna Richter, Managing Director of Stiftung Entrepreneurship, & impact startup founder 🔹 Emilie Vallauri, Head of Program at Techstars 🔹 Kerem Ergün, Startup Coach, Storyteller & Award-winning Filmmaker 🔹 Patricia Medina Weikert, People Strategy Consultant & Coach at we grow. The People Strategy 🔹 Viktoria Trosien, Founder & CEO, avant now // innovation for impact & Avant Now Accelerator + fem track And of course, to all the founders who applied: your ambition is what drives progress. We see you, we celebrate you, and we are excited to witness your success journey. The countdown is on! On March 3rd, we’ll unveil the next generation of women-led startups ready to take the world by storm. Watch this space 👀 #avantnow #femtrack #FemaleFounders #ImpactfulFutures #TechForGood

Imagine this: A young girl excitedly exploring the internet, only to encounter messages that make her feel unsafe. Heartbreakingly, this isn’t a rare story. It’s the reality for 1 in 3 German girls who experience online sexual harassment. This is why Bella Davis-Riemer founded Monarch AI. Fueled by a mission to create a safer, deception-free digital space for children and families, Bella is on the brink of launching a groundbreaking parental control app that merges cutting-edge technology with a supportive community to address these urgent challenges. What Makes Monarch AI Different? Monarch AI’s upcoming app goes beyond traditional parental controls with: 💡AI-Powered Safety: Detects risks like cyberbullying and harassment, alerting parents in real-time. 💡Screen Time Management: Promotes healthy digital habits with customizable limits. 💡Community Support: Connects families to share advice, experiences, and strategies for keeping children safe. 💡Real-Time Location Tracking: Offers peace of mind with precise GPS monitoring. It’s easy to see why Bella’s vision resonated with us and why she became part of our Avant Now Accelerator fem track, where we support women founders in creating meaningful impact. You can connect directly with Bella to learn more about her award-winning vision. And with the app’s launch just around the corner, you can already join the waitlist! 💻 www.monarchai.io #avantnow #femtrack #DigitalSafety #AIForGood #SaferInternet

💡Today’s Pitching Tip: Focus on traction, and fundraising will get much easier! 💡 In our recent Investor Pitching Sessions, Levente Kovacsik, Investment Analyst at Rockstart, shared a fundamental piece of advice for early-stage founders: “Traction is key to successful fundraising, even at the earliest stages. It proves that people actually want what you’re building. Whether it’s user growth, early revenue, or strong engagement, traction shows demand and reduces investor risk. So instead of just pitching your idea and its potential, demonstrate how you're executing and gaining momentum. This will turn your pitch into an opportunity for investors to join a growing success story.” This insight resonated deeply with many of our startups as they received valuable feedback on their elevator pitches during intimate breakout sessions with four investors, including Levente. These sessions weren’t just about honing delivery - they focused on showcasing the strength of ideas in a way that inspires investors to believe in your vision. Stay tuned for more highlights from our Investor Pitching Sessions, where we continue to bridge the gap between bold ideas and the people who can bring them to life. #AvantNow #PitchPractice #InvestorInsights #StartupJourney

Consider us impressed - our latest application round truly delivered! With several hundred applications received just 6 months after launching the Avant Now Accelerator fem track, it’s clear that women are excited to pursue the entrepreneurial path. While the German Startup Monitor 2024 reported a significant decrease in female founders to 18.8%, we see that, when given the right opportunities, women are just as ambitious and driven as any other entrepreneurs. These founders bring not only vision but also the determination and grit to turn their ambitions into impactful ventures. Thank you to everyone who applied to our program! And a special shoutout to everyone who helped spread the word, including the incredible startup ecosystem providers, our current participants, and alumni. To all our amazing allies: thank you for your unbeatable support! For now, we’re diving into the inspiring submissions that promise to redefine what’s possible and shape the future. 💃 So, selection announcements are in the works. Stay tuned for updates! #AvantNow #TrailblazingWomen #ImpactInnovation #StartupEcosystem

🚨 Final Call for Applications! 🚨 To all aspiring women founders: we’ve got you! We’re here to give your idea the support it deserves. It’s time to take the leap and turn your vision into reality. The Avant Now Accelerator fem track is a 6 to 12-month program designed to support women founders scale their ventures. With up to €105,000 in equity-free funding, tailored mentorship, and a thriving ecosystem, this is your chance to create meaningful change through your business idea. 💡 Whether you’re tackling societal challenges or driving innovation in climate tech for a greener, fairer future, we’re here to help you make it happen. 📅 Deadline: THIS WEDNESDAY, January 15th 🌟 Ready to begin your journey? Apply now: www.avant-now.com #avantnow #opportunity #femtrack #femalefounders

Reflecting on 2024: A Year Beyond Our Wildest Dreams ✨ This year, our achievements have surpassed even our boldest expectations. And yet, we continue to dream big for 2025 😉 Here’s a look back at some of the highlights that made 2024 extraordinary: 🚀 The Avant Now Accelerator, now in its 6th cohort, continues to champion diversity, with 93% of founders coming from underrepresented backgrounds and 50% women founders. 💃 Launching the Avant Now Accelerator fem track: This year, we proudly kicked off the Avant Now Accelerator fem track, empowering women entrepreneurs. We’re now recruiting for our third cohort - deadline is Jan 15th! You can find the link in the comments. 🌍 Berlin Startup Nexus: The first edition was a resounding success, thanks to SAP and our BSS ecosystem partners. The focus on climate tech laid the foundation for exciting opportunities ahead. 🏆 A moment of recognition: Receiving the official Zuwendungsbescheid for the Avant Now Accelerator fem track from Franziska Giffey, Senator for Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Energie und Betriebe, at deGUT - Messe zum Gründen und Unternehmen 2024 was another standout moment. 🎉 Celebrating young talent: We couldn’t be prouder of 12-year-old Lucia, founder of Cookie Care, for presenting her innovative self-care app at the @Entrepreneurship Summit as one of the Top 10 finalists and winning as one of the Top 3. 📚 Recognition in the Accelerator Guide: A huge thank you to Foundersphere.io for featuring us and highlighting our work. 👩💻 Raise Female Platform: We have launched our Raise Female platform with more than 50 inspiring women entrepreneurs to support them raising funding rounds with confidence and to contribute towards closing the female funding gap. While numbers don’t tell the full story, here’s 2024 at a glance for us: 📊 Startups supported: 29 individuals across 20 teams, with 7 teams still in the program. 💡 Impact: our startups have raised almost €2M in investments, generated around €750,000 in their very first months, and have around 60 employees hired. 2024 has been a year of growth, learning, and inspiration, and we’re endlessly grateful to our startups, partners, and team for making it all possible. Here’s to dreaming even bigger in 2025! ✨💡🎉 #avantnow #DiversityInStartups #WomenEntrepreneurs #StartupSuccess #InnovationForImpact

🎄As the year winds down, we want to take a moment to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season! While this time of year tends to be hectic for us with all the end-of-year bureaucracy, we’re reminded of how much we love what we do and how lucky we are to support incredible startups and work with such amazing teams. That said, taking time to recharge is essential, and we hope everyone gets the chance to start the new year feeling renewed. To our startups and our teams: you’ve worked so hard this year, and you absolutely deserve a well-earned break to reflect and celebrate your achievements. Thank you for everything, and here’s to an even brighter 2025! ✨ Also a huge thanks to all our partners, collaborators, jury members, mentors, and coaches! For those feeling inspired by the change of years to start a new venture, don’t miss the chance to join our Avant Now Accelerator fem track. Applications are open until Jan 15th. Let’s make your vision a reality! 🚀 👉Apply here: www.avant-now.com #StartupCommunity #WomenInBusiness #AcceleratorProgram #avantnow

At Spark&Heal, the journey of redefining recovery for women affected by breast cancer is deeply personal. Founded by Inna Shchepanska, a breast cancer survivor with 15 years of tech experience (including 11 years at Google), and Nadya Maltseva 🇺🇦, a product innovation expert with a proven track record of founding and scaling startups, Spark&Heal was born out of resilience, passion, and a commitment to change. Spark&Heal is more than a HealthTech platform - it’s a safe haven where women can regain balance, confidence, and connection. With 83% of survivors facing PTSD and 61% experiencing chemo-induced menopause, Spark&Heal bridges the gaps traditional healthcare often overlooks, addressing issues like body image, relationships, fertility, career adaptation, and mental health. Through their modern, community-driven platform, they offer: 💡Personalized wellness plans powered by AI 💡A secure space for peer-to-peer and expert connections 💡Educational resources tailored to every stage of recovery 💡Tools to track symptoms, mood, and progress 🚀 Why now? Breast cancer diagnoses are rising globally, with an increasing number of young women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s affected each year. As the world places a growing focus on holistic recovery and mental health, Spark&Heal’s mission has never been more critical. And as one of our Avant Now Accelerator fem track startups, we’re proud to support them every step of the way. If you’re working in health tech (or simply inspired by this mission) reach out to Inna or Nadya to learn more. #AvantNow #FemTech #HealthTech #WomenEmpowerment #BreastCancerAwareness

This is an open call to women founders ready to take their ideas to new heights! 🚀 The Avant Now Accelerator fem track is back, offering majority women-led ventures the resources and support to thrive. 📅 Application Deadline: January 15th, 2025 📅 Program Start: March 1st, 2025 Here’s what’s in store: ✅ Equity-free funding for up to 12 months ✅ Office Seat at CIC Berlin, the perfect spot to co-work and collaborate ✅ Skill-based training programs tailored to your needs ✅ A vibrant community of peers, mentors, and partners ready to collaborate Our mission is to help close the funding gap for women entrepreneurs by equipping you with the resources, confidence, and connections needed to bring your ambitions to life. Whether you're building tech-driven solutions, tackling societal challenges, or working towards a greener future, this program is your launchpad for success! Check the link in the comments to apply. #avantnow #femtrack #StartupJourney #ImpactfulFutures

Today’s Pitching Tip: Show investors that no one knows your customers - and their needs - better than you do! This insight was shared by Elzan Godlewski from kopa ventures, one of the expert guests in our recent Impact Investor #PitchingSessions. 🌱 Specializing in #ClimateTech, Elzan highlighted: “Identifying a climate problem is only the beginning - to reach a scale where you have outsized impact, you also need to build a business that tackles that issue effectively. That means addressing a real, tangible customer pain-point - aka something that pains them so much they are willing to pay for it.” 🔑 Stay tuned for more investor insights from our pitch sessions! Up next: all about achieving traction! 📈 #AvantNow #ClimateTech #ImpactInvestment #PitchPractice #InvestorInsights