Founder Forward exists to do more than support founders, we’re building the conditions for them to thrive.
To us, an ecosystem is more than a network, it’s the relationships, opportunities, and systems that founders can rely on. From a gathering in Brooklyn, to spotlighting new pathways for founders in Tulsa, our efforts are shaping an ecosystem where founders can build, scale, and lead with the confidence that comes with meaningful support.
Ecosystem in Action
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Founder Forward Spring Happy Hour: Celebrating Community in Brooklyn
On March 11, we gathered in Brooklyn to celebrate Women’s History Month with the Founder Forward community. The event created space for founders and supporters to connect, share ideas, and strengthen relationships across our network.
A special thank you to Ginjan Cafe, owned by former Founder Forward founders Mohammed and Rahim Diallo, for welcoming us into their space. We're also grateful to board member Tulani Watkins for helping make the event possible and for co-sponsoring the gathering.
We are already looking forward to the next one in May, stay tuned!
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Shining A Spotlight on W.E. Build: Now Accepting Founders
On March 25, we hosted a webinar to amplify W.E. Build a holistic business accelerator for women-identifying founders in tech and consumer packaged goods who are positioned for growth.
The program takes place in Tulsa from September 2-November 20, 2026, and founders from across the U.S. are encouraged to apply.
Founders receive $25,000 in non-dilutive funding, along with targeted mentorship tailored to their business needs.
To enable founders to fully focus on their business while in Tulsa, the program also provides a cost of living stipend, access to a co-working space, and mental health support.
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Upgrading How We Serve
We’re proud to share that we’ve been selected to participate in the Tech Foundations Cohort, hosted by Apparo in partnership with Truist Financial.
Through this program, we'll optimize our tech infrastructure with intensive trainings, one-on-one mentorship, and a maturity assessment.
This investment not only enhances our internal systems, it directly advances our ability to serve the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. With more secure and resilient operations, we’re better equipped to be a trusted, reliable resource for entrepreneurs.
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Founder Forward in the Ecosystem
For the second year we attended Diversitech, a conference focused on inclusion in tech and founded by former Founder Forward Grantee, Shannon Morales, founder of Tibaja.co. On day two of the conference, Executive Director Amanda Morrall, spoke on a panel about the role entrepreneurship plays in economic mobility.
Moments like this reflect the full-circle impact of Founder Forward’s decade-long commitment to entrepreneurs. We’re especially proud to support spaces led by founders from our own community.
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10 Years of Founder Forward: We Want to Hear From You |
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This year marks Founder Forward’s 10th anniversary. For a decade, we have worked to challenge systemic geographic inequality, funding disparities, and limited access to information because economic mobility should not depend on proximity to a major city.
As we build the next decade, we want to design programming, capital access, and founder support that reflects what you truly need.
How can we better support you? What resources would move your business forward? What gaps still exist in your region?
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This work is only made possible by community members like you. If you're inspired by the impact you see, we invite you to support Founder Forward. Your contribution helps us expand opportunities and remain a trusted resource for entrepreneurs at every stage.
The Founder Forward Team
connect@founderforward.org
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