What’s New With Founder Forward - A Quarter One Update🌟

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A Message from Our Executive Director

At the start of 2025, we shared The Founder Forward Way: 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, which lays out our vision for Founder Forward and reaffirms our commitment to serving non-dominant markets. In alignment with the goals set in our strategic plan - to build a multi-city, interconnected network that transforms the entrepreneurial ecosystem - we are focusing this year on supporting founders in the Bronx, Newark, and Philadelphia.

After a busy first quarter, I’m proud to witness the early stages of our vision taking shape. Looking to these cities and the founders who are building with their community in mind, we’ve found immense hope. From our Impact Day, which supported founders in the Bronx and Newark, to the PitchProv (more on the new programming we launched below!) we hosted in Philadelphia, we've been fortunate to witness the well-deserved pride each city brings to the table.

This quarter, we've focused on building partnerships to catalyze our vision. The team loved supporting BUILD NYC at their Professional Pitch Event at New York's Art and Design High School. There, we learned about the artistic journeys of high school students and had the opportunity to mentor them on their post-graduation aspirations. We are excited to continue to collaborate with BUILD NYC in the coming quarter!

We are also deeply grateful that our community showed up for us. We were humbled by the 48 individual supporters who donated to our end-of-year giving campaign! And in February, we were invited to the home of a supporter to host our first fundraising event, a grassroots gathering that brought together a group of women committed to building a more equitable future. The thoughtful conversations was an encouragement of our collective drive and responsibility to build entrepreneurial ecosystems where founders can thrive.

While it's a vanity metric, we watched our LinkedIn followers soar this first quarter (be sure to hit follow if you haven't already!). This signaled to us the momentum towards a founder-first entrepreneurial ecosystem is growing, and it's in huge thanks to our new communications intern, Stacey Garwe. We're proud to welcome her to the team!

Currently, we are participating in both the Mockingbird Non-Profit Incubator to accelerate our fundraising efforts, as well as the PwC ScopeAthon to refine our strategy for our volunteer advisory network. We're launching the network to commemorate National Volunteer Month in April - stay tuned to our LinkedIn for more updates! For now, mark your calendars for April 22 for a discussion with our first cohort of volunteers.

Economic justice work is tough, but the joy we find in collaboration keeps us moving forward. We hope you will continue to join us on this journey towards a community-centered future.

Quarter Highlights

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We Launched New Programming - PitchProv! In December 2024, we piloted PitchProv at Ginjan Cafe in Brooklyn, a former Founder Forward grantee. PitchProv offers a refreshing take on networking, designed to build confidence and foster community. We then hosted our first official PitchProv in Philadelphia at Diversitech, hosted by Tribaja.Co, another former Founder Forward grantee. ​ The reviews are in, and PitchProv was a hit at Diversitech! 100% of attendees shared they would invite a friend to PitchProv, and 87% said it increased their sense of community. Learn More

Investing in Founders - Impact Day In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we hosted an Impact Day in partnership with Prudential. Volunteers with diverse expertise worked closely with founders building sustainable businesses, offering practical feedback on their decks and storytelling in preparation for a friendly pitch competition. Each founder received $1,250 in unrestricted funding, with Dani Lopez, founder of Lulo, earning an additional $1,000 as the competition winner. Following the event, we arranged nine one-on-one advising sessions with our Prudential partners to further refine participants’ storytelling skills and empowered them with valuable insights for future growth.

We've highlighted the four founders who participated below in Founder Highlights!

Leading on a Place-Based Approach Executive Director, Dr. Lisa-Marie Pierre, led a workshop at the Non-Profit Marketing Summit, the leading conference for purpose driven strategy. Drawing from over a decade of work in economic justice and community building, she highlighted our process for developing a place-based strategic plan and provided others with a practical framework to do the same.

Tune in- Launching our Volunteer Advisory Network! This April we're celebrating our volunteers! On April 22 from 3-4pm ET, we'll host a panel discussion centered around the National theme, ‘Shining a Light on the People and Causes that Inspire Us to Serve.’ Join us on LinkedIn Live, to hear from volunteers as they share why dedicating their time to build a founder-first entrepreneurial ecosystem matters to them, and discuss how collective action can drive transformative change in our communities.

As we continue to tell stories and amplify voices, we invite you to lean into your power, whether by sharing your ideas, participating in our events, or connecting with fellow founders. Every action, every story, and every connection propels us closer to a community-centered future.

Keep moving forward,

The Founder Forward Team
​connect@founderforward.org​

Founder Highlights

We’re proud to spotlight some visionary founders who embody the spirit of innovation and community. These four founders participated in our Impact Day hosted on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

​Tovah Robinson (535A Bond): Her luxury, gender-neutral footwear brand continues to turn heads for its bold design and commitment to sustainable style, proving that craftsmanship and creativity can walk hand in hand.

​Marcellis Counts (Apiary in the Sky): Recently, Marcellis led Apiary in the Sky to become a Newark Fresh, Healthy Food Access grantee, using the funds to empower urban beekeeping and transform underserved communities with safe, green spaces.

​Daniel Maloney, PMP (Sol Cacao): Sol Cacao is making waves by fusing artisanal chocolate-making with community empowerment, and his latest venture showcases innovative sourcing and ethical production that delights local palates.

​Dani Lopez (Lulo): Dani’s visionary leadership at Lulo is transforming digital engagement by blending innovative tech solutions with creative community building. From a former bureaucrat to a trailblazer recognized by Techstars ’24 and a Lucas Visual Art Fellow, her journey inspires the next generation of founders while redefining digital connectivity for a more inclusive future.

Together, we’re not just building businesses; we’re crafting futures.