We had the pleasure to sit down with Miguel García, CEO and visionary founder, alongside Maja Horvat, dedicated Project Manager, of the SPLORO team. Next week, they are stepping onto Podim’s stage as ambassadors for not one, but two groundbreaking European Union initiatives: Women Tech EU and Empowomen. These projects are on a mission to amplify the voices and empower women leaders in the Deep tech startup ecosystem.
This forward-thinking innovation consultancy, headquartered in Spain, doesn’t just stop at its borders. With a dedicated European team, they’re on a global mission, managing funds for international third parties. Maja, who comes from Slovenia, with a great capacity to manage projects in Central Europe, recognized PODIM as the perfect stage to spotlight these initiatives.
In this interview we will delve into the details of these projects, exploring their vision, approach, and contributions of our main characters to them.
1. How does Sploro make innovation accessible to startups, and what role do digital services and technologies play in achieving this goal?
Sploro leverages digital services and technologies to democratize access to innovation for startups. At the core of its approach is the Cascade Funding Platform, which simplifies the process of obtaining funding through direct grants, specifically targeting emerging enterprises. This platform is integral to programs like Empowomen, facilitating direct support. Furthermore, Sploro’s subscription service has listed over 300 calls for funding and services, thus broadening the opportunities available to startups. Digital technologies streamline the application and management processes, making it easier and faster for startups to access the resources they need to grow and innovate.
2. Miguel, could you provide us with a brief overview of how cascade funding works and what significance has for startups? How do you think this initiative can support diversity and inclusion within the startup ecosystem, particularly in terms of promoting women’s leadership?
Cascade funding, also known as FSTP (Financial Support to Third Parties), is an EU mechanism that distributes smaller grants from larger projects to third parties, usually startups and SMEs. This method is particularly significant for startups as it provides a simpler, more accessible form of funding compared to traditional grants, with less bureaucratic overhead. For startups, cascade funding offers a more straightforward entry point into the funding landscape. Programs like Empowomen, facilitated by Sploro, specifically aim to support diversity and inclusion by promoting women’s leadership, helping to level the playing field in technology and entrepreneurship.
3. What drove your personal involvement in initiatives supporting women in technology? Could you outline the objectives and motivations behind both Empowomen and Women TechEU?
Our involvement in initiatives like Empowomen and Women TechEU is driven by a commitment to enhance diversity in the tech industry. These programs are designed to support women in technology through funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The primary objective is to empower women entrepreneurs by providing them with the tools and resources necessary to succeed in a competitive market. This commitment is rooted in the evidence that diverse leadership leads to more innovative and inclusive outcomes and a better Europe, in the long run.
4. What specific role does Sploro play in these projects? Could you explain the application process for women-led companies and describe the criteria for eligibility?
Sploro plays a crucial role in facilitating access to these initiatives by acting as a gateway for applications and providing ongoing support through its digital platform. In the case of Empowomen we are coordinating the whole initiative together with other three partners like TechUkraine, Startup Wise Guys and Business Angels Europe.
For women-led companies interested in applying, the process involves registering on the Cascade Funding Platform, and checking online the criteria and requirements on every program. Applications are not burden-heavy but need some dedication, as competition is fierce. For instance, during our first open call, we received 169 applications for 11 spots in the program.
5. Beyond financial assistance, will beneficiary startups receive any additional forms of support? How will this contribute to their success?
They definitely do. In Empowomen our startups have free access to two major events for startups in Europe (like Podim) but also an acceleration program and an investment readiness program. We firmly believe it’s not only about the money, but also about the add-ons, and the community generated.
6. Maja, as the woman representative of European initiatives such as EmpoWomen and Women Tech EU at PODIM, how do you perceive the importance of women’s representation and leadership in technology and what steps do you think organizations like SPLORO can take to further promote gender diversity and inclusion?
Women in our society represent half of the population, therefore, equal representation of women in leadership roles is crucial for inclusive decision making, which affects population as a whole. I think that it is vital to address the need for greater women leadership to balance and strengthen our society, especially in sectors such as technology, where innovation drives social progress.
At SPLORO, we walk the talk with inclusion and gender equality by fostering a work environment where your ideas get heard and supported if they contribute to our values. With the projects that we run; we are trying to project that mindset on the outside. Personally, working with women-led start-ups is like a dream job, as we support innovative ideas with the potential to transform society, just as women have the superpower to give birth. The secret of how we are “changing the world” is by challenging the status quo of today’s society.
DISCLAIMER
The Empowomen and Women TechEU projects have received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreements Nº101120693 and Nº101133528 respectively. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
