Introduction
I am Violetta Bonenkamp, founder of the F/MS Startup Game, and this is part nine of our series answering 1,000 real "how to" questions that founders in our game have asked us over the years. These questions come from European and mostly bootstrapped entrepreneurs who are building practical, revenue-focused startups, often as women and first-time founders.
In this part we go deep on the SEO and content tools you will use daily: Google Keyword Planner, Moz, Semrush, Ahrefs, and emerging AI visibility tools. We also cover the technical foundations every founder should understand: schema markup, structured data, and optimizing for both traditional search and AI platforms like ChatGPT and Google's AI Overviews. Use this as your field guide to tools and technical SEO implementation.
Check out the Complete "How to" Series:
🔗 1000 Startup How-To Questions Part 1: Startup Strategy, Funding and Business Fundamentals
🔗 1000 Startup How-To Questions Part 2: SEO, Naming, and Competitive Analysis
🔗 1000 Startup How-To Questions Part 3: Content, Business Models, and Growth
🔗 1000 Startup How-To Questions Part 4: Finding Customers, Funding, and Keywords
🔗 1000 Startup How-To Questions Part 5: Backlinks, Funding, Growth, and AI Visibility
🔗 1000 Startup How-To Questions Part 6: Launching, Naming, Tools, and Fundraising
🔗 1000 Startup How-To Questions Part 7: Costs, Funding, Naming, and Starting Up
🔗 1000 Startup How-To Questions Part 8: Tech Startups, Tools, AI, and Keyword Research
🔗 1000 Startup How-To Questions Part 9: SEO Tools, Schema Markup, and AI Optimization
🔗 1000 Startup How-To Questions Part 10: 2026 Trends, AI, and Future Opportunities
How to use google keyword planner for free
Open Google Ads, navigate to Keyword Planner, and search for keywords or enter your website URL to get free keyword ideas and volume data. Filter by location, language, and match type, but note that Keyword Planner gives ranges rather than exact numbers for lower-volume terms.
How to use google keyword planner for seo
Use Keyword Planner to identify keywords you should target in your content, then cross-reference with tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to check difficulty and competition. Build content around low-difficulty, medium-volume keywords where you can actually rank.
How to use google keyword planner for youtube
Enter keywords you want to rank for, check the monthly volume specific to YouTube searches, and note which long-tail variations have strong search interest. Use these insights to optimize your video titles, descriptions, and tags.
How to use google keywords
Enter seed keywords or URLs into Google Keyword Planner or Google Trends, review search volume and monthly trends, and filter by geography and search type. Use the data to validate whether a keyword is worth creating content for or bidding on.
How to use google keywords planner
Start with a seed keyword or domain, then explore keyword ideas, sort by search volume and competition level, and export lists for planning. Keyword Planner is free but requires a Google Ads account, even if you do not plan to run ads.
How to use keyword planner
Enter your keyword or domain, review the list of suggested keywords and their search volume, filter by location and match type, and save or export high-priority terms. Use Keyword Planner as a starting point but validate difficulty with other tools.
How to use keyword planner for seo
Focus on keywords with decent search volume and low competition, then check if you can realistically rank by comparing your domain authority against current top-ranking pages. Prioritize keywords that match your content strategy and business goals.
How to use keyword surfer
Install Keyword Surfer as a Chrome extension, then view search volume and CPC data directly on Google search results without leaving the page. Use it for quick keyword validation while researching competitors.
How to use keywords everywhere
Download the Keywords Everywhere extension, then see search volume, CPC, and related keywords as you browse Google search results. Use it to validate keywords quickly during research before diving into deeper tools.
How to use keywords everywhere extension
Install the browser extension, then search for any keyword and see monthly volume, CPC, and related keyword suggestions instantly. Use the free tier for quick research or upgrade for more detailed data and API access.
How to use keywords moz
In Moz Keyword Explorer, enter your target keyword, review volume and difficulty metrics, and check which pages currently rank for that term. Compare your domain authority against the top-ranking pages to estimate your chances of ranking.
How to use long tail pro
Enter a seed keyword, let the tool generate hundreds of long-tail variations, and sort by volume and competition to find low-hanging fruit. Export your findings and use them to plan content clusters.
How to use miro for brainstorming
Create a new Miro board, invite your team, and use shapes, sticky notes, and templates to collaborate on ideas in real-time. Use templates like mind maps, SWOT analysis, or journey maps to structure your brainstorming.
How to use miro for brainstorming sessions
Start with a clear goal, create or select a template, invite collaborators, and set a time limit to keep energy high. Use visual frameworks to organize ideas and vote on priorities before the session ends.
How to use moz
Use Moz for keyword research via Keyword Explorer, track rankings with Rank Tracker, audit your site with Site Crawl, and analyze backlinks with Link Explorer. Start with free tier tools, then upgrade to Pro for more depth.
How to use moz effectively
Focus on Moz Keyword Explorer for research and Rank Tracker to monitor your progress weekly, ignore vanity metrics, and use insights to prioritize your content roadmap. Combine Moz with manual verification and customer validation.
How to use moz for a seo audit
Use Moz Site Crawl to identify technical issues like broken links, duplicate content, and crawl errors, then prioritize fixes by impact. Export the report and share with your tech team or developer.
How to use moz for keyword research
Enter your target keyword in Keyword Explorer, review monthly search volume and keyword difficulty, explore related keywords and questions, and analyze the top-ranking pages. Export keyword lists and use them to build your content strategy.
How to use moz for seo
Use Keyword Explorer for research, Rank Tracker to monitor keyword positions, Link Explorer to analyze backlinks, and Site Crawl for technical audits. Moz helps you understand keyword opportunity, competition, and track progress over time.
How to use moz keyword explorer
Enter a seed keyword or domain, review search volume and keyword difficulty, explore related terms and questions, and check which pages rank for each keyword. Use filters to focus on keywords with the right intent and volume.
How to use moz keyword explorer and set geo
In Keyword Explorer, click the location filter, select your target country or city, and see how search volume varies by geography. Use this when building local or regional SEO strategies.
How to use moz keyword explorer free
Moz Keyword Explorer has limited free access with fewer searches per month, but enough to validate a few keywords. Free tier shows monthly volume, difficulty, and top-ranking pages, then upgrade to Pro for more detailed insights.
How to use moz local
Moz Local helps you manage your business listing across local directories, verify and optimize your Google Business Profile, and monitor local reviews. Use it to improve your local search visibility.
How to use moz pro
Access unlimited keyword research, unlimited rank tracking, full site audits, and detailed backlink analysis with Moz Pro. Focus on the tools that move your needle: Keyword Explorer and Rank Tracker for most bootstrapped founders.
How to use moz pro to find backlinks
In Link Explorer, enter your domain or a competitor's domain, then review the top referring domains and pages. Sort by link authority and identify which sites link to them, then reach out for similar opportunities.
How to use moz to find competitors key words
Use Link Explorer or Keyword Explorer to see which keywords your competitors rank for, then filter by keywords where you do not yet rank. Prioritize keywords that drive real traffic.
How to use moz to find potential linking opportunities
Use Link Explorer to see which sites link to your competitors, then identify relevant sites with high authority that might link to you too. Reach out with genuine value instead of just asking for a link.
How to use moz to rank your page
Optimize your content for target keywords identified with Moz, ensure technical SEO is solid, build high-quality backlinks, and monitor progress with Rank Tracker. Rankings take weeks to months, so be patient and measure weekly.
How to use moz toolbar
Download the MozBar Chrome extension, then see domain authority and page authority metrics on any website you visit. Use it to quickly evaluate competitor sites and understand their relative authority.
How to use newsletters for startup community engagement
Create a regular newsletter focused on your founder community's real challenges, share insights and resources, and use it to deepen relationships. Convert newsletter subscribers to customers or partners over time.
How to use semrush api
Use Semrush API to pull keyword data, backlink analysis, or site audit results programmatically into your own dashboards. Requires API access and technical implementation, so use it only if you need automated, scaled reporting.
How to use semrush for competitor research
Enter competitor domains into Semrush, review their organic keywords and traffic sources, and analyze their paid ad strategy. Identify content gaps where they do not rank but should.
How to use semrush for keywords
Use Semrush Keyword Magic Tool to generate keyword ideas, filter by search volume and difficulty, and analyze intent. Compare your current rankings against competitors for those keywords.
How to use semrush keyword magic tool
Enter a seed keyword or domain, generate related keyword suggestions, filter by difficulty and volume, and organize by intent. Export lists organized by topic cluster so you can build content roadmaps.
How to use sendible
Sendible helps you schedule and manage social media posts across multiple platforms, collaborate with team members, and track engagement. Schedule your content in batches and monitor performance across all channels.
How to use seo for company name
Avoid generic names unless your company has already built authority, ensure your company name is easy to spell and remember, and incorporate keywords only if it feels natural. A strong brand name often compounds more than a keyword-rich name.
How to use seo to drive more free trial and freemium signups
Create content that answers the exact questions potential users search for, position your free trial prominently on those pages, and use conversion funnels to move readers to signup. Track which keywords convert best.
How to use seo writing ai for free
Use ChatGPT or Claude to generate SEO-optimized outlines and first drafts, validate keyword research manually, and always fact-check AI output. Free AI writing tools accelerate drafting but require substantial editing.
How to use spyfu
Enter competitor domains into SpyFu, review their top organic keywords and paid campaigns, and identify keywords where they spend money. Use that data to spot high-intent keywords you should also target.
How to use stanford corenlp sentiment analysis
Stanford CoreNLP is a technical tool for analyzing sentiment in text programmatically, useful for analyzing customer reviews or feedback at scale. Use it only if you have technical capability or hire a developer.
How to use storytelling in elevator pitches for tech startups
Lead with the problem and who feels it, share a brief story of how it affects them, then reveal your solution. Keep it to 30 seconds and focus on emotional resonance, not product features.
How to use the moz chrome extension
Download MozBar, open any webpage, and instantly see domain authority, page authority, and backlink metrics. Use it while researching competitors to understand their authority relative to yours.
How to use the moz tool bar
The MozBar extension gives you SEO metrics while browsing, useful for quick competitive analysis. Enable it in your extensions menu and click to see metrics for any page.
How to use virtual assistants for financial planning tasks
Use tools like Stripe or Wave for invoicing and expense tracking, hire virtual assistants for bookkeeping via platforms like Upwork, and maintain simple spreadsheets to track runway. Keep your financial reporting simple and automated.
How to use zencastr
Zencastr records podcast interviews with high-quality audio directly to the cloud, eliminating the need for complicated local recording. Use it to interview guests and repurpose conversations as content.
How to validate a business idea using ai tools in 2026
Use ChatGPT or Claude to research market size and competition, use AI to analyze customer problems at scale via review scraping, and use Perplexity to gather current market data. Always validate AI findings with real customer conversations.
How to validate a business model
Talk to 20 potential customers about whether they would pay for your solution, create a simple landing page and measure interest, or pre-sell a version of your offer. Direct willingness to pay is the truest validation.
How to validate a startup idea
Spend a week talking to 15 to 20 potential customers about their problem, listen more than you pitch, and measure genuine emotional response. Look for patterns: do they recognize the problem, do they care, and would they pay.
How to validate an idea for a startup
Run lean validation: build a simple landing page, drive small amounts of traffic with ads or social, and measure signups or inquiry rates. Use survey tools to gather feedback on your positioning and pricing assumptions.
How to validate startup idea
Create a landing page, run small ads or share with your network, and measure willingness to engage or pre-order. Validation is about signals of genuine interest, not likes or shares.
How to validate startup ideas
Test multiple ideas against the same small audience and measure engagement and willingness to pay for each. Pick the idea that generates real inquiry and interest, not the one you personally find clever.
How to validate your startup idea
Talk to at least 20 potential customers one-on-one, ask about their current workarounds and problems, and listen for emotional intensity when they describe their frustration. Ideas with real problems behind them are easier to validate.
How to view a websites traffic on moz pro
Use Moz Site Explorer, enter the domain, and see estimated monthly organic traffic and top-performing keywords. Note that traffic estimates are approximations, so use them directionally, not as precise numbers.
How to view moz 51+ heyword metric
Moz no longer reports on a 51+ keyword metric, so focus instead on Volume and Difficulty scores. The "51+" terminology has been deprecated in favor of clearer search volume ranges.
How to watch made by google 2026
Follow Google's official channels and announcement pages to learn about their latest AI, search, and product innovations. Subscribe to Google Developer blogs and set calendar reminders for their annual launch events.
How to write a business model
Start with customer segments, define their jobs to be done, articulate your value proposition, map how you reach customers, then document your revenue and cost model. Use the Business Model Canvas as a template.
How to write a business plan for a startup
Include sections on problem, solution, market size, business model, go-to-market strategy, team, financial projections, and funding ask. Use it as a working document, not a polished deliverable, and update it weekly.
How to write a business plan template
Create a one-page executive summary, then add detailed sections for market, product, operations, marketing, and financials. Keep your template simple and avoid trying to fill in all fields before validating core assumptions.
How to write a challenge statement
Describe a significant obstacle your customer faces, quantify who is affected and how often, and explain the consequences of not solving it. Use challenge statements to frame problems in product and strategy conversations.
How to write a good problem statement
Describe the specific problem, who faces it, the frequency and impact, and current workarounds or consequences. Strong problem statements make your solution feel obvious.
How to write a good problem statement product management
Focus on the customer's unmet need, not your proposed solution, describe the gap between current state and desired state, and ground it in research and data. Separate the problem from the solution always.
How to write a powerful problem statement
Use data or customer quotes to validate that the problem is real, describe emotional and practical impact, and quantify scope. Problems that feel urgent and widespread are easier to build around.
How to write a problem statement
Begin by naming the problem and who experiences it, explain why it matters and what the consequences are, then articulate why current solutions fall short. Use this to guide product development and positioning.
How to write a problem statement in product management
State the problem clearly without proposing a solution, describe the situation and the gap, quantify the impact, and use customer language. Problem statements anchor product strategy.
How to write a problem statement product management
Focus on customer pain without assuming a technical solution, back it up with data or research, and make it specific to your target segment. General problems are harder to solve than specific, well-defined ones.
How to write a product problem statement
Describe what the customer is trying to accomplish, what blocks them from succeeding, and the consequences of not solving it. Use this to validate product direction and feature prioritization.
How to write an affiliate blog post
Review the affiliate product or service yourself, share genuine pros and cons, embed your affiliate link naturally in the content, and disclose your affiliate relationship clearly. Write for reader benefit, not commission maximization.
How to write an opportunity statement
Describe a market gap or emerging trend, explain why it matters, and outline how your solution is uniquely positioned to capture it. Use opportunity statements to align team and investor conversations.
How to write effective prompts for gpt-4.1
Be specific about the task and context, include examples if helpful, specify output format, and use follow-up prompts to refine results. Test your prompt multiple times and iterate based on output quality.
How to write seo articles 2026
Research target keywords deeply, understand user intent, create content that answers the top-ranking results plus adds unique perspective, optimize title and headers, and build internal links. Focus on semantic relevance, not keyword density.
How to youtube channel keywords
Add keywords to your channel description and art that match your content focus, use keywords naturally in video titles and descriptions, and let YouTube auto-suggest features guide your choices. Channel keywords help YouTube understand your topic.
How to optimize for ai search visibility and llm citations
Create detailed, factual content that addresses specific user questions, use clear headers and formatting that AI can parse, and build authority with expert content and citations. Optimize pages to appear in AI answers by directly answering common queries.
How to use schema markup for e-commerce products
Add Product schema markup with name, price, availability, and aggregateRating, use Offer schema for pricing variants, and implement Review schema. JSON-LD format is easiest to maintain and recommended by Google.
How to implement product schema with offers and ratings
Mark up product name, image, description, sku, and price in the Offer property, include reviews and aggregateRating if available, and validate with Google's Rich Results tester. Deploy via JSON-LD in the page head.
How to use faq schema markup on product pages
Create a FAQPage schema block with Question and Answer objects, list common product questions and concise answers, and validate with Google's testing tool. FAQ schema helps product pages appear in AI answers.
How to add structured data to ecommerce category pages
Use ItemList schema to display multiple products in a carousel, include Product schema within each item, and add pagination markup if you have many results. Structured category pages can improve search visibility.
How to create itemlist schema for carousel results
Structure your category page with ItemList containing ListItem objects, each with a Product schema nested inside, add position numbers, and validate the full structure. Carousel schema gives category pages visual prominence in search.
How to validate schema markup with google rich results tester
Paste your page URL or code snippet into Google's Rich Results Test tool, check for errors and warnings, and ensure all required fields are present. Use this before deploying schema changes to production.
How to use json-ld format for structured data
Use JSON-LD format as a script tag in your page head rather than inline HTML attributes, include all required and recommended fields, and structure it to reflect your page content. JSON-LD is easiest for developers to maintain.
How to optimize for agentic traffic and ai crawlers
Allow AI crawlers in your robots.txt, test your site accessibility with AI agents, and ensure fast load times and mobile responsiveness. Update 10 to 15 percent of page content regularly as LLMs prioritize fresh content.
How to improve content accessibility for ai engines
Use clear header hierarchy, break content into scannable sections, add descriptive image alt text, and include FAQ sections with direct answers. Structured, accessible content ranks better with AI engines.
How to build topical authority for ai search rankings
Create comprehensive content clusters around core topics, link related articles together semantically, and demonstrate expertise across multiple facets of your domain. Topical authority helps both Google and AI platforms understand your expertise.
How to use semantic seo for llm optimization
Move beyond keyword density to semantic relationships between concepts, use synonyms and related entities naturally, and structure content around user intent rather than keywords. Semantic content aligns better with how AI understands language.
How to create conversational content for ai platforms
Write FAQs and answer sections in natural language that mirrors how users query AI assistants, use direct answers upfront before supporting details, and structure content for voice search. Conversational tone increases AI citation likelihood.
How to optimize for entity-based search queries
Mark up people, places, organizations, and products as entities using schema, create dedicated pages for important entities, and link entities together to show relationships. Entity optimization matters more for AI search than traditional keyword optimization.
How to track brand mentions across chatgpt and other llms
Manually test your brand name and product names in ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini weekly, take screenshots to track changes, and note what context your brand appears in. Create a simple spreadsheet to monitor trends.
How to measure llm visibility and ai citations
Use tools like Profound or Hall for LLM visibility tracking, monitor how often your brand appears in AI responses for key queries, and track whether those mentions are positive, neutral, or negative. Track citation frequency alongside mentions.
How to use programmatic seo with ai content generation
Use AI to generate templates and variations of page content at scale, structure your data cleanly so AI can generate consistent pages, and use NLP to ensure each generated page is unique and relevant. Validate generated content for accuracy before publishing.
How to build ai-powered content at scale with vector search
Use sentence embeddings and vector databases to match user queries to the most semantically relevant content, implement dynamic page personalization based on query intent, and update your vector embeddings as you add new content. Vector search enables truly personalized experiences at scale.
How to implement internal linking automation for seo
Use tools that map your content semantically and suggest relevant internal links automatically, implement contextual linking based on topic clusters, and validate links make sense for user experience. Automated linking should still prioritize quality over quantity.
How to use dynamic content generation for personalization
Implement dynamic page sections that change based on user location, device, or referral source, use AI to generate personalized headlines and CTAs, and A/B test variations to improve conversion. Dynamic content boosts engagement and conversion rates.
How to optimize landing pages for ask engine optimization
Structure your landing page to directly answer common questions users ask AI about your product category, use clear sections that AI can parse, and include specific claims backed by data or citations. Ask-engine-optimized pages get cited in AI responses.
How to use structured headers for ai content parsing
Use semantic header hierarchy from H1 down, avoid skipping header levels, and use headers that clearly describe section content. Well-structured headers help AI engines understand your content's organization.
How to create faq sections that ai engines favor
Create FAQs that answer specific, long-tail questions your customers actually ask, provide direct, concise answers in the first sentence, and use natural language that matches conversational queries. FAQ sections are prime real estate for AI citations.
How to add citations and authority signals to content
Reference authoritative sources and studies, link to primary research when relevant, note your own expertise and experience, and attribute information properly. Citations and authority signals help AI engines determine trustworthiness.
How to test your website accessibility with ai agents
Use tools like Make.com to simulate AI crawlers visiting your site, check that content loads fully in headless browsers, and monitor whether AI bots can extract key information. Test both page speed and content parsability.
How to use semrush for ai content strategy
Use Semrush to identify keywords that appear in AI Overview results, analyze which competitor content AI cites, and build content that targets those specific angles. Semrush increasingly surfaces AI visibility data.
How to analyze competitor ai visibility and citations
Search your competitor's brand in ChatGPT and other LLMs, note which pages and content appear in AI responses, and compare against your own visibility. Low AI visibility for competitors is an opportunity.
How to use ml feedback loops to improve content performance
Collect performance data from GSC, GA4, and rankings, feed that data into your content optimization process, and iterate based on what actually drives traffic and conversions. Let data from the market guide your next content priority.
How to build e-e-a-t signals for ai search engines
Share your personal background and expertise, include credentials and experience prominently, cite authoritative sources, and build consistent brand presence across platforms. EEAT signals help AI engines trust your content.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
Violetta likes to write about Startup News in Europe, Best startups of the year, Latest Startup News, Building your first startup, Startup News for Female Founders in Europe, News for Female Entrepreneurs and Engineering News
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
