Munich Startup: Who are you and what does BWS Networking do? Please introduce yourself briefly!
Saina bayatpour: With BWS Networking we offer Education, community, workshops and events for women – and not only in real life, but also compactly on our platform and in an app. We are a team of founders with extensive business experience. Franzy Spöhrer (32) brings her knowledge of social and business administration, from human resources to gastronomy to networking. And me, Saina Bayatpour (40), my knowledge of market and advertising psychology and as the founder of a successful event agency.
We found each other in the classic way via a LinkedIn job advertisement. What unites us was the common thought and vision. We noticed very quickly that we work very well together and complement each other very well. Franzy is more structured and level-headed, and I’m more creative and impulsive.
Linkedin, Netflix and Eventbrite in one
Munich Startup: What problem does your startup solve?
Saina bayatpour: To offer support to women in every situation, both privately and professionally. We bring three levels together: women, experts and partners. Here we promote the exchange among each other and that with our app 24/7. The network in your pocket, so to speak. In the field of education, experts exclusively pass on their knowledge and experience to our members and at the events you can get to know each other personally and exchange ideas. We’re creating a LinkedIn, Netflix and Eventbrite in one. Not only for our own content, but in the future also for the content of countless speakers and coaches as well as content from companies and platforms.
Munich Startup: But that’s been around for a long time!
Saina bayatpour: Yes, there are now countless women’s networks. What makes us different? We are open to every woman and offer a completely digital platform. There is no admission process or a difference between position or industry. This is also reflected in our membership fee. We have deliberately set the price low so that every woman can afford it. For many, it is also a great gift idea.
“Everything down to zero and new investments”
Munich Startup: Has there already been a point where you almost failed?
Saina bayatpour: And then Corona came! It will not have been any different for many. We were very event-oriented, because it was always important to us to get to know each other at eye level and to enable an authentic network. In March 2020 we were forced to rethink. We went through all the scenarios: pause, just let it run, stop completely or set everything to zero and invest again. We decided on the latter and the result was the ‘BWS Networking App’, of which we are very proud. Now we have the great task of filling this app with more life. We are grateful for our decision every day.
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Saina bayatpour: Our goal is to reach 5,000 women with our BWS Networking App in one year. In five years there should be 50,000 women. Since we are also pursuing a charitable goal, we want to have our first children’s homes built from the membership fees in five years. Orphaned children up to the age of 18 are taken in here and grow up in a family environment that reflects the values of the Business Women’s Society. Our motto is: So that future generations can grow up in love.
BWS Networking wants to dare – and win!
Munich Startup: How do you rate Munich as a startup location?
Saina bayatpour: Munich is supposed to be one of the new startup hotspots. Unfortunately, we didn’t notice much of it for a long time.
From our point of view, many factors play a role here: the opacity of certain contact points, the difficulty of having an overview of the offers, the time to get information as a startup. But once you’re inside and have made the right contacts, you get support and input at every turn. It’s like a big community.
Munich Startup: Risk or security?
Saina bayatpour: For our network from a business point of view: Risk! Who dares nothing, wins nothing. And this is where the most exciting connections arise.
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