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Name: Ioanna Anastasaki Business Name: VALUE Location: Athens , Greece Establishment (Year): 2018 Category: Advertising & Marketing Profession/ Specialty: 360 Marketing Agency Website: https://value.marketing/ Social Media: Linkedin Company Detail: VALUE: A 360 Marketing Agency That Combines Creative Ideas with Technology In today's competitive digital landscape, businesses need a 360 marketing approach that combines creative ideas with cutting-edge technology. That's where VALUE comes in. VALUE is a full-service marketing agency that helps businesses grow by crafting compelling content, building engaging websites and apps, and making data-driven decisions. They believe that creative and technology are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary, and they leverage their intersection to create campaigns that are both effective and engaging. Their team of experienced marketers and technologists can help businesses achieve their marketing goals, from developing a strong brand identity to driving sales and increasing customer engagement. Here's how VALUE helps businesses achieve their marketing goals: Creative: Helps businesses develop a brand identity that resonates with their target audience. Creates compelling content that engages the audience and drives results. Develops and executes creative campaigns across all channels. Technology: Builds and manages websites, apps, and other digital products that meet business needs. Integrates marketing efforts with technology infrastructure. Leverages data to track and optimize campaigns. Data: Collects and analyzes data to understand the audience and their behavior. Uses data to measure the performance of campaigns and make data-driven decisions. Reports on results and helps track progress towards goals. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: Integrated Creative and Technology Expertise: VALUE possesses a deep understanding of both creative and technological aspects of marketing, enabling them to create campaigns that are not only visually appealing but also functionally effective. This fusion of creativity and technology allows them to develop integrated marketing strategies that seamlessly blend both elements, maximizing their impact. Data-Driven Decision Making: VALUE is passionate about data-driven marketing, leveraging insights derived from data analysis to inform their campaign strategies and optimize performance. Their team of data analysts continuously monitors campaign metrics, tracking engagement, conversions, and customer behavior to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven adjustments accordingly. Tailored Solutions for Every Business: VALUE recognizes that every business has unique needs and goals, approaching each client with a tailored approach that aligns with their specific industry, target audience, and marketing objectives. Their team of strategists meticulously crafts customized marketing plans that address the specific challenges and opportunities faced by each client. Proven Track Record of Success: VALUE has a proven track record of helping businesses achieve their marketing goals. Their clients have consistently reported increased brand awareness, improved website traffic, enhanced customer engagement, and ultimately, increased sales and revenue. They are committed to exceeding clients' expectations and delivering measurable results. Exceptional Client Service: VALUE prioritizes exceptional client service, providing clients with personalized attention, timely communication, and proactive support throughout the entire marketing process. They are committed to building strong relationships with clients and ensuring their satisfaction. Challenges Faced During the Journey: As a co-founder of VALUE, Ioanna Anastasaki is passionate about helping businesses achieve their marketing goals. She believes that creativity and technology are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary. By combining the two, they can create campaigns that are both effective and engaging. One of the biggest challenges Ioanna faced when starting VALUE was convincing people that they could provide a comprehensive marketing solution that was both creative and effective. Many businesses were used to working with agencies that specialized in either creativity or technology. However, she believed that they could provide a more holistic approach that would address all of their marketing needs. Another challenge Ioanna faced was finding and retaining talented team members. She wanted to build a team of experts who were passionate about marketing and who had the skills and experience to deliver results for their clients. She also wanted to create a culture of collaboration and innovation where everyone felt valued and encouraged to share their ideas. Despite these challenges, Ioanna is proud of what they have accomplished at VALUE. They have a proven track record of helping businesses achieve their marketing goals, and they are committed to continuing to grow and improve. Here are some of the specific things they have done to overcome challenges: They have invested in developing their own marketing methodology. This allows them to create and manage campaigns more efficiently, and it gives them the flexibility to customize campaigns to meet the specific needs of their clients. They have built a strong team of experts. Their team includes marketers, technologists, and data analysts who are all passionate about helping businesses succeed. They have created a culture of collaboration and innovation. They encourage their team members to share their ideas and work together to solve problems. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Ioanna has witnessed firsthand the immense talent and potential of young women entrepreneurs. From their innovative ideas to their unwavering determination, they are shaping the future of business. Here's some advice she would share with young women who want to be entrepreneurs or already are: Believe in yourself and your ideas: Self-belief is the foundation of any successful entrepreneur. Embrace your unique perspective and approach to problem-solving. Don't be afraid to take risks and challenge the status quo. Be passionate about your business: Your passion for your venture will fuel your motivation and drive you through challenges. Choose to pursue something that you are genuinely excited about and that aligns with your values. Develop strong business skills: While passion is essential, it's equally important to have the necessary business acumen to succeed. Learn about marketing, finance, operations, and leadership. Seek mentorship and guidance from experienced entrepreneurs. Build a strong network: Surround yourself with supportive individuals who share your entrepreneurial spirit. Network with other women entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and potential collaborators. Embrace resilience and perseverance: The entrepreneurial journey is not always easy. There will be setbacks, challenges, and obstacles along the way. Learn to navigate these hurdles with resilience, perseverance, and a growth mindset. Seek funding strategically: While funding is crucial for business growth, it's crucial to prioritize finding the right investors who align with your vision and values. Don't compromise your integrity or compromise your company's future for short-term funding. Value your team: Your team is the backbone of your business. Invest in building a strong team of diverse individuals with complementary skills and expertise. Foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and mutual support. Adapt and evolve: The business landscape is constantly changing. Be prepared to adapt your strategies, products, and services to stay relevant and competitive. Embrace innovation and don't be afraid to pivot when necessary. Celebrate your achievements: Along with the challenges, remember to take time to celebrate your successes. Acknowledge your accomplishments and the impact you are making as a young woman entrepreneur. Give back and inspire others: Share your knowledge, experience, and insights with other aspiring entrepreneurs. Mentor, guide, and support the next generation of women in business.

Name: Patricia Recarte Business Name: KADO Location: New York , USA Establishment (Year): 2020 Category: Information Technology Profession/ Specialty: IT Website: https://www.kadonetworks.com Social Media : Linkedin Company Detail: KADO is an end-to-end digital business cards and relationship management tool. Meant for client facing businesses (insurance, real estate, financial advisory, B2B pharma, amongst others) who rely on their network to generate revenue. As for her background story, Patricia Recarte started off her career as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. The people she’s surrounded by work in service-linked industries, like lawyers, consultants and real estate brokers. In these sectors, business is not only transactional but mostly about network and relationships. Bottom line is that in these industries networking and relationship management is archaic. There is no standard – people use notepads, emails, CRMs, etc. They don’t have a single tool to network and that connects and integrates all their systems for interactions, tasks, etc. KADO was born as an all-in-one digital business card and contact management tool, to allow professionals to exchange contacts and, immediately, sync with their business tools (CRMs, email, calendar, task managers...). They are now looking to implement new functionalities, like the possibility to get automated intelligent news feed after instantly meeting someone, or the possibility to send automated AI-written follow up emails after the contact exchange happens. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: KADO is not just a digital business card provider, but it is the only solution currently providing an end-to-end fully-integrated solution: HRM integration for automatic set up, edition and deletion of employees CRM / Outlook / GSuite integration to automatically push contacts newly captured via the digital business card. Email / calendar integration to instantly follow up and review interactions with recently captured contacts Plus the upcoming news feeds and automated emails Challenges Faced During the Journey The development started in 2021 and generated its first revenue at the end of the year. They did fundraise over $1M in pre-seed from angels and an accelerator. However, at the beginning of 2023, after the crash of SVB, the company nearly closed. Patricia Recarte and her cofounder had to fire their 8 employees and go back to ground zero / bootstrapping. This came together with a personal challenge, a very complicated divorce, that led her to move from a comfortable life to a 6 sq meter room in Chinatown, New York. Despite that, they managed to revamp the company and grow their revenue, reaching over $200k ARR and closing their first enterprise contracts. Now they continue to grow, and pay for their own costs without external financing. This experience led them to becoming more conscious about cost and expenses, seeing a considerably stronger return on their investments. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Perseverance and resilience are the main keys to success. There are moments when everything will seem very dark with no light at the end of the tunnel, but it's in those moments where one sees the best out of oneself, and where the best leaders shine and companies grow. As an example, out of the 12 companies in her accelerator program, only 4 of them are still in business, and not because their ideas were better than others, but because they pushed hard when the toughest challenges arose. Entrepreneurship is not only about great ideas and funding, but also about being able to overcome difficult situations. They all have it in them, so never give up!

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Mitali Purkait : Embarking on my career as a Centre Coordinator of a digital marketing institute, I found myself increasingly captivated by the field, which eventually led me to join the main company specializing in it. Despite no entrepreneurial background in my family, the aspiration to establish my own venture always simmered within me. The thought of becoming a first-generation entrepreneur was a distant dream that quietly persisted. The push towards this dream was partly influenced by my previous workplace, where I witnessed limitations that hindered growth for my colleagues and myself. These experiences fueled my resolve, and I often pondered on the different approaches I would adopt if I were to steer my own business. The vision of entrepreneurship gradually took shape, promising a journey of innovation and personal growth. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Digital Concepts ? Mitali Purkait : Digital Concepts is a full-service digital marketing agency with seasoned Web, Mobile and Internet Marketing professionals. We Specialize in: →Website Design & Development CMS Website Design and Development (WordPress and Headless WordPress) E-commerce Website Design and Development (WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento) →Digital Marketing Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, Search Engine Marketing, Content Marketing, Copywriting, and Email Marketing → Visual Design Logo, Print Marketing Materials, Online Marketing Materials etc. Great Companies: What makes Digital Concepts different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Mitali Purkait : Digital Concepts stands out in the crowded marketplace through our unwavering commitment to client satisfaction and our round-the-clock availability. We pride ourselves on our attentive listening skills, ensuring that we fully understand our client's visions, goals, and offerings, as they are the foremost experts on their own businesses. Our reports are a testament to our diligent work ethic, bolstered by the use of sophisticated, high- end tools that guarantee authenticity and accuracy. Our team is our greatest asset; we invest in their continuous education, keeping them abreast of the latest industry developments. Regular performance discussions inspire each member to strive for personal and professional growth. We firmly believe in the power of unity—achieving excellence together. At Digital Concepts, we celebrate our successes and navigate challenges as one cohesive unit, always aiming to ascend to new heights as a collective. This collaborative spirit and dedication to constant improvement set us apart and drive us forward and eventually has helped us achieve 4.9star ratings on Google. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Mitali Purkait : In our journey as a five-year-old company, we've encountered the challenge of establishing trust and credibility in a market wary of inexperience and scams. Initially, larger brands hesitated to engage with us, associating youth with a lack of experience and our absence of major investors with limited marketing capabilities. We've turned these perceptions around through our proven industry expertise, earning the trust of esteemed clients such as The Park, Mio Amore, and Kathleen Confectioners and may more. When it comes to expanding our team, we've faced skepticism due to our bootstrap nature. Potential hires were concerned about the adequacy of training, compensation, and career growth. We addressed these concerns head-on by fostering open communication, providing comprehensive training both online and offline, ensuring a zero-tolerance policy towards office politics, and maintaining transparency in our operations. Salaries are disbursed promptly on the first working day of each month, and appraisals are performance-based, reflecting our recognition of the team's hard work. We regularly consult our team members regarding their expectations, acknowledging that their well-being and development are integral to our company's strength and success. Together, we've built a robust and supportive environment that stands on the pillars of trust, respect, and collective achievement. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Digital Concepts? Mitali Purkait : Looking ahead, Digital Concepts envisions a future of sustained growth and innovation. Over the next five years, we aim to solidify our position as a leader in the industry by continuously adapting to technological advancements and evolving market trends. Our growth strategy includes: • Expanding Our Services: We plan to broaden our offerings to include emerging technologies and platforms, ensuring that our clients always have access to cutting-edge solutions. • Investing in Talent: Attracting, nurturing, and retaining top talent will remain a cornerstone of our strategy, as our team's expertise is vital to our success. • Strengthening Client Relationships: We will deepen our engagement with existing clients while also reaching out to new markets and demographics. • Fostering Innovation: Encouraging a culture of creativity and experimentation within our team to develop unique solutions that set us apart. • Building Partnerships: Collaborating with other industry leaders to offer comprehensive solutions and gain mutual benefits. In five years, we see Digital Concepts not just as a service provider, but as a thought leader and innovator. We envision a robust portfolio of successful projects and satisfied clients, with a global footprint that spans multiple industries. Our commitment to excellence and client satisfaction will drive our journey forward, as we continue to deliver exceptional value and build a legacy of trust and reliability. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Mitali Purkait : Never underestimate the power of continuous learning. The world is constantly changing, and staying curious and open to new knowledge is crucial. Whether it's through formal education, self-study, or practical experience, make learning a lifelong habit. It will keep you adaptable and innovative, which are key traits for success in any field. In the early stages of your entrepreneurial venture, you'll encounter numerous challenges and opportunities and at times failure too. A learner's mindset will empower you to view challenges as chances to grow and to see opportunities as platforms for showcasing your potential and failures as learning curve. It encourages resilience and creativity, helping you to navigate the complexities of your path with confidence and agility. Remember, every expert was once a beginner. By committing to your personal and professional development, you'll not only enhance your skills but also build a robust foundation for your future endeavors. Stay humble, ask questions, and never stop exploring. Your journey is unique, and your growth is limitless.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Megha Agarwal : My family owned a construction business in Pune when the city had just started seeing a boom in residential and commercial spaces. I used to accompany my father to his sites out of curiosity to understand how the business worked. I guess I always had a business mindset. This fueled my interest and intrigue in the design space and I took up a Diploma course in Interior Designing. I can confidently say this was the time when the foundation of my own business was laid and Megha Interiors (now known as MVA Interiors) was born. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by MVA INTERIORS? Megha Agarwal : MVA Interiors is a full-scale design consulting company specializing in residential, commercial and office spaces. As a boutique design firm, we undertake turnkey projects for large establishments and residential spaces across Pune, Mumbai, and Goa. Our key specialty lies in creating unique design spaces that fit the client’s budget and space. Our team members come with a varied background in design tech, landscaping, and layout planning along with our internal team of ground specialists viz carpenters, site managers, and suppliers. Great Companies: What makes MVA INTERIORS different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Megha Agarwal : As I mentioned, MVA Interiors is a full-scale design consulting firm. As a design service provider, what sets up apart is ‘restoration of old structured materials and spaces.’ The most important factor in our designs is space planning and easy circulation and ventilation making a space absolutely functional for several years. I have been running MVA Interiors for almost 18 years YTD and for me design is all about innovation and functionality. We do not like to waste any material and use 98% of all sourced material in our construction resulting in near zero wastage and saving client’s money. It is about the client’s expectations and their visualization of a space they would love to live in every day of their life. That is the beauty about MVA Interiors – we do not impose any of our designs but provide solutions to make their dream a reality. Whether it is hand-painting walls or creating sculptures to match their corners, we have the resources and team to fulfil those aspirations. That is what sets my firm MVA Interiors apart from the others in the space. I value my clients’ time and money thus will only give budgets that they will be most comfortable with. After all, like our tag line says – Creating Nurturing Spaces; we do just that. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Megha Agarwal : Well, the first and foremost challenge is (and was) – it’s a male-dominated industry. We may want to look the other way and say that there are a lot of women in this industry, but the percentage is not more than 30%. It took a lot of conviction and convincing specially in dealing with commercial properties because the laborers are male, the site managers are male, and even the clients are mostly men. Everyone wants to teach you and tell you what to do, completely discounting the fact that I come from this background and with the experience. That’s been an uphill battle for me. I learnt the art of being firm really early on in my career. Firm with my thoughts, design concepts, space planning, and everything that goes into bringing a space to life. Today, I know I still face a pushback with mindsets but that is something I have learnt to navigate and I do not bend backwards to accommodate something that is going against my core principles and design concepts. Yes, it is a tough space to be in, whether people like it or not. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for MVA INTERIORS? Megha Agarwal : We have expanded our reach PAN India and the next in line is to start connecting with international clients and bigger design companies to expand our reach. We are also aggressively working on restoration and renovation of heritage and antique properties and furniture to help us build a bigger niche in this overly crowded segment. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Megha Agarwal : My first piece of advice to all aspiring interior designers and design students will be to get as many internships in your initial years. I had the pleasure of being mentored by one of the best minds in the industry in Mumbai that helped me shape my mind and infuse a lot of confidence. Work in a reasonable price range to get as many projects under your belt and never ever compromise on quality even if it means walking the extra mile for your client. This will give you the leverage of building a stellar portfolio that will support you as your grow in your career. And last, but not the least, collaborate with other designers, architects, construction houses to grow your career path. Put in the work in your 20s to reap the benefit of the hard work in your 30s. Do not ever stop learning and upskilling along the way. There will be challenges to face, do it with a smile on your face. Remember: You are not your job or career; it is a by-product of who you are.

Name: Marie-Christine Jené Business Name: ITANOVA (Innovative Training Academy SAS) Location: Paris , France Establishment (Year): 2014 Category: Information Technology Profession/ Specialty: IT, E-learning Website: https://easyprof.com Social Media : LinkedIn Company Detail: ITANOVA specializes in the conception, development, and delivery of the Easyprof authoring software, a leading solution in the e-learning domain. Their mission is to empower trainers and subject-matter experts across corporate and educational sectors worldwide, enabling them to create engaging, interactive e-learning courses effortlessly. Easyprof stands out for its user-friendliness, versatility, and efficiency, transforming the way knowledge is shared and consumed, making learning accessible and captivating for everyone. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: The authoring software transcends the conventional boundaries of e-learning creation tools by combining unparalleled ease of use with the capability to produce profoundly impactful and varied educational content. This unique fusion is born out of their deep passion for education and a meticulous response to extensive customer feedback, setting their tool apart as the most adaptable and intuitive in the market. It uniquely empowers users to craft a wide array of pedagogically rich experiences without any need for coding, meeting the most demanding training needs. This capability ensures that, while user-friendly, the software does not compromise on the depth and differentiation of the e-learning content it can generate, making it a preferred choice for creators seeking both simplicity and power in their educational endeavors. What truly sets their offering apart is their philosophy that technology should serve humanity, not the other way around. This belief drives them to develop cutting-edge solutions that empower both trainers and learners by making advanced educational technologies accessible and easy to use. Moreover, their commitment to excellence is further demonstrated through their support services. They provide swift, personalized assistance to their users, ensuring that their experience with the software is not just satisfactory, but exceptional. This dedication to supporting their customers’ success reflects their core values and is a critical component of their competitive advantage. In essence, the software is more than a tool; it is a bridge between technology and human potential, designed to enhance the learning experience in outstanding ways. This holistic approach to product development and customer service is why users prefer their solution over others. Challenges Faced During the Journey: Facing a pivotal moment in her career, Marie-Christine Jené encountered a profound professional crisis. Amid the turbulent financial climate of 2010-2012, her entrepreneurial venture faced bankruptcy, compounded by betrayal from a senior executive. However, instead of succumbing to defeat, after a moment of disappointment, she embraced this challenge as an opportunity for growth and renewal. Determined to persevere, she founded a new company, leveraging the same innovative products and services. She rallied the core team from her previous enterprise, retaining valued shareholders, and embarked on a journey of reconstruction and resilience. This strategic move not only salvaged their collective efforts but also propelled them towards successful consolidation from 2014 onwards. This experience was transformative. It honed her resilience, fortified her leadership, and underscored the importance of adaptability and unwavering determination. Marie-Christine emerged more seasoned, both personally and professionally, grateful for the lessons learned and the growth attained. This journey stands as a testament to the power of resilience and the relentless pursuit of excellence, principles that continue to guide her endeavors. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: To young women aspiring to carve their entrepreneurial paths, Marie-Christine Jené's most heartfelt advice is to hold onto their dreams and persist through adversity. The journey of entrepreneurship is fraught with challenges, yet it is within these moments of difficulty that the seeds of their greatest successes are sown. Embrace every setback as a learning opportunity and a stepping stone towards their goals. Beyond perseverance, she advises actively seeking mentorship and surrounding oneself with a network of supporters and advisors who believe in their vision. The wisdom and experience of those who have navigated similar paths can be their most valuable resource. Equally important is the commitment to continuous learning and adaptation. The entrepreneurial landscape is ever-evolving, and staying informed about their industry will enable them to innovate and stay ahead of the curve. Lastly, she emphasizes that their unique perspective as women is a strength. Embracing it in their entrepreneurial journey is crucial. Diversity of thought leads to innovation, and by bringing their whole selves to their business, they create a company that truly stands out. In summary, Marie-Christine suggests letting their dreams be their compass, but arming themselves with resilience, knowledge, mentorship, and the power of their unique perspective. This combination will not only propel them forward but also inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

Name: Yasmin Cuesta Business Name: Y&S Digital Growth Location: Port St. Lucie , USA Establishment (Year): 2021 Category: Advertising & Marketing Profession/ Specialty: Digital Marketing Website: www.ysdigitalgrowth.com Social Media : Linkedin Company Detail: Y&S Digital is an all-inclusive South Florida digital marketing agency and a trustworthy partner in growth. With results-driven digital marketing and lead generation, they expand brands and put businesses in front of the right people. Services include comprehensive digital marketing packages, Around-the-clock social listening and authentic engagement, Targeted ad and email campaigns, SEO-optimized blogs, and Easy-to-understand analytics. Their track record speaks volumes—from aiding clients in achieving first-page rankings on Google to fostering passionate brand advocates and filling client inboxes with leads, their results are undeniable. Y&S Digital boasts versatility in marketing across various niches, catering to industries ranging from health professionals to vacation rental management companies. Their inherent drive to witness businesses flourish underscores the cornerstone of their successful clientele portfolio. Setting them apart from other digital marketing firms is their personalized approach, where they take clients' success to heart, treating each business as if it were their own. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: At Y&S Digital, they pride themselves on delivering personalized and high-quality services tailored to meet specific business needs. Their commitment to quick turnaround times ensures staying ahead of the competition and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. Results-driven, they continuously strive to exceed expectations and achieve tangible outcomes. Meticulous attention to detail ensures every aspect of the digital marketing strategy is carefully considered and executed to perfection. With a focus on building strong and lasting relationships, they provide personalized attention and exceptional service. Challenges Faced During the Journey: As a child, Yasmin Cuesta faced uncertainties as an undocumented immigrant. Despite challenges, she pursued her dreams, becoming a "Dreamer" during junior year and earning a biology degree from Florida Atlantic University with a full scholarship. After graduating, she taught herself marketing and started her company in 2021. Loyalty from initial clients reflects the quality of her work. Overcoming odds, Yasmin became the first in her family to graduate high school and college debt-free and own a home by 24. Her story emphasizes the power of hard work and self-belief. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Yasmin encourages women entrepreneurs to never lose hope and always believe in themselves. Hard work, dedication, and perseverance can lead to incredible achievements. Seek opportunities, educate yourself, and be open to learning new skills. Surround yourself with a supportive network and never fear dreaming big. Backgrounds do not define futures, and with determination, any obstacle can be overcome. The stars align when hard work and focus remain on goals.

Name: Kelly Lovell Business Name: BridgingTheGap Ventures Location: Waterloo , Canada Establishment (Year): 2013 Category: Social Enterprise and NGO Profession/ Specialty: Media and Education Website: https://bridgingthegapventures.com Social Media : Linkedin Company Detail: BridgingTheGap Ventures is a global media hub for the youth sector—connecting, supporting, and driving impact for all. It is a Canadian women-led social enterprise that curates youth-relevant, purpose-driven content, communities, and collaborative experiences. The aim is to unlock the potential of young people to become future-ready—globally-minded, resilient, solutions-oriented talent able to adapt and thrive in the rapidly changing world. Providing access is central to all activities—bridging opportunity gaps for underrepresented and underserved groups so they can adapt and thrive in the future of work, pursue innovation and entrepreneurship, and scale their social impact. The partner network collectively serves over 41 million young changemakers, creators, and innovators under 30 in 243 nations and territories worldwide. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: As the global media hub for the youth sector, BridgingTheGap Ventures provides a streamlined and cost-effective way for stakeholders to tap into targeted next-gen audiences around the world—41 million young changemakers, creators, and innovators under 30 in 243 nations and territories worldwide. The brand platform YOUNGA World is the largest global festival for impact, uniting more than 200 global partners annually to co-create solutions with young people for sustainable development—giving brands unprecedented access to connect, engage, and learn from top global talent and young impact creators. The unique 3 pillar approach—inclusive, intergenerational, and intersectional programming—aims to foster constructive multi-stakeholder innovation, uniting different perspectives, lived experiences, and knowledge together to create sustainable solutions that serve and support everyone. BridgingTheGap is committed to eliminating opportunity gaps for underrepresented and underserved groups—be it women, youth, POC, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, low-income, rural and/or remote residents, newcomers, Indigenous Peoples, or racialized people—who may currently face barriers to building their careers, pursuing innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Challenges Faced During the Journey: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the business as all primary sources of revenue were restricted and, in most cases, stopped. Prior to the pandemic, more than 80% of revenues came from in-person events, speaking engagements, and consulting that required travel. In 2019, the company had been developing its event portfolio, having successfully produced a cross-country innovation tour with local events in over six major cities across Canada, and all third-party events where the CEO and principal consultant was paid to speak required frequent travel to the United States and Europe. When the lockdown came into effect, the company lost all main revenue streams, leading to a digital transformation and change in business model to a media company. The company took a proactive approach to this transformation, realizing the future of work and the needs of young people were changing. They moved away from hybrid models, channeling efforts into engaging, supporting, and empowering young people virtually. The inaugural YOUNGA Forum came out of this transformation, which was pivotal for the organization and the young people involved. The company also launched its global network of youth-led, youth-serving, and youth-focused organizations—the BridgingTheGap Alliance—in 2020, which has grown to more than 100 members in 240 countries and territories, serving 17.6 million young people worldwide. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Know your worth and have the courage to ask for it: The first step in accessing power is believing it exists within. When looking to external sources to validate worth or that of the business, power is given away to something outside of one's control. Realizing the power within as the asset makes one unstoppable. Roadblocks are signals to new opportunities: When encountering challenges or things don't go as planned, see them as signals to look in another direction rather than stop signs. Some of the greatest business achievements have come from unexpected pivots in ways of thinking or doing business.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Dhavan Bhow: Basically the idea behind this business is that there are many companies in the market who work on LinkedIn but where they build only connections so the thought behind my business was not only to build connections but to manage the entire profile and also to communicate on their behalf. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Techniq Networking Co? Dhavan Bhow: Well, talking about the services we masterize in LinkedIn Branding Services where we not only build connections for your profile but we also get followers on your company page we also communicate with the connections that we have built through which we build strong rapport which in turn leads to the valuable lead for your business. Great Companies: What makes Techniq Networking Co different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Dhavan Bhow: As mentioned earlier the companies that provide LinkedIn services they only build connections for you whereas we at Techniq Networking Co. not only build connection but we bring followers on your company page. Apart, from that we also communicate with them on your behalf build rapport and generate lead for your valuable business Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Dhavan Bhow: The challenges we have faced and we are facing is the response rate. Basically, we all know that LinkedIn is user based professional platform due to which the turn around time is not as expected so the key to success is patience. So I have learned that applying new techniques and applying new research will give adequate results Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Techniq Networking Co? Dhavan Bhow: Growth is very ample in the industry only if we provide something out of the box. We have some key features and our some of the USP is something which can give desired results to the client. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Dhavan Bhow: My advice to anyone who is starting would be “Implement Rather than Thinking” as the Path to Success is Always “Under Construction”

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Mohan Upasani: Along with a 9 to 5 engineering job, I was also a professional synthesizer player performing in concerts which kept me connected with the music industry. Driven by my passion for music, I eventually quit my job to become a music director. I successfully composed music for Hindi and Marathi films, as well as created jingles and anthems for corporate clients. In this journey, I realized that it is more of a team game rather than individual brilliance to reach greater heights in the longer run. While building my team in the field of music, I identified a gap in the audio-visual segment in the corporate sector. I quickly pounced on to the opportunity by collaborating with creative professionals from the industry backed by my technical expertise and established Pivot Media Solutions to cater to a wide spectrum of audience in the B2B as well as B2C businesses with visual media communication. As I have always been fascinated by new media solutions, I strived to provide cost effective yet high quality audio visual communications to companies when they were using outdated PPT presentations for communications. My aim was to provide comprehensive communication solutions across all departments like marketing, production, HR, etc. via visual media and latest technology to take the companies ahead in time. With our vision to support Make in India movement empowering MSMEs and startups in equivalence to the large scale industry,In the process of empowering MSMEs and startups in equivalence to the large scale companies as a part of our vision to support the 'Make in India' movement,  we have grown from a proprietary firm to Pivot Media Solutions Private Limited now with clients across India, Srilanka and Europe. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Pivot media solutions pvt ltd ? Mohan Upasani: At Pivot Media Solutions, our services are majorly categorized into 5 verticals viz. Advertising, Branding, Corporate AVs, Digital Marketing, and Experiential Media. We provide end to end communication solutions to startups, MNCs, MSMEs may it be from the B2B sector or B2C. Right from conceptualization to execution to analysis, we take care of all the creative and technical aspects of the project. Under the Advertising division, we produce TVC, Radio jingles, digital ads and print ads and facilitate media planning and buying for B2C segment. Under the branding division, we help startups with brand building by creating their brand's  identity, tone , persona and communication strategy. For MNCs, we provide brand management services which includes consistent brand messaging and online reputation management as per brand guidelines. For MSMEs, we conduct brand audit and suggest brand positioning solutions based on the outcome. Under our Corporate Audio Visual division, we produce video based communication solutions useful across marketing, HR and production departments like Company Profile AV, Product/Service AV, Product Demonstration AV, Facilities AV, Vendor Approval AV, etc. for external communication and Audit Compliance AV, Training and Safety AV, Business Excellence AV, etc. for internal communications. The creative side of our digital media division provides A/c handling, marketing and optimization solutions for social media, search engine and e-commerce platforms while the technical side provides designing and development solutions for Apps and websites. Lastly, our experiential media team manages corporate events, ambient media activation, product launch as well as provides XR (VR + AR) based solutions for Dojo rooms and digital training centers. Thus, you can be rest assured that Pivot Media Solutions is a one stop solution for all your media needs. Great Companies: What makes Pivot media solutions pvt ltd  different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Mohan Upasani: Pivot Media Solutions is a multifaceted company providing cutting edge solutions with a CREATECH approach across engineering, media, tech, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, healthcare and financial sectors. We thrive on the creative expertise and technical acumen of our team that delves into the complexities of the client's requirements and comes up with innovative media solutions. I can proudly say that we understand the core of any business and provide industry specific solutions always in time. We are not just another Media company, we are a communication company that focuses on the comprehension of the brand's message to the target audience. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Mohan Upasani: My major struggle was in the initial phase to sell my vision of being ahead of time to the MSME segment by adopt new media solutions for communication. With effective marketing of my company through new media, I demonstrated the company's vision so well that I became the man of my word and proved to the industry that being ahead of time is the way to survive in this competitive era. Of course, during the pandemic as well, we had a slack of work and a rough phase but we overcame those challenges as a team. We decided that it's the time for a change and we ourselves need to adopt new media to be digitally ahead. We focused more on providing digital media solutions rather than the traditional media. We conducted live Virtual Audit instead audit compliance video for the world economic forum. We also expanded our vertical with AR and VR services and thus, introduced new training VR based training modules for the HR department and began with the development of digital training centers for major brands like HUL and Mahindra CIE. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Pivot media solutions pvt ltd ? Mohan Upasani: I have always believed in being ahead of time and adopting new media adopting new media solutions for our company as well our client base. The next 5 years for pivot Media are crucial because the industry is moving into IR 4.0 and Web 3. With the introduction of AI, we have already started incorporating generative AI solutions into our communications. We are also focusing on the XR department of the business and coming up with new solutions for our clients because we grow when our clients grow. In the next 5 years, we aspire to support Make in India movement and the digital revolution by the government by expanding our horizons. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Mohan Upasani: I would like to encourage the youth to work on gaining practical skills in this contemporary era. While the market stays dynamic post the pandemic in the globalized world, I would highly recommend the entrepreneurs to focus on finding solutions to the numerous gaps in the market. Lastly, be brave and just pounce on any opportunity with a positive approach and everything will fall into place once you are in the practical world. May it be your own business or a job, you can reach out to us for collaborations. We are always happy to consult you.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Anna Khomenko : The past 6 years I dedicated to building smart consumer tech startups from the ground up, defining and executing launch strategies. Imagine you have an idea of a Smart cutting board, the one that weighs your ingredients, integrates with your voice assistant, like Alexa or Google, and guides you through the cooking process. How do you bring your idea to reality? There are multiple ways of approaching the ideation, product development and finally its launch. This is where I come in. When done right, you want to build your product based on customer feedback. How? Start with market research. Ask your target audience. This will help you scope out the features your product should have in order to solve this or that problem of your target user. Once you have your set of features and benefits you move on to product development. What I noticed is that oftentimes the founders of such products are those with engineering or design background but not sales and marketing. They are very good at building the products, but they struggle to build and execute the go-to-market strategy, brainstorm and experiment with communication angles to find the right language-market fit in addition to the product-market fit that so many focus on. This presented an opportunity to get the Startup Dials started, to bridge the gap and help these founders succeed. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Startup Dials ? Anna Khomenko : Our main focus is the Fractional CMO services. Hiring a full-time CMO is often considered a significant investment. And so founders choose to hire junior marketers to help them “market” their product. What do juniors do? They put together a mediocre website, set up social media accounts and start posting branded content, spend their precious time producing that content only to discover 6 or 12 months later that all their efforts did not bring any sales in. Startups, particularly in their infancy, often need the expertise of a senior marketer to help them on a strategic level but not the execution. Execution can be handled by a junior in-house team, but the bird-eye view strategy has to be set by someone with experience and expertise. As your Fractional CMO we provide the insights, strategies, and guidance of a top-tier CMO, but on a part-time basis. This model ensures startups get value-packed services tailored to their current scale without stretching their budgets. We also run a 90-day Marketing Reboot program, where throughout the 3 months period were view your existing state of affairs: competitor landscape, brand and product positioning, sales and marketing processes, identify gaps and opportunities, all to build out tailored strategy and set your team up for success providing them with tools helping them kick off the execution of the strategy. Great Companies: What makes Startup Dials different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Anna Khomenko : Unlike other marketing agencies we prefer to work with the in-house team of the client, coaching the team and growing them to work on their own. We are your short term solution to jump start your sales and marketing operations until the team is mature enough to work on their own, and have a full-time CMO running the marketing department. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Anna Khomenko : Changing the startup mindset that views marketing as a nice-to-have rather than a must-have is probably one of the biggest challenges. Oftentimes when a startup underperforms the founders tend to see marketing as a cost center, and not a profit center, which makes it difficult for us to convince them. Many founders jump in with a great product but lack the clarity on how to sell it, often resulting in wasted resources on ineffective strategies. Our challenge was to demonstrate the value of our Fractional CMO services as a cornerstone, not an afterthought. By showcasing how a clear, well- executed marketing strategy could conserve resources and boost sales, we managed to turn skepticism into trust, transforming the way startups approach marketing and sales. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Startup Dials? Anna Khomenko : We will continue focusing on what we do best: brand positioning, product research, launching smart consumer tech products with crowdfunding and bringing them to commercial space and retail, and further on to product line extension and global expansion. Within the team the focus will remain on providing the highest quality services to help us grow organically, remaining niche, hyper-focused and boutique fractional CMO consultancy for smart consumer tech startups. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Anna Khomenko : Jump in. The world of entrepreneurship is all about taking those first steps. Don’t let the fear of inexperience hold you back. Remember, every expert was once a beginner. I live by the famous quote: “ a winner is just a loser who tried one more time”. Start small, learn from each action, and gradually build your expertise. Nowadays we tend to get quickly discouraged by lack of results after a very short period of time. Social media, stories of overnight success, short attention spans, - all this makes us impatient to get it all and get it now. Reality is, good things take time and unfortunately there is no magic solution but only consistent “trial and error” approach focusing on delivering true customer value which in time will turn into growth and positive returns.

Name: Sandra Rathe Business Name: The Sandra Rathe Team Location: Weston , USA Establishment (Year): 2010 Category: Real Estate Services Profession/ Specialty: Real Estate Website: www.SandraRathe.com Social Media : Linkedin | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Company Detail: The owner and leader of the top real estate team in Broward and Miami Dade at Keller Williams started in the real estate business in 2009 and has grown the team every year to the current size of selling $138 Million in property and serving over 266 families in 2023. They are a team of 20 real estate professionals and 5 support staff. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: The Sandra Rathe team consistently achieves top-tier results for their clients. While they do serve both buyers and sellers, they focus more heavily on the listing side. They pride themselves on their extensive marketing and their deep knowledge of the market and current trends. This allows them to achieve higher sales prices for their sellers and shorter days on the market, resulting in happier sellers and giving them the ability to move onto their next adventure faster and with less stress. Challenges Faced During the Journey When Sandra began the business in 2009 she was fairly new to the South Florida area. She had moved there for a job transfer for her husband so they had no family or friends close by. Starting a relationship-based business from scratch with no help from people they knew was definitely a challenge. She had to rely on her strong marketing abilities and her persistence to get the business off the ground. Additionally, her husband worked for Caterpillar at the time and he was responsible for South America which meant he was not home very often. She was left to take care of their 3 children (ages 9, 7, and 6 at the time) and get the business up and running by herself. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Sandra would say, the sky is the limit! Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do it or that you don't have the time to do it. Women can be very resilient and creative when it comes to taking care of their family and building a huge career. There is no reason that they can't have it all and feel fully satisfied with both parts of their lives. They do not need to sacrifice one in order to be successful in the other; they can be successful at both at the same time!

Name: Kavya Pearlman Business Name: XRSI - X Reality Safety Intelligence Location: San Francisco Bay Area , USA Establishment (Year): 2019 Category: Information Technology Profession/ Specialty: Cybersecurity, Safety , Privacy and Ethics in Emerging Technologies Website: xrsi.org Social Media : Linkedin Company Detail: Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States and Torino, Italy in Europe, X Reality Safety Intelligence (XRSI) is the world’s leading organization dedicated to providing intelligence and advisory services that are vital for the protection and well-being of emerging technology ecosystems. With a strong emphasis on critical aspects such as safety, privacy, security, human rights, human well-being, responsible innovation, governance, and regulation, XRSI offers comprehensive expertise to ensure the responsible and ethical advancement of emerging technologies. By emphasizing Human Intelligence, XRSI brings together a global network of experts and thought leaders committed to shaping the future of technology in a way that prioritizes the welfare of individuals and society as a whole. They offer standardization, certification, policymaking, and workforce development professional advisory services for the emerging technology domain. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: XRSI, as the first such global effort, provides impartial, practical information about Immersive and emerging technologies-related risks and opportunities to governments, individuals, corporations, universities, agencies, and other organizations worldwide. XRSI has created various programs focusing on the most critical aspects of the immersive and emerging technologies domains, such as Medical XR (Medical XR Advisory Council), Child Safety (Child Safety Initiative), Diversity and Inclusion (CyberXR Coalition), Trustworthy Journalism (Ready Hacker One), and the Metaverse Reality Check (The MRC), an oversight board by and for the citizens. XRSI launched the first novel XRSI Privacy and Safety Framework for XR and Spatial Computing domain, which has been well received and has been a point of discussion among the key stakeholders and many regulatory entities worldwide. XRSI is currently working on several standards and frameworks, including Medical XR and Child Safety frameworks, for addressing global Privacy and Safety issues. Since its foundation, XRSI has worked on many different projects, such as, but not limited to the first Standard Taxonomy for XR, defining the key terms in the domain and laying the ground for a shared research environment in the XR domain. This taxonomy is now being used to inform lawmakers worldwide as they gear up to lay the legal foundation and write laws in XR. One of the projects she’s proudest of, at the moment, is the XRSI Privacy & Safety Framework for XR and Spatial Computing. As the hardware and software evolve, concern over the user privacy implications is also growing. In 2020, XRSI started releasing its own solution as a “baseline ruleset” to create accountability and trust for Extended Reality solutions while enhancing data privacy and safety for users. The research, development, and release cycle is now continuously happening. XRSI proudly advises several Big tech corporations and contributes to policy and law making for various governments globally, including UK, US, Australia, and many more. Challenges Faced During the Journey: Rapid Advancement in Emerging Technologies: Tackling the risks and opportunities arising from the rapid development of immersive technologies and AI. Privacy and Data Protection in Emerging Technologies: Managing massive data collection associated with emerging technologies, particularly in immersive environments, and addressing the inadequacies of current privacy laws and data protection principles in the context of these technologies. Child Safety in AI-Augmented Environments: Protecting children in AI-driven platforms, focusing on psychological safety and safeguarding their digital identities in these rapidly evolving environments. Cybersecurity Challenges in the AI-Powered Metaverse: Addressing rising cybersecurity concerns in the evolving AI-powered metaverse, including data protection and the potential for new types of cyber threats. Funding for Mission and Initiatives: Securing adequate funding to support initiatives and research in the safety, privacy, and security of emerging technologies and AI. This includes organizing events like Metaverse Safety Week to attract sponsorships and donations. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Kavya Pearlman was born in India, and since she was a child, she has always been inclined to inspect and solve problems. She wanted to become the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), a position truly based on ethics. It was this deep "right from wrong" moral compass that would lead her throughout her career. She dreamed of coming to the US to have the freedom to do anything and be anyone without the weight of systematic traditions. This happened in 2007 when she moved to Chicago. For five years, she'd been working as a hairstylist. One day, she was cutting a gentleman's hair when he discussed his work as a security analyst at a bank. He noticed her immense curiosity and desire to learn more. After paying for the cut, he recommended reading "Cyber War" by Richard A. Clarke. A couple of chapters in, and she was hooked. Sometimes intuition is the best guide. The book connected her profound ethical prudence and love for computers into one space. She knew then she wanted to be a cybersecurity officer. She applied to the top cybersecurity Master's programs in the country. DePaul, in Chicago, was at the top of her list, and this was the beginning of a new life. Her story demonstrates that there's no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ path to be involved in the Responsible Tech ecosystem. What she can suggest to anyone interested in this domain is to ‘fail forward’.