Fatin, here. A few weeks ago, I stood on a stage at The Power Women Expo in Tampa, surrounded by fellow entrepreneurs and innovators. The topic? “Fuel Your Growth: Securing Funding for Women-Led Ventures.” I shared insights on the power of community and the emerging concept of the community builder venture capitalist (CBVC), but mostly, I emphasized that their missions resonate with the right people when founders walk in their authenticity.
Embody Your Mission’s Worthiness
Little did I know that a chance encounter with a friend after the panel—an engineer sharing unique jewelry inscribed with binary code through ARE JEI. I purchased a silver bracelet inscribed with the word “worthy” in binary code. With Fractio still being bootstrapped, I stepped onto that stage with vulnerability and authenticity.
Rewriting Startup Culture as a Champion for Others
The bracelet serves as a reminder: We are worthy of our mission, regardless of external validation. It’s a sentiment that resonates deeply with our startup’s ethos. Fractio’s journey exemplifies this truth. As we navigate the dynamic landscape of tech startups, it’s important to recognize the unsung heroes—the founders who step out with unwavering courage, even before securing external funding, and the community that invests emotionally and intellectually in them. These visionaries are the heart and soul of innovation, and their stories inspire us all.
Fast forward to today, and Fractio earned the title of the Tampa Bay Inno Madness competition. But this victory isn’t about winning; it’s about rewriting the rules of startup culture and championing that for others. We’re challenging the status quo, where innovation and resourcefulness now share the spotlight with traditional funding models. Fractio represents the underdogs—the founders who dare to step out with unwavering courage, even before securing external funding.
Investors Are More Than Venture Capitalists
When founders lead with purpose and authenticity, their missions resonate with the right people and resources. It’s a powerful symbiosis—the community invests not only financially but also emotionally and intellectually. Fractio’s championship title owes credit to our resilience and the unwavering support of our local startup community.
With a small, dedicated team, Fractio secured over 4,300 votes from the community in the competition. Readers answered a simple question: “Who would you invest in?” This is a testament to the importance of community-driven startups—the ones that thrive on shared dreams and collective impact. The title highlights the changing landscape of startup culture, where innovation and resourcefulness are valued alongside traditional funding models, and more underdogs can be championed. It also underscores an essential truth: Investors aren’t just venture capitalists; they’re the community.
A Community of Bespoke Teams
As a woman and a mother, I understand the unique challenges faced by female entrepreneurs. Fractio’s subscription-based platform empowers startups to assemble bespoke teams. Imagine a community of highly skilled individuals, seamlessly plugged into a startup’s workspace via the Fractio dashboard. They provide their skills as-needed and on-demand, regardless of traditional venture funding and the startup pays a usage fee for the skills they use. It’s a game-changer—a way to thrive without sacrificing team cohesion.
Rethinking Talent Acquisition
Fractio disrupts the hiring landscape. Instead of relying on venture capital for full-time hires, we advocate for a more agile approach. Enter fractional talent—seasoned executives and even skilled specialists who offer expertise without the hefty overhead costs. Our platform connects startups with this flexible workforce, enabling founders to pay only for the skills they need. It’s time to catch up: Startups use emerging technology in their products, yet they still hire full-time inefficiently.
Fractio isn’t just a startup; it’s a movement. We’re rewriting the rules, emphasizing impact, resilience, and the courage to innovate. So, whether you’re an entrepreneur, an investor, or simply someone who believes in the power of community, let’s champion the underdogs together. Because every founder who steps out authentically adds a new chapter to the evolving story of startup success.
Our Journey isn’t a Solo Endeavor
Our journey is a collective effort fueled by a community that invests emotionally, intellectually, and financially in our mission. These organizations, together with the fractional talent on the platform and our startup subscribers without whom the platform couldn’t exist to support other founders, as well as the institutional investors who have given their time in market research to make our mission to champion this change possible.
- Startup Assessment through Plan Your Start: The catalyst that ignited Fractio’s vision.
- Mentors from the SCORE Association Southwest Florida District, Southwest Florida Chapter: Guiding us toward clarity and purpose.
- Soaring City Innovation Partnership Business Accelerator: For accepting Fractio into its winter cohort, championing underrepresented founders.
- Women in Tech and Entrepreneurship: Their Slack Channel has been a wellspring of support, and for allowing us to host a Fractional Sales & Marketing Workshop with local entrepreneurial leaders and our fractionals Virginie and Adele
- The Florida CFO Group: Featuring Fractio on an episode of CFO Coffee Talk, discussing entrepreneurial minds and fractional workers, and for having us join them on stage at DisruptHR Orlando.
- The Power Women Expo Organizers: Including me on a panel with other women ecosystem leaders.
- University of Tampa Lowth Entrepreneurship Center: Their commitment to fostering entrepreneurial spirit allowed me to judge the Spartan Cup Governors Cup Qualifier Competition. It’s through platforms like these that startups find their footing and gain valuable insights.
- TechStars Startup Weekend Tampa Bay: We’re grateful for the opportunity to sponsor this event, supporting up-and-coming entrepreneurs. The energy and creativity at startup weekends are contagious, and we’re thrilled to be part of that ecosystem.
- St. Pete Innovation District: Inclusion in thought leadership discussions is where ideas collide and innovation thrives. Being part of these conversations allows us to contribute to the ecosystem and learn from fellow visionaries.
- St. Pete Greenhouse: As a finalist during St. Pete Pitch Night last winter, we felt the pulse of the community. It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do—because startups matter, and their impact is far-reaching.
- Tampa Bay Tech’s Emerging Leaders Council: Serving on the board allows me to impact future leaders directly. Mentorship, guidance, and collaboration are essential for nurturing the next generation of tech trailblazers.
- Seedfunders, New World Angels, Tampa Bay Ventures, Hafla Venture, G51, Character VC, Mindset Ventures, and Raiz Capital: The institutional and angel investors that have given their time in market research to make our mission possible.
Together, with all these supporters, we’re weaving a tapestry of shared dreams—one where authenticity, community, and innovation intersect. Fractio’s journey is a testament to the power of collaboration, and we’re excited to continue shaping the startup landscape.
