We spoke to Marion Siboni, the founder and CEO of La Creme de la STEM ™, a private network for early-stage female founders in STEM offering a holistic support system that includes exclusive insights from exited entrepreneurs and connections to vetted investors. A multi-award winner with over a decade of pivotal business development roles at some of the world's biggest tech companies, Marion spoke to us about her experience and her advice for women in the sector.
La Creme de la STEM ™ focuses on early-stage female founders in STEM. What specific gaps or challenges in the tech ecosystem did you notice that drove you to create this private network?
Female founders received 2% of venture capital funding in 2022, according to Pitchbook Report. This is a number well too known in the startup ecosystem, which has not evolved in the last decade. However, a research from BCG shows that startups founded or co-founded by women generate 2.5 times more revenue per dollar of funding compared to male-founded startups. Diversity is not a moral obligation but a business advantage.
You’ve had an impressive journey across roles at Techstars, MongoDB, and other tech giants. How did your experience in these roles inspire you to create La Creme de la STEM ™?
Thanks to my decade of experience in business development, I mastered the art of forge strategic relationships, winning multiple awards, and built a community of 4,000 people in 12 months when moving to NYC. I developed a network where I’m just a text away from finding the answers I need.
I channeled my passion for creating connections into launching La Creme de la STEM™ in June 2024. I am building a strong support system for early-stage female founders in science and technology, where women can access essential resources and uplift one another, empowering them to reach their full potential.
How do you support female founders in STEM and help them with the unique challenges faced?
La Creme de la STEM ™ is a private, online community specifically designed as a safe space for early-stage female founders in science and/or technology. It offers a holistic support system that includes several pillars:
- connections to vetted VCs - 85+ as of August 2024
- exclusive insights and lessons learned from exited entrepreneurs
- specific perks and credits from corporate partners
We bring together the best minds - la creme de la creme, from all genders and backgrounds, to support female founders in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics, and build genuine, powerful connections.
What emerging technologies do you see having the biggest impact on STEM entrepreneurship over the next few years?
We have entered the era of AI set to drive the next wave of productivity across various operational functions. A report from Techstars shows that 33% of startups are already using AI as an enabler of their business in 2023. Entrepreneurs have access to a large range of capabilities which help them to focus on their core skills and leverage AI for everything else - whether it is a social media campaign to promote their business or automating code generation testing and debugging. In the near future, we will certainly see AI tools evolve to support businesses at massive scales.
Techstars and similar programs have had a profound impact on the startup ecosystem. What lessons from these environments do you apply when advising STEM founders on scaling their businesses?
Early-stage startups should be primarily focused on three main areas:
- Build a product that customers want:
Constantly seeking user feedback will help understand the underlying problem founders are trying to solve. Finding product-market fit will come through iteration. Achieving consistent milestones and setting clear expectations and vision is crucial.
- Establish and grow a strong support system:
Networking is a powerful tool that can bring both positivity and productivity to those who know how to harness it. To do, I teach the following method:
- Build a network before you need it
- Give before you get
- Connect on personal matters
- Always follow-up, but keep it short and sweet
- Be clear on your expectations
- Get exposure to investors:
Create a targeted list of potential investors, considering factors like the investor's stage, geographic focus, and industry. This list should be shared with your support system who could facilitate introductions.
About Marion
Marion Siboni is the founder and CEO of La Creme de la STEM ™, a private network for early-stage female founders in STEM offering a holistic support system that includes exclusive insights from exited entrepreneurs and connections to vetted investors. Over the last decade, Marion has excelled in pivotal business development roles at Techstars, MongoDB, Shift - AI unicorn - and Cisco. Her mastery in forging strategic partnerships earned her two Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards, and the Tech & Startup Award from the French-American Chamber of Commerce. Leveraging her extraordinary networking skills, Marion built a thriving community of 4000+ women in technology in 12 months through in-person panels, a month after moving from Paris to NYC. She channels her passion for community-building into investing in seed, community-led entrepreneurs. As a recognized startup mentor and public speaker - she recently collaborated with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Marion’s passion for connecting people and fostering impactful relationships continues to drive her mission and success.
