ifundwomen

Scaling Support for Women-Owned SMBs

IFundWomen is a funding platform for women-owned small businesses, offering capital via crowdfunding, corporate grants, and coaching. Recently acquired, it is now operating as IFW by Honeycomb Credit.

At the onset of COVID-19, thousands of women entrepreneurs faced immediate business shutdowns. IFundWomen needed to scale support fast, despite having virtually no marketing budget.

The Challenge

Grew membership from ~1K to 100K in two years; distributed millions in funding to women-owned SMBs; earned national media (NYTimes, WSJ, Fast Company) and won a Webby “Anthem Award” for Fund Black Founders.

The Results

100x

grew membership from ~1K to 100K in two years

National Media

won a Webby “Anthem Award” for Fund Black Founders.

$3m+

distributed millions in funding to women-owned SMBs

Strategy

Built a HubSpot-powered reporting infrastructure to track cost per lead, MQL, and SQL by tactic

Sunset underperforming partnerships/events, reallocating budget to highest-ROI channels

In-housed organic social management, hiring a Vivvi parent to authentically grow community trust and engagement

“There are marketers, and then there’s Julia Steele—basically the Swiss Army knife of brand growth, but sharper."

— Co-founder, IFundWomen
"Extraordinary drive against our targets. Julia brings openness to new tools and consistently shares insights that drive acquisition and retention."

— Peer, Success Academy
"She acts as a force multiplier for my work, and you can't ask for much more from a leader."

— Direct Report, Success Academy
"Julia is proactive and always seeks opportunities to learn about the organization, our customer, and product.”

— Manager, Success Academy
"She’s a champion of strong creative work and someone who always shouts out the people who do the work."

— Peer, Success Academy
"Julia takes a strategic approach and executes to high standards."

— Peer, Success Academy
"She’s the best boss I’ve ever had, invested in my development even when it’s inconvenient."

— Direct Report, SYPartners
"You set the strategy for your team, then articulate it clearly."

— Peer, SYPartners
"She’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever worked with, fiercely guides her team and always made sure to prioritize our professional growth."

— Direct Report, IFundWomen

Scaling Support for Women-Owned SMBs

Grew membership from ~1K to 100K in two years; distributed millions in funding to women-owned SMBs; earned national media (NYTimes, WSJ, Fast Company) and won a Webby “Anthem Award” for Fund Black Founders.

100x

$3m+

“There are marketers, and then there’s Julia Steele—basically the Swiss Army knife of brand growth, but sharper."

"Extraordinary drive against our targets. Julia brings openness to new tools and consistently shares insights that drive acquisition and retention."

"She acts as a force multiplier for my work, and you can't ask for much more from a leader."

"Julia is proactive and always seeks opportunities to learn about the organization, our customer, and product.”

"She’s a champion of strong creative work and someone who always shouts out the people who do the work."

"Julia takes a strategic approach and executes to high standards."

"She’s the best boss I’ve ever had, invested in my development even when it’s inconvenient."

"You set the strategy for your team, then articulate it clearly."

"She’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever worked with, fiercely guides her team and always made sure to prioritize our professional growth."

Data-Driven Strategy Spurs Growth

Content Marketing Drives New Business