This is edition number 5 of your monthly roundup of insights, opportunities, women founders, and updates on the startup happenings in the Nordics.

September's hottest picks

• A new fund raised $250 Million to back women led startups!
• How to build a startup while managing your 9-5 ?
• Gender equality is not just a problem to solve but a way to solve a problem

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Funded!

Changing the narrative about women founders requires us to change what we focus on. We choose to focus on how much money women DO raise. Also! Look at these great companies women are building:

Denmark: Matr Foods / CEO & Co-founder Randi Wahlsten / €20M / EIB
Using traditional funghi fermentation to expand production of their plant-based meat alternatives.

The 0-Mission / Anna Riis Hedegaard
Accelerating the green energy transition by providing renewable energy options.

Sweden: Uman Sense / Cecilia Wassélius Belfrage / SmileInject Capital
Continuing their mission of innovative stroke prevention with new technology.

Amferia / Saba Atefyekta / €1.2 million round led by Chalmers Ventures
Combatting resistant bacterial infections by unleashing the power of antimicrobial peptides.

Norway: Vind AI / Helene Bøhler & Hilde Kristin Njøten / €3 M seed round led by Norskken VC
Pioneering world class research in generative AI to bring tomorrow's solutions to today's challenges

What’s new from Even Founders

75 Women in our Startup School Cohort 4.0

September marked the start of our 4th Startup School cohort. And a record-making one for us! Our very first cohort had 26 women, the 2nd one 28, the 3rd one 37. Now, we welcomed 75 women in cohort nr.4. It still feels surreal. We've always known that women belong and want to be in the startup world.

Having 75 incredible women ready to build something of their own in our community is nothing short of inspiring.

Together we will create the next generation of Nordic entrepreneurs - a much more diverse one that resembles the world they build products for!

How to build a startup while balancing your 9-5?

The myth that you need to take an all-or-nothing leap to start a company is just that- a myth. Many founders actually build their startups while keeping their day jobs.

On October 16th, at our event in collaboration with the Female Leadership Academy, you’ll hear from **Randi Wahlsten,** Ella Smoraczewska Harris and Micki Kold Nagel about how to build a startup while juggling other commitments.

Like every event promo says, "Grab your spot now, the capacity is limited". But seriously, we really do have only 30 seats for this one. 😁

This might be relevant for you

Saga of Innovate UK

If you don’t speak up, you won’t get 💁🏽‍♀️. For female founders, that’s even more true—especially for those who applied for Innovate UK grants. Because, once again, they had to speak up to get what was promised.

Long story short, the UK’s innovation agency initially promised grants of £75K to 50 women-led businesses. 1,452 women applied, but only 25 received the funding. Despite knowing it might ruffle feathers, femtech founder, Emma Jarvis called them out on LinkedIn, demanding they honor their commitment.

Hundreds of female founders didn’t stay quiet. They spoke up, made noise, and demanded what was promised and in the end, it was delivered.

Let’s talk startup fails

Any plans for October 9th? Our Founder Ana Andonovska is going to be speaking at Fail Forward in Copenhagen on the topic of failures, you can’t ignore them, so better make the most of it.

3 highlights from Tech BBQ

Here’s a quick roundup of my random highlights—take what resonates:

• We need to have tough conversations, even when we don’t have all the answers. That’s how real discussions start.
• Searching for Women Investors? Do your homework! Dive into VC communities and check out their investment theses. Trust me, they’re out there!
• Bridge Builders Unite: If you’re connecting two different groups in your community, help them communicate the same language.