Invest in: Diversity

The tech industry in the Nordics is experiencing steady growth, yet there is a concerning lack of resources for gender, cultural, and racial diversity. It is shocking to note that ONLY 1.1% of venture capital goes towards Nordic companies founded by women and 10.7% towards mixed-gender teams.

Nordic Fe:male Invest Summit, powered by Minc, is an inspiring tech event driving diversity in the startup ecosystem. 

Join us to:

  • Explore the gender diversity gap in Nordic tech
  • Get inspired by high-level pitches and influential speakers
  • Immerse yourself in the energy of ambitious women, non-binary, and men chasing their dreams
  • Connect and network with like-minded individuals

This event is for everyone who believes in the power of equity and wants to be part of a supportive and inclusive ecosystem.

Secure your ticket now and be part of the change!

Get your ticket now!

Program

08:30

Registration + coffee & croissant

09:00

Performance by Vincent Bahar

Vincent Bahar (She/Her)
Artist, composer and economist
09:10

Opening ceremony

Melinda Elmborg
Co-lead of Fast Track Malmö Accelerator
Rafaela Stalbalk Klose (She/Her)
Storyteller
09:20

"From startup conception to $400 million acquisition"

Geeta Schmidt
Experienced Growth Startup Founder, Angel Investor and Advisor
09:50

Top 11 Nordic Fe:male founded companies pitching (1/2)

Read more
Edith Heppich
Hyggligt (SE)
Heidrun Sigfusdottir
Catecut (IS)
Jazgul Ismailova
Sparly (SE)
Jacqueline Nuwame
Minimal (SE)
Mai Phan
PropL (NO)
Suzanne Zamany Andersen
NitroVolt (DK)
10:30

Networking break + Round tables

We encourage everyone to have face-to-face conversations at the event and connect with each other. Come prepared to share more than just your LinkedIn profiles 🫶

During the break, we will host 3 Roundtable sessions - max. 20 persons per table. 

  1. “How to start investing”  - Ida Herbertsson
  2. “How to talk to investors” - Heidi Lee
  3. “How to apply for EU funding” - Anne-Charlotte Joubert
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Anne-Charlotte Joubert (She/Her)
European affairs strategist
Ida Herbertsson (She/Her)
Portfolio Manager Fast Track Capital & Skåne Ventures
Heidi Lee
Investor at Dreamcraft VC
11:10

"Access to Tech, Impact for All"

Åsa Zetterberg (She/Her)
Managing director TechSverige
11:40

Top 11 Nordic Fe:male founded companies pitching (2/2)

Read more
Anna Kilponen
Foxie (FI)
Saaya Sorrells-Weatherford
Emigreat (SE)
Rose Huang
Animals.ai (SE)
Vera Reshetina
Heartery (DK)
Tove Nilstun
Emission Twin (SE)
12:10

Lunch & Mingle

13:30

ESG BACKED - Founders Leading Their Measurable Impact

Poonam Balan (She/Her)
Founder & Chief Strategist TactHub
14:00

“Mindful Startup: Overcoming Burnout”

Malin Frithiofsson (She/Her/Goddess of the world)
CEO of Daya, a global femtech hub
Karolina Mazetyte (She/Her)
Co-founder of Well-being LAB, co-founder of The House
Stephanie Darvill (She/Her)
Entrepreneur, Public Speaker and Mental Health Ambassador
14:45

Networking break + Round tables

We encourage everyone to have face-to-face conversations at the event and connect with each other. Come prepared to share more than just your LinkedIn profiles 🫶

During the break, we will host 3 Roundtable sessions - max—20 persons per table.

  1. “How to get hired and promoted as a woman in STEM” - Anca Iordanescu
  2. “How to have inclusive meetings”  - Anna Blixt
  3. “How to define ESG parameters for Sustainable Sourcing” - Poonam Balan
Read more
Poonam Balan (She/Her)
Founder & Chief Strategist TactHub
Anna Blixt (She/Her)
Inclusion Expert
Anca Iordanescu (She/Her)
VP Engineering, Store of the Future, Ingka Digital, Ikea
15:30

Performance by Teta Diana

Teta Diana (She/Her)
Artist
15:45

"Inclusive AI: Shaping the Future"

Gertrude Westrin (She/Her)
Developer Advocate at Qlik
Donya Aziz Babani (She/Her)
Organizational Psychologist/ People & Culture Director at Rekrit
Kenneth Dambo (He/Him)
Principal at Dreamcraft VC
Sonja Rattay (She/Her)
Design Researcher
Gowthami Kuttapalayam Mothilal (She/Her)
Data and AI Consultant
16:30

"Un:polished Stories", powered by Pecha Kucha

"Imposter Syndrom, Loss and Owning the Narrative" - Samantha Webber

"From Desperation to Innovation" - Sylvia Heuvelman

"My Story Beyond the Lenses of Other People" -  Nejra Celik

Read more
Nejra Celik (She/Her)
Chief Life Officer
Samantha Webber (She/Her)
Lead Developer at anecdot
Sylvia Heuvelman (She/Her)
Founder of Soothla
17:00

Closing ceremony

Announcing "Nordic Fe:male Founder of the Year"

Read more
17:30

Afterwork at Minc

Sushi, drinks, and DJ!

Read more
Minc
Teta Diana (She/Her)
Artist

All you need to know

WHEN:

22 November 2023, Wednesday

WHERE:

Studio, Nordenskiöldsgatan 24, 211 19 Malmö (20 min from CPH Airport to Malmö Central Station and 5 min walk)

    PAY-IT-FORWARD

    If you can't attend and/or would like to buy a ticket for your mentee, a friend, or a random stranger, email dzenis@minc.se and she'll help you out!

    WHERE TO STAY?

    Story Hotel - https://storyhotels.com/studio...
    Clarion Hotel - https://www.strawberry.se/hote...

    Get your ticket now!

    Speakers

    Geeta Schmidt
    Experienced Growth Startup Founder, Angel Investor and Advisor

    Geeta has over 20 years of software industry experience and is passionate about creating great products that bring value to customers. She is a co-founder and former CEO of Humio. 

    At Humio, Geeta led the company from conception to a successful $400 million acquisition by CrowdStrike within five years. 

    She is an expat from Seattle living in Aarhus, Denmark.

    Read more

    "From startup conception to $400 million acquisition"

    Åsa Zetterberg (She/Her)
    Managing director TechSverige

    Since 2019, Åsa has been steering the ship at TechSverige, an influential hub for over 1,400 tech companies employing nearly 100,000 talents. 

    Under her leadership, TechSverige is laser-focused on skill development and talent attraction, all aimed at establishing Sweden as a global tech powerhouse. In 2018, Åsa made history as Sweden’s first Chief Digital Officer, orchestrating the government’s digital strategy. 

    She’s also been a key player at the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, where she championed initiatives like e-health and digital education.

    Born in Falkenberg in 1975, Åsa holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Politics from Uppsala University. 

    Today, she serves on the boards of Uppsala University and Utbildningsradion (UR), and is a distinguished member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA).

    Read more

    "Access to Tech, Impact for All"

    Poonam Balan (She/Her)
    Founder & Chief Strategist TactHub

    Poonam is a Tri-Sectoral impact strategist, she has led public and private transformation roles affecting diaspora talent, trade, and G2G data and IP conversations. Her current goal is to enhance transparency in impact finance and further enable responsible investing in clean & climate tech throughout value chains.

    Read more

    Malin Frithiofsson (She/Her/Goddess of the world)
    CEO of Daya, a global femtech hub

    Malin is passionate about making women's lives better, and she believes technology & entrepreneurship are great avenues of achieving that goal. She is currently the co-founder and CEO of Daya Ventures, a venture creation hub solely focused on women's health innovation. She also does early-stage angel investing through my company by the (v) sea.

    Read more

    “Mindful Startup: Overcoming Burnout”

    Karolina Mazetyte (She/Her)
    Co-founder of Well-being LAB, co-founder of The House

    Karolina crafts spaces where connection and potential thrive, guiding individuals to live with purpose and mindfulness for the well-being of all. Her global journey across 40 countries, reaching people from 170 nations, highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion in driving innovation and well-being. 

    With a 12-year history in social innovation, well-being, DEI, and youth empowerment, she has contributed to the development of nearly 1 million young leaders around the world. Inspired by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, she champions the creation of job creators, not just job seekers.

    Read more

    “Mindful Startup: Overcoming Burnout”

    Stephanie Darvill (She/Her)
    Entrepreneur, Public Speaker and Mental Health Ambassador

    Stephanie is an entrepreneur, public speaker, and marketeer. She is a Business Strategist and Market Researcher turned entrepreneur and was previously the co-founder & COO of Aline for 3 years, an edtech startup based in Sweden. 

    She is now in a transition period in her career. Her areas of expertise and passion are mental health, lifelong learning, and creating customer-centric products.

    Read more

    “Mindful Startup: Overcoming Burnout”

    Gertrude Westrin (She/Her)
    Developer Advocate at Qlik

    Gertrude is a Developer Advocate at Qlik and host of The Tech Girl Podcast. She is an experienced technical content creator, speaker, and enjoys building and maintaining developer communities. 

    Gertrude is also passionate about making the tech industry more diverse and inclusive thus encouraging, inspiring, and supporting more people with diverse backgrounds to take up Tech-related careers. 

    Outside work, she loves spending quality time with her son and practices yoga.

    Read more

    "Inclusive AI: Shaping the Future"

    Donya Aziz Babani (She/Her)
    Organizational Psychologist/ People & Culture Director at Rekrit

    Donya is an Organizational Psychologist specializing in the People & Culture field. Her research and life's passion are centered on enhancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and belonging in the Nordic markets. 

    She aims to build a future with fewer unconscious biases and prejudices. 

    Donya has devoted the last 13 years of her life in various roles to achieve this goal in the Tech industry. She is committed to continuing her mission, with an increased focus on AI and unconscious biases.

    Read more

    "Inclusive AI: Shaping the Future"

    Kenneth Dambo (He/Him)
    Principal at Dreamcraft VC

    Kenneth is an Early-stage tech investor interested in Analytics, FinTech, and Games. He spent 3 years at AirHelp serving as Chief of Staff and heading up the Strategy, Analytics, and Finance teams. Spearheaded the company-wide COVID program that led to record revenue and profitability in 2022. Facilitated two CEO transitions, made C and VP-level hires, and served as interim CFO responsible for double-digit MUSD P&L. 

    Kenneth has transaction experience from EY Corporate Finance, Northcap, and Maymann Holding placing +$100m across VC and M&A mandates. 

    He established his own web agency when he graduated from high school in 2009 where he developed web applications for clients full-time. 

    When Kenneth is off the clock, you will find him in the dojo training karate, snowboarding off-piste in the Alpes, or enjoying the wonders of marine life by scuba-diving.

    Read more

    "Inclusive AI: Shaping the Future"

    Sonja Rattay (She/Her)
    Design Researcher

    Sonja is a design researcher, strategist, and entrepreneur investigating future post-disciplinary and cross-sector design and development practices necessary for a more sustainable, inclusive, and democratic digital future. 

    In particular, she critically researches the nuances in ethical practice which attends to value trade-offs, intersectional power structures, and social infrastructures which manifest in both the current development practices of machine learning systems, as well as in the governmental and corporate visions and plans for future development strategies of AI. 

    She is also co-founder of the innovation & design studio Block Zero in Malmo, where she grew and led a team of multidisciplinary designers, creating experiences that bring humans and technology closer in fields such as smart homes, connected cities, e-health, AI and biometrics for both local start-ups and global clients.

    Read more

    "Inclusive AI: Shaping the Future"

    Gowthami Kuttapalayam Mothilal (She/Her)
    Data and AI Consultant

    Gowthami is a dedicated problem solver in the realm of data and AI. Her fascination with numbers began in childhood, leading her to study Computer Science and Engineering. Her early tenure at TCS emphasized the value of understanding business context, prompting her to pursue an MBA where she shone as a Gold Medallist. 

    Today, Gowthami thrives as a Data and AI consultant, proficient in tools like Power BI, Qlik Sense, and Python. With roles ranging from Data Analyst to Business Intelligence Analyst, her expertise covers the full data spectrum. 

    Beyond her primary role, Gowthami has led Data Analytics workshops and spoken passionately about AI. However, her most profound mission is empowering women in the data and AI sector. Given that only 26% of the AI workforce consists of women, she's committed to altering this statistic. To date, Gowthami has mentored hundreds of women, guiding them into the Data and AI industry.

    Read more

    "Inclusive AI: Shaping the Future"

    Un:polished Stories

    Samantha Webber (She/Her)
    Lead Developer at anecdot

    I'm a woman who has found myself richer for all the times I've stumbled. I've worked as a software engineer for the last 8 years and find my greatest joy in building, repairing, and making things work. My current project is anecDot.co, a software that preserves and organizes our memories and experiences on the fly.  My vision is to help people chronicle their own lives and claim their own narratives.

    Read more

    "Un:polished Stories", powered by Pecha Kucha

    "Imposter Syndrom, Loss and Owning the Narrative" - Samantha Webber

    "From Desperation to Innovation" - Sylvia Heuvelman

    "My Story Beyond the Lenses of Other People" -  Nejra Celik

    Read more

    Sylvia Heuvelman (She/Her)
    Founder of Soothla

    Sylvia, a former management consultant, transitioned to entrepreneurship, dedicating herself to empowering women through investments in West African businesses. Amid pregnancy and COVID-19 challenges, she relocated to Sweden and founded Soothla. The venture emerged from her quest to address her son's severe eczema. A Harvard Business School and Erasmus University alumna, Sylvia confronts challenges with curiosity and determination. Through Soothla, she passionately seeks to make a meaningful impact, aiming to help as many people as possible.

    Read more

    "Un:polished Stories", powered by Pecha Kucha

    "Imposter Syndrom, Loss and Owning the Narrative" - Samantha Webber

    "From Desperation to Innovation" - Sylvia Heuvelman

    "My Story Beyond the Lenses of Other People" -  Nejra Celik

    Read more

    Nejra Celik (She/Her)
    Chief Life Officer

    My life journey has taught me that our mindset is crucial in all aspects of life. Through successes and challenges, I have shaped both my career and personal development. I firmly believe in the power of viewing every obstacle as an opportunity to grow. With a proven track record over a decade, I have implemented impactful strategies and led cross-functional teams, navigating digital transformations for growth and optimizing user experiences. As a leader, my passion lies in supporting others, and in that process, I find purpose and strength. I am dedicated to encouraging everyone in my environment to take responsibility and contribute to positive change.

    Read more

    "Un:polished Stories", powered by Pecha Kucha

    "Imposter Syndrom, Loss and Owning the Narrative" - Samantha Webber

    "From Desperation to Innovation" - Sylvia Heuvelman

    "My Story Beyond the Lenses of Other People" -  Nejra Celik

    Read more

    Artists

    Vincent Bahar (She/Her)
    Artist, composer and economist

    Vincent is an artist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and economist. She thrives at the intersection between art and logic and is happiest in places where new ground is broken together. 

    She holds an MSc in Economics from Lund University and has several years of experience running her own label and music publishing company. 

    Her colleagues and clients include renowned artists and actors, as well as Swedish Television and government art institutions. 

    Words and phrases that people frequently use to describe her are; brave, inspiring, creative, honest, integrity, teacher, communicator, and someone who explains complicated matters in easy and understandable ways.

    Read more

    Performance by Vincent Bahar

    Teta Diana (She/Her)
    Artist

    Teta Diana is a distinguished Rwandan artist based in Malmö, celebrated for her multifaceted talents as a singer, songwriter, curator, and DJ. 

    Her singing is an artful fusion of melody and storytelling, while her DJ sets create an irresistible, feel-good dance ambiance with a funky twist. 

    Teta Diana has graced prestigious festivals, including this year's Urkult and Malmöfestivalen, garnering widespread acclaim. She continues to weave her musical magic, uniting hearts and souls through her captivating melodies and electrifying DJ performances.

    Read more

    Performance by Teta Diana

    Afterwork at Minc

    Minc

    Sushi, drinks, and DJ!

    Read more

    Moderators

    Melinda Elmborg
    Co-lead of Fast Track Malmö Accelerator

    Melinda is the Co-Lead at the Accelerator Fast Track Malmö, where she helps startup teams accelerate their growth and raise their first VC round. 

    She's invested in a total of 28 startups since. She started her career as a Venture Capital Investor at the French VC firm Daphni. 

    She also built Startup Action, an online startup incubator that attracted over 100 startup founders.

    Read more

    Opening ceremony

    Rafaela Stalbalk Klose (She/Her)
    Storyteller

    Rafaela is a versatile journalist who writes and produces radio content covering subjects related to identity, gender, and culture, often with an emphasis on social justice themes.

    Her deep passion lies in exploring dusty archives to unearth untold stories, particularly those of bold and rebellious women.

    Read more

    Opening ceremony

    Pitch competition jury

    Alena Redeker (She/Her)
    Investor at Auxxo Catalyst

    Alena grew up in Berlin and lived in New Zealand, Spain, and most recently Portugal to complete her Master's in Finance in Lisbon, before moving back to Berlin. 

    Before joining Auxxo, Alena worked in Restructuring, M&A, and an early-stage B2B SaaS and Fintech startup in Berlin. 

    She is passionate about entrepreneurship, creating valuable connections, and speaking to inspiring founders and investors to create a lasting impact by bringing more women into the ecosystem. 

    Within the Auxxo investment team, Alena manages the deal flow and fund operations and loves to get to know talented female founders, their teams, and business ideas and is always up for a fruitful conversation.

    Karolina Nilsson (She/Her)
    Head of Incubator @HETCH, Co-founder of RadCap

    Karolina works as Head of Incubator at HETCH, an ecosystem for tech and sustainability startups. With a background as a later-stage investor and a passion for female ownership, she co-founded the investment company RadCap.

    Tine Lindgreen (She/Her)
    Investor at SEED Capital

    Tine has been working within the tech start-up and venture scene for the last 8 years. Prior to SEED Capital, she held a variety of jobs within the ecosystem, from tech investment banking to operator as Head of DB in a fintech scaleup operating across Europe. A firm believer of: "pushing for more passionate founders, who want to challenge the status quo - diversity is f.. good business"

    Pitching companies

    Edith Heppich
    Hyggligt (SE)

    Heidrun Sigfusdottir
    Catecut (IS)

    Jazgul Ismailova
    Sparly (SE)

    Jacqueline Nuwame
    Minimal (SE)

    Tove Nilstun
    Emission Twin (SE)

    Mai Phan
    PropL (NO)

    Anna Kilponen
    Foxie (FI)

    Saaya Sorrells-Weatherford
    Emigreat (SE)

    Rose Huang
    Animals.ai (SE)

    Vera Reshetina
    Heartery (DK)

    Suzanne Zamany Andersen
    NitroVolt (DK)

    Organized by

    Minc
    events@minc.se