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 NEWS FROM NORWAY
  A huge thank you to the U.S. Embassy Oslo for hosting our International Accelerator Programme session on “Opportunities in the U.S.A.”, where we were warmly welcomed by Jamal Al-Mussawi - Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy Oslo.
It was an incredible opportunity for founders to explore the exciting possibilities of expanding into the U.S. market and to learn directly from experts.
Special thanks for the fantastic insights from Vidar Keyn, Head of the Commercial Section; Heming Bjørnå, Senior Commercial Specialist; Claudia Ursulescu Kracht, Commercial Specialist; David Rose, CEO of US Expansion Partners; Gunnar Robert Sellæg, Founding Partner at Core Eqty; and Stephanie Rothman, Senior Investment Consultant at SelectUSA. They gave founders a comprehensive look into the U.S.A.'s unique business landscape, showing the practical steps and strategies for successful entry into the U.S. - helping everyone think strategically about future growth.
Our agenda covered everything - from market opportunities, the advantages of establishing a business in the U.S., to real-world advice, followed by discussions that opened the floor for founders to share their thoughts and questions.
Looking forward to seeing our founders take bold steps toward international growth! Thank you, once again, to the U.S. Embassy Oslo for supporting and empowering the tech ecosystem in Norway.
 Next up was a visit to the Embassy of Canada to Norway | Ambassade du Canada en Norvège who hosted us, for a brilliant afternoon, where the first cohort of companies on our “Oslo as a Female Tech Founder Frontrunner” scale-up accelerator programme, were invited to discover all of the "Opportunities in Canada".
The session at the embassy was packed full of valuable insights and expert guidance, beginning with a warm welcome by the Ambassador of Canada to Norway, Amy Baker, followed by our CEO and Founder, Jeanette Carlsson highlighting our programme, and an introduction to our amazing female founders, who presented their companies.
As part of the session we had the privilege to learn from Laura Dalby, Commercial Counsellor and Senior Trade Commissioner, who shared key information on the business environment in Canada - Canada 101. Lots of questions were answered in this session!
Many thanks, also, to the experts who came to share their stories of growth from Norway into Canada: Paal Skoe CEO, Green Transition Holding and board member of Carbon Circle AS and Varme Energy, delivered a great session - "How we did it. Success story for Norwegian investor into Canada", and Pippa Boothman, who shared her views on Canada’s tech environment from a Canadian leader in Norway who has scaled many companies.
Thanks again to everyone who made this such a high-value and impactful session, where we really did all learn and appreciate why Canada is such a fantastic market to scale high-growth Norwegian tech companies.
 To wrap up an important month of high-level connecting and knowledge sharing, our international accelerator participants had the honour of attending the British Embassy in Oslo, for our "Access to the UK" workshop.
The session was fantastic and delivered so much value to our entrepreneurs!
A special thanks to all of our expert speakers:
- Ane Birkeland Senior Market Adviser at the British Embassy Oslo
- Ingebjørg Foss Daae, COO at CONSIGLI on "How we entered the UK market"
- Saga Palmer Senior Partnerships Executive at Goodwille. on "How to successfully set up a business and navigate its Business Environment"
- Magnus Gaarder Partner at nFront Ventures on "Investor perspectives on scaling into the UK.”
Tech Nordic Advocates originate in the UK, we are proud to be official UK Government Department for Business and Trade Nordic/UK referral partner and treasure our special relationship with the British Embassy Oslo and across the Nordics, and look forward to forthcoming initiatives.
Thank you, once again, to everyone who attended and made this workshop a success. There were so many great connections made and ideas shared. We look forward to supporting our founders as they continue their international growth!
SO WHERE ARE THE RESULTS?
 International Accelerator: UK Market Access Programme
 We're proud to highlight this fabulous endorsement of our programme content and the impact we have on our founders, as Amalie Dankert, COO and co-founder of WOOF shared what an amazing and rewarding experience she recently had visiting the British Embassy in Copenhagen, with her peers on the International Accelerator Programme.
Our ethos is to open up international growth and we are unique in that we collaborate with high-level partners at all levels of the ecosystem, to create opportunities. Amalie really summed up what we deliver - so thanks again to her for the kind words.
We can certainly confirm that joining our programmes will be one of the best decisions of your life. Read on to sign up for our Q1 2025 cohorts.
  🌍This month, we're thrilled to highlight some incredible feedback from Laura Andelin, Founder and CEO of ONIT Sport, whose words truly resonate with our mission at Tech Nordic Advocates. Laura's kind acknowledgment of the work we’re doing to foster global scaling and create robust networks for women in tech is both inspiring and deeply appreciated. Her insight underscores the vital role that collaboration, mentorship, and community play in driving innovation and inclusivity in the tech industry.
It’s heartening to witness the tangible impact of our efforts, as we're dedicated to empowering the next generation of female entrepreneurs. Through our impactful events and workshops, we're not just providing tools and knowledge but also building a supportive ecosystem.
Völur Advances Sustainability and Innovation at Global Events
Völur had a productive month, both at the 2024 Protein Pact Summit in Austin, Texas, and the Valencia Digital Summit 2024, showcasing their commitment to sustainability and industry collaboration. At the Austin summit, the team celebrated the industry’s progress on sustainability and announced a global partnership with Fortifi Food Processing Solutions to enhance the meat supply chain.
In Valencia, CEO Anna von Zeppelin Turvol spoke on "Enhancing Sustainability Through Technology and Climate Action," highlighting Völur’s efforts to reduce Scope 3 emissions. These events reinforce Völur’s role as a leader in sustainable innovation for the protein sector.
Our Finnish founders continue their growth…
 Congratulations to Sonja-Maria Ignatius and Kausal, alumni from our mentoring programme, on their partnership with the City of San Diego. Exciting news for climate action in The City of San Diego!
The City has launched a new Climate Action Dashboard, powered by Kausal's platform. This real-time tool allows residents to track San Diego's progress towards its goals, including:
-Net zero GHG emissions by 2035
-Providing 100% renewable energy
-Increasing the city’s resiliency and ecosystem health
Transparency and accessibility are key to engaging the community in cities’ climate efforts. Kudos to San Diego for taking this important step!
 We are incredibly proud to spotlight and extend our heartfelt congratulations to Veera Virintie, CEO & Co-founder of Silta Education, and the entire team behind their award-winning programme, Focus Tiger. This recognition is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and innovative approach to education. Being selected as one of the TOP 10 Finnish growth companies by Kasvu Open - out of over 200 remarkable contenders - is a phenomenal achievement that highlights their outstanding potential and impact.
As a current participant in our International Accelerator Programme and an alumna of our Mentoring Programme, Veera and her team embody the spirit of innovation and growth that we strive to nurture. This acknowledgement not only celebrates their achievements but also opens up exciting new opportunities for Focus Tiger to expand its reach and continue driving meaningful change in education on a global scale. We are excited to see how this milestone propels them forward, and we remain committed to supporting their journey as they achieve even greater success. Congratulations once again - we can’t wait to see what’s next!
 We are absolutely delighted to celebrate Annika Lundstrom, alumni from our mentoring programme, and her incredible achievement of winning the Rising Star of the Year category at the Nordic Women in Tech Awards 2024! This well-deserved recognition is not just a reflection of her outstanding contributions and commitment to innovation in MedTech but also a powerful testament to her determination, resilience, and unwavering pursuit of excellence.
Annika’s journey, from launching a visionary MedTech startup in Finland to scaling it toward the U.S. market, exemplifies the possibilities that arise when one pursues their goals with passion, grit, and a relentless drive to learn and grow. Her recognition as a Rising Star underscores the transformative impact of her work and serves as an inspiration to all aspiring entrepreneurs aiming to break new ground in the tech world.
We are incredibly excited for what lies ahead for Annika and her team. With her leadership and vision, the future holds endless opportunities, and we are honored to support her journey. Congratulations once again, Annika - here’s to a remarkable 2024 filled with even more success and impact!
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BEYOND GENDER DIVERSITY
Find all the latest reports from our partners at the Diversity Economics Institute on why Beyond Gender Diversity matters HERE, or quickly download two insightful reports below:
 The Colour of Success - Key DEI Insights for Executives
A detailed, data-driven examination of ethnic diversity in UK workplaces
and beyond – over 600 pages of leading diversity reports, distilled into 18
pages of essential data, insights, and recommendations.
A report on racial and ethnic diversity in the UK workplace – a curated compilation of the most insightful and important diversity reports in recent years. You’ll find within a comprehensive overview of the racial and ethnic diversity landscape in 2023, including key data points, analysis, insights, and recommendations for UK business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policy makers. AI and machine learning was utilised to help analyse and condense over 600 pages of primary reports, extracting the most meaningful information for you to quickly gain a holistic view – all within 18 pages, a quick 30-minute read! Download it here.
 Beyond Binary - Key DEI Insights for UK Executives
A detailed, data-driven examination of gender diversity in UK workplaces and beyond – over 350 pages of leading diversity reports, distilled into 16 pages of essential data, insights, and recommendations.
This report presents a comprehensive overview of gender equality progress and challenges in the UK, with a focus on women's representation in leadership roles and the persistent gender pay gap. Significant advancements have been noted in the inclusion of women in FTSE 350 boards, achieving 40% female representation ahead of schedule. However, challenges remain in achieving similar progress in senior leadership positions and closing the gender pay gap, which has slightly worsened across OECD countries, with the UK falling behind. Download it here.
NEWS FROM FINLAND
A huge thank you Tribe Tampere for recently hosting the amazing "Female Founders through Funding Rounds" panel discussion
Encouraging the Finnish Tech Community to Meet n Mix...
Highlighting an amazing evening, we recently had, at our Meet 'n' Mix event hosted by our partner Antler, and co-organised by our partners START Helsinki, Xes Helsinki, and wednesday.
It was exciting to hear innovative startups showcasing their ideas and connecting with potential collaborators and team members. We were so grateful for the amazing energy, networking, and passion that filled the room - together, we’re building the future in the amazing Helsinki ecosystem!
Congratulations to all the startups who pitched - Tiffany Wang from VeryU, Angeli Kumari-Ilieva from imen (image engine), Maria Panttila from Vauhtisammakko/RunFrog, Anna Ptukha from Mind’s Eye, Aada MacGregor from AI Scholar, Bahez Karim from Paahtu, Zoa Le (Bảo Ân) from NatureWave, Jim Solatie from Sisufy, Anri Kivimäki from Alvidiotech, Kevin Jacob from thinnan
A huge thank you to our amazing attendees and jury - Daniel Uusitalo, Analyst at Helen Ventures, Lovisa Sihvola, Investment Intern at Maki.vc, Margarethe Böhme, Venture Scout at node.vc and Peik Berg, Investment Intern at Kvanted - for their invaluable insights and support.
Big shout-out to the organising team: our Ecosystem Manager, Angeliki Papagiannopoulou, our active volunteer, Ani Ddidishvili, and Ella Kennedy, Oona Suominen, Arkar Nan Htike, Anna Chialà and Hannes Täyrönen, for making this happen! Looking forward to seeing these connections spark new collaborations and drive innovation forward!
Supporting the community to find those "Pathways to Entrepreneurship"
What an incredible day at the Helsinki City Hall! The event was a full house, with 200 attendees coming together to learn, network, and grow. It was truly inspiring to see so many passionate entrepreneurs and professionals engaging in meaningful discussions and workshops. A huge thank you to everyone who participated and made the event such a success.
Highlights of the day:
- Insightful speeches, including a keynote by the inspiring Jade Ventoniemi
- Expert advice on topics like business ideas, taxation, and funding
- Hands-on workshops and pop-up business advice tailored to entrepreneurs
- Networking opportunities with a vibrant community of innovators
We must say that a special highlight was our Ecosystem Manager, Angeliki Papagiannopoulou, delivering an engaging workshop on mentorship and accelerator opportunities for female tech founders. Her session, along with the entire line-up of exceptional speakers, brought immense value to all attendees:
Paula Miettinen, Director, Business Services, Business Helsinki
Nikke Vainikka, Senior Business Advisor, Project Coordinator, Path to entrepreneurship for immigrants project, Business Espoo
Hanna Nykter-Terävä, Senior Adviser, Tax Administration, Verohallinto
Liisa Hanén, Chairwoman of the Board, Mikro- ja yksinyrittäjät ry - the Micro and Solo Entrepreneurs Association (Myry)
Eira Hovi, Chairman of the Board, Helsingin Yrittäjänaiset
Touko Kontro, Advisor, Business Helsinki
Elisabet Miheludaki, Career Coach, The Shortcut
We are deeply grateful to all our collaborators who helped make this event possible: Business Helsinki, Business Finland, Business Espoo, Suomen Yrittäjät ry, Helsingin Yrittäjänaiset, Startup Refugees, Helsingin Yrittäjät ry, Maahanmuuttovirasto - Migrationsverket - Finnish Immigration Service , TE-palvelut, Uudenmaan ELY-keskus, Tech Nordic Advocates and Mikro- ja yksinyrittäjät ry
Thank you to all the speakers, partners, and attendees for making this event such a resounding success. The energy, insights, and connections made today are the perfect foundation for building even greater opportunities ahead.
SLUSH 2024 - Kicking off with the Mayor of Helsinki’s international VIP event
Our CEO and Founder, Jeanette Carlsson kicked off her adventures at SLUSH, attending the Mayor of Helsinki’s International VIP Event, a truly engaging and memorable gathering that brought together influential figures from business, culture, and public affairs. The evening was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old acquaintances, forge new relationships, and exchange ideas in a welcoming and professional atmosphere.
Guests enjoyed high-level networking, sharing experiences, and exploring potential collaborations that could drive innovation and growth, complemented by exceptional hospitality with outstanding food and drink offerings.
A special thanks to everyone that she met, highlighting those pictured: Marja-Leena Rinkineva, Director of Economic Development for the City of Helsinki, Heidi Humala, Director of Business Environment at the City of Helsinki, Paula Miettinen, Director of Business Services at the City of Helsinki, Jarmo Sareva, Consul General/Ambassador at the Consulate General of Finland in New York, Elina Räsänen, Commercial Counselor at the Consulate General of Finland in New York, and Jenny Berthling, Senior Business Development Manager at Stockholm Business Region - fantastic to see you all.
Overall, it was an inspiring and dynamic event that celebrated Helsinki’s international community and set the stage for exciting opportunities ahead. We’re grateful to have been part of such a fantastic occasion.
Next stop... Our big event: Convening Global North and Global South Women Entrepreneurs to Celebrate Women's Entrepreneurship Day
Wow, what a day at our big event - "Bridging the Global North and South for Women Entrepreneurs!" - marking the wonderful launch of our new partnership with the UNICEF Innovation venture fund, at Slush. 🌏
As part of our 2024 "Women's Entrepreneurship Day" celebrations, being the official ambassadors for the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization, we brought together inspiring change-makers from the Global North and Global South for an afternoon of collaboration, connection and celebration!
Many thanks to everyone who made it such a memorable and impactful event, including our guest speakers: Aki Enkenberg, Chief Senior Specialist, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland; Marko Moilanen, Attorney, Lexia Attorneys and Tech Nordic Advocates Finland Chairman; Hanna Burkhardt, Head of UNICEF Venture Fund. Our expert panelists: Salla Mankinen, CEO - Founder, Orijin; Carmen Lorenzana (She/Her), Founder and Menstrual and Fertility Awareness Educator; Krista Huhtala-Jenks, CEO - Co-founder, MAJ, Tawhida Shiropa, Founder and CEO of Moner Bondhu.
In addition, a special thanks to Martha Ivester, Head of Brand and Reputation, at Google Northern Europe for delivering another fantastic 'I’m Remarkable' session - inspiring and opening everyone up - building more confidence!
It was amazing to see such passionate minds come together to celebrate and collaborate. We're especially proud to be a mother and baby-friendly space and were delighted to welcome four little ones to the event! HUGE thanks also to LEXIA, led by Marko Moilanen for sponsoring the event!
Truly appreciated - see you all next year for SLUSH 2025!
Sharing a big thank you to the Canadian Embassy for hosting us at the Official Residence in Helsinki for our Access to Canada Workshop, part of our international female founder programmes in Finland, and to the fantastic speakers who shared their invaluable insights. Their expertise and experience were invaluable to our founders expanding to the UK market. The session was fantastic and delivered so much value to our entrepreneurs!
We had the honour of being hosted by Her Excellency Madame Ambassador Jeanette Stovel who shared her warm and valuable expertise, and would like to say thank you to Clint Martin, Commercial Counsellor & Consul for his eye opening presentation on the opportunities in Canada for Finnish startups.
We would also love to thank and congratulate our amazing speakers:
Thank you, once again, to everyone who made this session a success. We are excited to see the connections made and the ideas that will come to life as a result of the knowledge shared. We look forward to continuing the conversation and supporting everyone on their journey to success in Canada!
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NEWS FROM DENMARK
Exciting news from our recent Friday Bar event, where we joined forces with Antler and Even Founders to bring together around 100 passionate minds in the Danish startup ecosystem to spotlight the future of women's health innovation!
With women’s health being an under served area in healthcare, the potential for meaningful innovation here is vast. From addressing women's specific health needs to creating solutions that improve lives and stimulate economic growth, this sector holds incredible promise.
Highlights from the event included a dynamic panel discussion featuring leaders in women’s health innovation:
Charlotte Nørgaard Langer from Angella Invest, who kicked things off with insights into the Women’s Health market, highlighting key trends, investment opportunities, and challenges in the space.
Ulla Sommerfelt (Femtech Studios), Andrew Stretton (Sylvia Health), and Ditte Marie Fog Ibsen (Oasicare) shared their experiences and expertise, offering an in-depth look into developing impactful solutions within this vital sector.
Thank you to everyone who joined us! Here’s to the future of women’s health innovation!
Inspiring the future of Diversity and Innovation
The final day of October was filled with innovation, inspiration, and a commitment to diversity at the Digital Tech Summit, for our event - "The Critical Case for Beyond Gender Diversity" where we were joined by brilliant minds like Marie Louise Pollmann-Larsen, Team Leader, DTU Skylab, Af Malhotra, CEO of Diversity Economics AI, and Charlotte Søgaard from COWI.
An event, we hope and believe, cemented once and for all the CRITICAL NEED for INCLUSION of everyone in entrepreneurship, irrespective of gender, race, background, orientation, age, neuro-diversity or physical disposition. Not because it sounds or looks good but because anything else is plain stupid.
Af shared invaluable insights on the importance of expanding our focus beyond gender diversity to embrace diversity in all its forms. He emphasised the power of data-driven approaches and introduced us to ReN, a powerful tool for quantifying and addressing diversity challenges.
Charlotte highlighted how their commitment to "shaping a sustainable and liveable world" includes a focus on diversity in their engineering projects. From urban planning to hospitals and transportation, COWI is integrating diversity considerations to ensure their solutions meet the needs of diverse communities.
We were also thrilled to hear from the "Next Gen" of innovators, as diverse entrepreneurs from various corners of the world pitched brilliant solutions to global challenges in health, environment and more.
The panel discussion on "Beyond Gender Diversity" moderated by Sam Jalaei, Managing Partner at Magnusson Denmark, was a highlight. The panelists' diverse perspectives and the audience's thoughtful questions created a dynamic and engaging conversation. The debate sparked important conversations and ignited a passion for creating a more inclusive future. Thanks to Khusboo Verma - Founder & CEO, VCare Denmark: Af Malhotra - Founder and Chair, Diversity Economics Institute, London, serial tech entrepreneur, mentor, speaker, investor and podcast host; Angela Namere - Founder & CEO, myBelly; Human Shojaee - Founder and business leader; Rebecca Jensen - Founder, Diverse Founders Network Denmark; Catharina Christiansen - Founder of foundermentor.
Another brilliant and impactful event wrapped up, and a big thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such a stimulating event, with special thanks to our partners COWI, IDA, DTU - Technical University of Denmark, DTU Skylab, Pioneer Centre for AI and Next Generation by DTU Skylab.
Let's continue to work together to build a more equitable and innovative future!
Bring on the bots...
As we continue to strive to deliver unique opportunities for our B2B SaaS community, we were thrilled to partner with Salesforce for an exclusive event in Copenhagen, where AI dreams became reality.
Thank you so much to Salesforce for inviting us at Tech Nordic Advocates to join forces (pun intended) on delivering the exclusive partner event focussed on "Harnessing the power of Autonomous AI".
The Salesforce Autonomous AI solution - Agentforce, developed to help SaaS entrepreneurs to increase revenue, focus on customer acquisition and retention while reducing costs, completely aligns with the goals of our programmes - to help tech startups to scaleup, accelerate growth and explore their full potential.
Thanks to everyone who joined us from the B2B SaaS community, to Silvia Dragonetti for great co-organising with us, and to the expert Salesforce panel: Jose Alejandro Delgado, Principal Solution Engineer; Pascal Ruby, RVP, EMEA/India ISV, Business Development; Tahseen Taj, Director, Global Partner Marketing and Nicolas Pouilloux, Director, Technology Strategy.
Their insights helped everyone to understand how they can position themselves at the forefront of the AI revolution!
We're looking forward to collaborating on bringing more cutting-edge AI events to our community soon, so stay tuned!
Celebration time...Cheers to all the Women Entrepreneurs out there!
As official "Women's Entrepreneurship Day" Nordic Ambassadors, we celebrated in Copenhagen with our "Women's Entrepreneurship Day Summit and Pitch Competition" event and we must say that are so happy and humbled by the overwhelmingly positive response we've received about this event. Everyone we have spoken to was really impressed by the incredible level of pitches and startups – a true testament to the talent and dedication of the founders who participated.
A massive thank you to all the remarkable founders who pitched their inspiring startups - each of you blew us away with your vision, passion, and drive. In our eyes, you are all winners!
The event had an added competitive edge with two winners walking away with DKK10k awards, made possible by the generous donation in the name of the late Sofus Clemmensen, founder of Givers, and father of our Nordic Programme Manager, Maria.
A huge round of applause to all the incredible founders who pitched:
Nanna Ulsøe, Roccai ApS, Martina Lokajova, Tempty Foods, Emma Lindroth, KEEPR, Sara Shafiee, DivERS, Mette Molberg, Medica Pro - Mental Trivsel, Vera Reshetina, Heartery: data-driven blood pressure management, Maria Baagøe Bove, Flimmer, Ditte Højland, Textile Change, Bodil Biering, PhD, Cyberjuice, Hjørdis Zachariassen, Beekindled, Boogiz Dance App. Maja Juel-Hansen, Nermeen Louizi Ghoniem, Hello Ada.
This incredible lineup represents the future of innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility, and it was an honor to witness their pitches.
Special congratulations to our two award winners:
🏆 Scalable Innovation Award: Nanna Ulsøe, Founder & CEO of Roccai ApS
🏆 Future Builders Award: Ditte Højland, CEO & Founder of Textile Change
The day was a celebration of innovation, leadership, and the incredible impact of women in entrepreneurship. We were thrilled with the event's impact, and it wouldn’t have been possible without, also, the contributions of our amazing judges, pitch chairs, and speakers.
A special thanks to our Panel of Judges, who undertook the difficult task of selecting winners from such a talented pool of founders:
Thomas Marschall, CEO - Danish Business Angels - DanBAN, Charlotte Søgaard, Group Senior Director Innovation and Sustainability - COWI, Susanne Eskildsen, Export and Investment Fund of Denmark, Nima Sophia Tisdall, CEO - Nordic Makers, Louise Lachmann, Partner - Ugly Duckling Ventures, Søren Thorsen, Partner - KRING.
Thank you also to our Pitch Chairs and Tech Nordic Advocates' partners, who kept the competition running smoothly:
Sam Jalaei, Managing Partner - Magnusson Denmark and Morten Høgh Petersen, Partner - Grant Thornton Denmark.
Highlighting our Panel Speakers who provided invaluable insights and inspiration on:
Where Are We on Women Entrepreneurship and Capital Raise? This engaging panel discussion and open debate addressed lessons learned, progress made, and actions still needed to support female founders:
Ulla Heurlin, Co-founder, Business Angel, and Board Member, Cecilia Hultén, Co-founder and Investor, Mads Løntoft, Venture Partner - Accelerace and for the Insights from Innovators: Real-Life Case Studies featuring three incredible founders shared their entrepreneurial journeys and practical lessons:
Hatla Færch Johnsen, CEO & Co-founder - uQualio®, Jette Louise Larsen ✨, Founder & CEO - Minplan International, Mie Elmkvist S., Vice President | Sales & Customer Success | EMEA & ROW, Queue-it.
This event was more than a pitch competition – it was a gathering of forward-thinkers, change-makers, and supporters who are driving the future of innovation and entrepreneurship. Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to making this event such a success. Your energy, insights, and support have created momentum that we’re excited to build on. It brings us immense joy to provide a platform like this to spotlight and celebrate Women's Entrepreneurship Day, and all of the amazing female-led innovation. We’re so excited to see what will grow from this event and can’t wait to follow these founders' journeys as they continue to shape the future.
News from Cohort 2 2024 of our International Mentoring Programme
A heartfelt THANK YOU to the British Embassy Copenhagen for hosting us and our "Access to the UK" workshop for our international accelerator in Denmark, and to the fab speakers who shared their invaluable insights. Your expertise and experience are invaluable to our founders expanding to the UK market.
Tech Nordic Advocates originate in the UK, we are proud to be official UK Government Department for Business and Trade Nordic/UK referral partner and treasure our special relationship with the British Embassy Copenhagen and across the Nordics, and look forward to forthcoming initiatives.
Special thanks to Christina Schiøtt Liaos, DBT Nordic Baltic Director, who set the stage for an engaging day of learning, Marc Barr from DBT who provided a comprehensive overview of why the UK is a prime destination for business expansion and how DBT can support companies in their journey. We were also grateful to be joined by Svend Littauer, Founder & Managing Director of entreprenör, who gave his valuable insights on how to successfully set up a business in the UK, sharing practical tips from his extensive experience and by Patrick Rønning, CEO & Founder of Signifly, who took us through a compelling UK expansion case story, giving real-world examples of what it takes when expanding to the UK market, and his thoughts behind choosing London as the next destination for Signifly, as well as the mindset needed for success in the UK.
Thank you to Magnus Gaarder, Partner at nFront Ventures, who shared expert advice on raising capital in the UK, providing key strategies for companies looking to fund their growth, and to Stine Kalmer Jørgensen, Founder of Dreamplan, who shared her own fundraising journey in the UK, offering a personal and inspiring perspective on what it takes to succeed in a competitive market.
Thank you once again to everyone who made this workshop a success. We are excited to see the connections made and the ideas that will come to life as a result of the knowledge shared. We look forward to continuing the conversation and supporting all of you on your journey to success in the UK!
A huge thank you to the Canadian Embassy (Embassy of Canada to Denmark | Ambassade du Canada au Danemark) for recently hosting our International Accelerator Programme workshop on “How to Access and Successfully Grow Your Tech Business in Canada”, where we were warmly welcomed by Ambassador Carolyn Bennett.
It was an incredible opportunity for founders to explore the exciting possibilities of expanding into the Canadian market and to learn directly from experts.
Special thanks to Christian Denter, CITP, Senior Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of Canada to Denmark | Ambassade du Canada au Danemark, and Patrick Rønning, Founding Partner at Signifly, for sharing invaluable insights! Christian’s overview of market opportunities and the Trade Commissioner Service gave founders a comprehensive look into Canada's unique business landscape. Patrick’s journey with Signifly was an inspiring case study, showing the practical steps and strategies for successful entry into Canada.
Our agenda covered everything - from market opportunities, the advantages of establishing a business in Canada, to using it as a launch point for the North American market, to real-world advice, followed by roundtable discussions that opened the floor for founders to share their thoughts and questions.
Looking forward to seeing our founders take bold steps toward international growth! Thank you again to the Canadian Embassy for supporting and empowering the tech ecosystem here in Denmark.
A big thank you to Martha Ivester for leading an impactful #IAmRemarkable workshop, for our programme founders in Denmark!
#IAmRemarkable is a global initiative that empowers individuals, especially underrepresented groups, to celebrate their achievements and challenge social perceptions around self-promotion.
Self-promotion is an essential skill for everyone, especially female tech founders, who often face cultural and gender-related challenges when it comes to discussing their accomplishments. Through workshops like this, we are helping entrepreneurs build confidence in sharing their successes - whether during pitch sessions or general awareness-building activities.
We are happy to offer this workshop to our programme founders, which has impacted over 550,000 participants in 180 countries since its inception at Google in 2016. These workshops equip individuals with the tools they need to effectively promote themselves, both personally and professionally.
A special thank you to Talent Garden Denmark, for hosting us in their amazing venue - such a great space to connect and learn together! Thank you, also, to everyone who joined us!
A special thank you to Mariia Olafsson for delivering an engaging and practical workshop on "From Ideas to Services – Designing Digital Services" for our founders!
In this interactive session, Mariia guided participants through the key steps in designing user-centered digital services, helping them turn their ideas into actionable service designs:
- Introduction to UX & UI: Setting the foundation for user-centered thinking
- Understanding Users & Personas: Crafting personas to better understand target customers
- Customer Journey Mapping: Visualizing customer touchpoints for seamless experiences
- Wireframing Basics: Hands-on exercises to sketch and refine digital service designs
- Prototyping & Testing: Highlighting the importance of feedback and sharing accessible tools like Figma
Thank you, once again, to Mariia, for sharing her expertise and actionable insights, and for equipping our founders with the tools to bring their digital visions to life. Her passion and clarity made this workshop truly impactful!
 NEWS FROM SWEDEN
 Swedish Tech Community News...
We're excited to see PlasticFri® featured on the BBC's flagship technology show - Click.
PlasticFri® were one of four winning teams at our Swedish pitch contest in the summer, who won the opportunity to pitch to investors at the London Stock Exchange, during London Tech Week, as part of our annual Nordic pitch event.
Congratulations to Allen Mohammadi🌍 and Max Mohammadi 🌎 on their continued growth, and for creating such brilliant products for the world!
Watch their insights and the full feature here.
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MASTERCLASS SPOTLIGHT!
 EU Expansion Masterclass: Expanding into Germany
A huge thank you to Kyra Rahns (Tech Specialist at The Trade Council) and Gitte Grandal Sognstrup (Commercial Advisor Health at The Trade Council), from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Germany for their valuable insights into expanding into the German market.
Masterclass Highlights:
- Key strategies for navigating the complexities of the German market.
- Insights into how Danish companies can explore opportunities and overcome challenges in Germany.
- A fantastic case story from Studio Poesis, a Danish health tech startup, sharing their journey and lessons learnt in market entry.
The session provided practical advice, inspiration, and real-world examples that our participants can apply as they consider expanding into Germany and beyond.
Thank you for helping our entrepreneurs gain the knowledge they need to take their businesses to new international heights! We look forward to collaborating more in the future and supporting founders expand into that huge market.
 Thank you, to Ben Bennett, for an inspiring and insightful masterclass on "International Sales"!
In this session, Ben shared invaluable strategies for founders looking to build deliberate and scalable sales pipelines without the stress. From crafting effective sales processes to navigating the complexities of international markets, attendees left equipped with actionable advice to take their ventures to the next level.
Ben brings over 24 years of experience in outbound sales as a contributor, leader, and founder of Second Voice, an Outbound Sales Agency and Consultancy. Recognised by NatWest Accelerator and Virgin Startup incubator, Ben’s expertise in sales strategy and revenue growth is second to none. We're incredibly grateful for his support and for sharing his wisdom with our founders. Here's to scaling sales and achieving global success!
 A massive thank you to Philippe Vella for delivering an incredible masterclass on "International Marketing"!
In this session, Philippe shared his refreshing take on marketing with his talk, "Marketing Without Marketers." He emphasised that marketing doesn’t have to be intimidating or overly complicated - it’s about starting, showing up consistently, and delivering results tailored to your business.
Rather than focusing on fleeting tactics or growth hacks, Philippe walked our founders through the fundamental principles that help startups navigate the early stages of growth, empowering them to build sustainable and impactful marketing strategies.
With over 20 years of experience spanning multiple countries and industries - from startups to giants like eBay - Philippe’s insights were invaluable for everyone seeking to level up their marketing game. We’re so grateful for his time, expertise, and passion for supporting early-stage founders. Here’s to applying these lessons and continuing to grow!
 A big thank you to David Rose for delivering an outstanding masterclass on navigating the U.S. market!
In this two-part session, David provided invaluable hands-on guidance for tech startups looking to access and scale their businesses in the U.S. market:
Part 1: Practical advice from U.S. market entry experts and agencies, focusing on strategies for tech startups to establish and grow successfully in one of the world’s most competitive markets.
Part 2: How to identify the right venture capital firms, craft a compelling pitch, and navigate the unique fundraising landscape in the U.S.
With his deep knowledge of the U.S. tech ecosystem, David shared actionable insights and strategies that are critical for any founder aiming to expand across the Atlantic.
Thank you, David, for your expertise, enthusiasm, and ongoing support of the community. We’re so grateful to have you on board as our U.S. Ambassador and for the incredible value you bring to our founders!
 A huge thank you to our incredible speakers, Hatla Johnsen and Iryna Gavrylova, both amazing Tech Nordic Advocates Alumni, for delivering two inspiring masterclasses on scaling to the U.S. market!
Hatla Johnsen, Co-Founder and CEO of uQualio, shared invaluable insights in her session on Scaling to the U.S.. Her advice on navigating the complexities of entering and thriving in the U.S. market provided our founders with actionable strategies and real-world examples from her impressive journey.
Iryna Gavrylova, Founder of Sprout Dynamics, shared her journey, challenges, and key learnings, in scaling to the U.S. She provided practical information about the U.S. system and funding landscape, including key differences and considerations and shared her honest and insightful advice for guidance.
Thank you, Hatla and Iryna, for inspiring and empowering our founders with your knowledge and experience. You exemplify the strength and determination of the community, showing what’s possible when Nordic founders scale globally!
 A massive thank you to Stephanie Rothman, Senior Investment Consultant at SelectUSA, for her insightful session during our workshop - Access to the U.S.!
Stephanie provided invaluable insights into how Nordic startups can successfully enter and thrive in the U.S. market. From understanding the opportunities available through SelectUSA to navigating the complexities of U.S. market entry, her expertise and practical advice were incredibly valuable for our founders.
Her guidance on leveraging resources, identifying key entry points, and building connections was a game-changer for those ready to scale to one of the world’s most competitive and dynamic markets.
Thank you, Stephanie, for your dedication to supporting startups on their global journey and for being an integral part of the Tech Nordic Advocates community.
 A big thank you to Tuukka Ylälahti for his amazing masterclass on Rapid Prototyping with Agile Learning!
Tuukka shared invaluable insights into the essentials of rapid prototyping, helping our founders and startups understand how to quickly create, test, and iterate products or services to meet market needs efficiently. His practical approach to prototyping, gathering feedback, and iterating was both inspiring and actionable, giving everyone the tools to move from idea to execution faster.
We also want to thank Tuukka for bringing his vast experience, having co-founded and scaled global platforms like Cabforce, and his current work with Mesensei. His journey continues to inspire! Thank you, Tuukka, for equipping our community with the skills to move fast, learn, and grow!
 A huge thank you to Veera Rautio for leading a fantastic 2-day Hands-on Business Model Canvassing workshop!
Veera, a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and growth mentor, expertly guided participants through the Business Model Canvas, helping founders refine and clarify their business models to scale effectively. Over two engaging sessions, participants gained actionable insights into how to explain their business, identify the transformation they offer clients, and even address financial projections with confidence.
Her practical and hands-on approach gave everyone the tools they needed to fine-tune their offerings, simplify their business models, and get crystal-clear on their path to growth. Thank you, Veera, for delivering such valuable content and empowering our community to think strategically about scaling!
 Thank you, Christian Marcus, for an insightful masterclass on "From Assumptions to Evidence: The Journey of Business Hypotheses Testing"!
In this session, Christian took the attendees through the crucial process of transforming assumptions into evidence-based strategies and explored how to formulate the robust hypotheses that form the backbone of any successful business model, and learned to identify, rank, and test the critical assumptions that underpin ideas.
It was a fantastic opportunity for founders to refine their approach and elevate their business acumen by focusing on real-world testing and data-driven decision-making.
We look forward to seeing how these insights will help shape your business growth and success. Thank you Christian, for being such a great supporter to our programme founders!
 What a fantastic EU Expansion Masterclass on Empowering Danish SMEs to Grow Beyond Borders
A huge thank you to Bogdan M. Turcanu, Business Developer at Copenhagen Business Hub, for an enlightening and practical masterclass on how Danish SMEs can seize (inter)national opportunities for growth and development through collaboration with the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and Erhvervshus Hovedstaden.
His insights into building strong collaborations and maximizing available resources inspired our founders to think bigger and explore global opportunities.
Thank you, Bogdan, for equipping our entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in a global market, and sharing how the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) can open doors to new markets through valuable partnerships. Here’s to seeing more Danish businesses grow their impact across borders!
 A huge thanks to Sointu Karjalainen, for her Masterclass on "Know your numbers" - with key insights from her point of view as an investor
The wonderful Sointu Karjalainen, Head of Platform at FOV Ventures, took the time to, recently, support our Finnish International Accelerator participants, with an insightful masterclass, recently, focussed on "Knowing Your Numbers".🌟
Sointu shared her wide experience, as a startup founder and also an investor, showing what an investor wants to see AND how to present it to them, covering the critical startup numbers you need when communicating with investors, like revenue and financial projections, pricing, monthly running costs and margins. 📈
🙌 Thanks again Sointu for all of your support, the masterclass was very appreciated by our founders, with a good engagement and lots of actionable take-aways.
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🤝 SO, DO YOU ALSO NEED CAPITAL TO SUPPORT YOUR GROWTH/SCALEUP/INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION? LET US HELP...
Our in-house TNA Invest team are ready to support you. Our business is ultimately your business.
Are you a Nordic/Baltic startup/scaleup and fundraising? Look no further. Send your pitch HERE and we'll help you fundraise. If you are an investor looking for high-quality dealflow, register your interest in joining our preferred investor list, here.
Calling all female tech founders! Are you ready to take your startup to the next level and need investment?
 Our Diversity Venture Fund, supported by many great investors (see below), is here to help you secure the funding you need to grow and scale your business. From pitch deck reviews to one-on-one investor meetings, we're dedicated to leveling the playing field for female tech leaders.
Why wait? Apply now and be part of the change.
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🌍 OUR GLOBAL TECH ADVOCATES INTERNATIONAL FOOTPRINT
 WELCOME TO TECH COLUMBIA ADVOCATES
Congratulations to Marcela Rueda and Tatiana Leon from Connect Bogota on the launch of Tech Colombia Advocates at OI Summit 2024 - The OI Summit 2024 kicked off to a packed audience at the Agora Convention Center in Bogotá - where Russ spoke about Colombia and the global tech ecosystem, sharing that "The most important thing to generate Tech Hubs: - Investment - Regulation and infrastructure - Universities - research and transfer - Diverse talent and skills". Russ also shared his thoughts about the accelerated global technological panorama and the opportunities for Colombian startups and scaleups. Welcome to the family, Tech Columbia Advocates!
Hat tip to Tech North Advocates!
 Congratulations to our friend Naomi Timperley for coming 2nd in the Computer Weekly "Most Influential Women in UK Tech" awards - we are so proud of all you do!
For those who are not aware, Naomi is a trailblazing business consultant and co-founder of Tech North Advocates, part of the GTA network, a leading network championing tech growth in the northern region of the UK. Recently named the 2nd Most Influential Woman in UK Tech by Computer Weekly in 2024, Naomi has a distinguished career mentoring startups, including on our programmes, advising global organisations, and supporting digital innovation. Her expertise spans AI adoption, business transformation, and collaboration between corporates and tech ecosystems. Congrats, once again Naomi!
Now pull up a chair and listen up...
Need something new to listen to whilst out walking the dog or in the gym? We highly recommend this brilliant podcast, featuring Russ Shaw as the latest guest of the "Pull Up a Chair" podcast, hosted by KPMG UK Chair Bina Mehta. The show's focus was on "Are we doing enough to close the UK’s tech skills gap?" - covering investment, scaling, and skills in the UK tech sector. Listen to the lively discussion here.
 FINAL BREAKING NEWS...TECH INDONESIA ADVOCATES - Coming 2025...
the new group with be led by Faye Wongso, Mega Prawita, and Ester from KUMPUL. Welcome to them all and we look forward to the official launch. Stay tuned!
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🌍 Expanding internationally and don’t know where to start or who to call?
Welcome to the Global Tech Advocates Launch Pad!
Our platform is your go-to global resource hub, designed to support tech businesses aiming to expand into new markets. Backed by insights from our GTA Leaders, Partners, Sponsors, and central team, it offers valuable tools and resources completely free for anyone to access. Learn more here.
To get started, we’d love for you to complete a quick registration. We're simply asking for a few details: (i) the markets you're looking to expand into, (ii) your industry or tech sector, and (iii) the size of your business. This helps us tailor the hub's resources to better meet your needs and empower your growth.
So get in touch - What are you waiting for?
While on the subject of global matters, did you know we have our own global tech magazine? Check out GTA Connects
Also, dip in to our Tech for Net Zero 'Resource Hub' via this link
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Psst. Did you know that TNA has an exclusive online group that as a member you can join to keep up with all the latest goings on?
Click on the button and find out more.
JOIN US
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NOT A MEMBER YET?
Not a member yet and want to know how you could join Tech Nordic Advocate? Click below to become an advocate or a business partner.
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Help us grow Tech Nordic Advocates and opportunities for all across the Nordic/Baltic/global Tech Sector
Recommend your tech/startup/scaleup/corporate leader/investor friends join us as Advocates or Business Members:
For more info and how to join us, check out the website
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THANKS AGAIN FOR READING,
DON'T FORGET TO CONNECT WITH US
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Looking to expand or raise capital in Canada? Our 
Congratulations to Finnish smart ring innovator 
In the article, Donna shares her background and motivations for starting her current business - only one in three who start a company today are women, and only one in five who set up a joint-stock company are women. Donna wants to change this through her company, 
