22 Nov The City of Helsinki and Tech Nordic Advocates launch international growth programme for female tech founders at Slush
“Increasing female entrepreneurship and technological diversity is crucial for Helsinki and Finland to remain at the forefront of technological innovation. There is clearly room for female founders in the local technology world,” says Tommo Koivusalo, Head of the Global Board of NewCo Helsinki and Tech Nordic Advocates. “The City of Helsinki’s funding will enable talented, ambitious local women entrepreneurs to be taken to a new level.”
The Helsinki program will initially run for two years and will focus on helping female technology entrepreneurs aspiring to start and grow their own businesses. It offers personal mentoring, professional counseling and competence development from Finnish and international experts, as well as access to relevant networks, events and capital.
The program works closely with the wider technology ecosystem and Women-in-tech networks in Finland and internationally. It is led by a steering group made up of partners and representatives from across the ecosystem, led by TNA and including NewCo Helsinki, Shortcut, Helsinki Partners, Startup Foundation, Women in Tech Finland, Helsinki Think Company and Magnusson.
“We are pleased to be able to support the international growth of startups in Finland and other Magnusson countries in cooperation with Tech Nordic Advocates,” he commented. Ville Salonen, Partner, Magnusson, Chairman, Tech Nordic Advocates Finland. “We look forward to working with Nordic and Baltic technology entrepreneurs.”
“The London Stock Exchange is proud to continue our support for a dynamic group of individuals and entrepreneurs in Helsinki and the Nordic countries in cooperation with Tech Nordic Advocates. We look forward to working with Finnish and Nordic technology entrepreneurs and supporting ecosystem access.” Tamara Gehring, The leading capital and capital markets in the Nordic countries and Western Europe, London Stock Exchange.
Success in Denmark
TNA is the largest tech / startup ecosystem in Northern Europe and a Women-in-tech network with offices in Helsinki, Copenhagen and Stockholm. It is implementing Europe’s only international growth program for women technology entrepreneurs. The program consists of three modules: 1. an international mentoring program, 2. an international accelerator for fast-growing female-led technology companies, and 3. a ceiling fund.
TNA launched its growth program for the first time in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2020 with impressive results. During the first module alone, the Danish program has supported 60 potential women technology entrepreneurs and helped create several new businesses.
“We have created more women technology entrepreneurs and helped stimulate the growth of existing women-led technology companies, providing access to international markets and capital worth € 1.5 million,” says Tech Nordic Advocates founder and CEO. Jeanette Carlsson. “It’s just the tip of the iceberg that shows what can be achieved with the right support. Helsinki and Finland have huge untapped potential for women. We need these women for sustainable innovation, competitiveness, growth, employment and equality in technology, business and society as a whole.”
The Helsinki program will start with the first module, which will include accelerator and private equity elements later. The goal is to increase the number of women-led technology innovations and companies in Finland and to help grow Helsinki’s corporate ecosystem by bringing in international mentors, experts and investors from TNA’s global tech / startup ecosystem. Applications to the program are now open.
Source: Tech Nordic Advocates