Nordic Women, Global Reach: How Feminvest Helps Female Founders Go Global with Bold Ideas
Meet Sara Sorbet, the central figure leading the entrepreneur network at Feminvest. She manages key initiatives like the Fearless project and the exclusive Expand membership.
What is Feminvest? It’s the largest network in the Nordics for women entrepreneurs and investors, passionately dedicated to a clear mission: increasing female ownership and empowering women to invest.
This article pulls from an exclusive conversation with Sara, offering her firsthand perspective on the evolving world of female entrepreneurship. We'll explore the landscape for women founders across the Nordics, including the support systems lifting them up, the unique challenges they face, and the incredible opportunities that are launching them onto the global stage. Sara's insights provide a roadmap to understanding what's next.
What makes the Nordics such a strong starting point for women entrepreneurs
It’s no secret that the Nordic region is a fantastic place for women to start a business. Its deep-rooted belief in gender equality and progressive policies (like generous parental leave) creates a powerful safety net. This stability gives founders the breathing room they need to balance a new business with family life. It's a huge advantage.
But the biggest hurdles aren't always external. Sara sees a crucial internal challenge pop up again and again: founders struggling to grasp the full worth of their products. This often shows up when it’s time to seek investment, with many undervaluing their companies. It’s tied to a bigger hurdle – daring to "think big" and confidently mapping out a path to a massive exit instead of playing it safe.
So, how do founders push through? With community.
You'll find a buzzing ecosystem of dedicated accelerators, mentoring programs, and powerful networks all pulling in the same direction. What truly sets the scene apart, as Sara notes, is the collaborative spirit. It’s less about sharp elbows and more about shared success. This supportive vibe directly tackles the confidence gap some founders feel, encouraging them to think bigger and scale their ventures for the world stage.
Why ownership and investment knowledge are key for Nordic women founders
Even in the progressive Nordics, women entrepreneurs often hit some unexpected bumps when they're building and scaling businesses. You might think gender equality here would erase all funding issues. Yet, a persistent gender disparity in accessing capital remains a real challenge.
While venture capital funding across the Nordics has certainly grown, companies led by women still receive a noticeably smaller piece of the pie. It's what we call a "double gap," showing that biases linger even in very modern environments.
Female founders often run into some specific hurdles within the investment world. These include:
Smaller deal sizes, meaning they secure less overall funding compared to their male counterparts.
Limited access to established networks and mentorship, especially in investment circles that have traditionally been male-dominated.
Perceptions of risk aversion or less aggressive growth ambitions, which can sometimes lead investors to underestimate their true potential.
It seems that despite great strides in society, some underlying biases within the market and investor communities still hold women back.
A significant barrier for many female founders is how they value their own companies and products when seeking investment. This tendency to undervalue directly impacts the capital they ask for and the equity they offer. It often leads to less favorable terms and, crucially, reduced long-term ownership for them.
Understanding company valuation has huge implications for control and future wealth. If you're reluctant to "dream big" or aim for large-scale exits, it can limit how investors perceive your business's potential during those vital valuation talks.
Building stronger financial literacy and negotiation skills is essential here, and Feminvest gives women the tools they need to make smart choices for their companies' future. Empowering women with robust financial knowledge is more than just about securing initial funding, but building resilient, impactful businesses that truly last and grow.
How Feminvest is helping Nordic women grow global businesses
Feminvest truly stands out by championing women-owned companies, making it their core mission. Through the Expand membership, they uniquely support businesses that are at least 50% owned by women, extending this focus across the entire Nordic region. Sara explains that their primary goal is to help founders understand crucial ownership principles and attract precisely the right investors, guiding them through the nuances of angel versus venture capital funding.
Members gain fantastic opportunities to connect with investors directly. These invaluable interactions happen at Feminvest's regular pitch events, held 4-8 times a year. Each event features several promising companies, often showcasing three of their own members.
Beyond direct pitches, Feminvest provides extensive support. Members receive:
Educational materials and purpose-driven webinars to deepen their business knowledge.
Access to Fearless, their flagship event that brings the entire network together to discuss ownership.
Opportunities to be featured in their excellent biannual magazine, boosting visibility.
"We continuously strive to understand what provides the most value," Sara shares, highlighting their commitment to advocating for women where they're underrepresented, particularly in tech and retail. This focus, coupled with the eagerness of senior women to mentor, truly empowers the next generation of Nordic female founders to build and scale global businesses.
Final thoughts
Nordic women entrepreneurs offer compelling insights for global founders, especially on leadership and growth. Their style is pragmatic, prioritizing tangible results over unnecessary "drama."
As Sara notes, they approach expansion with a focus on steady, sure growth, meticulously planning each step. They encourage "thinking big," but always grounded in practical, achievable actions for long-term vision.
If you're a global female founder looking towards the Nordics, consider Feminvest as a community, not an accelerator program. Sara shared that women in senior positions actively give back to other women, offering invaluable mentorship that strengthens the ecosystem. This willingness to learn and collaborate is a powerful asset.
Through its unique Expand membership, pitch events, and educational programs, Feminvest’s vision is to showcase how an ecosystem built on female ownership and investment can truly drive change and inspire others globally.
