Why the Time is Now for Female Founders
Welcome to the Fifty-Fifth edition of Unstoppable Female Founders!
#Unstoppable Female Founder
My Spotlight this week is taking a slight detour from the norm. This week my Unstoppable Female Founder Woman, is Sanna Marin, and yes, she’s still dancing!
At a time where the world is crying out for authentic leadership, Sanna Marin is a revelation. At 34, she didn't just become Finland's youngest Prime Minister – she also proved that political leadership could look different, feel different and achieve extraordinary things precisely because of that difference. She also did it, dancing and enjoying life the whole way through!
She was born in Helsinki to a working-class, self described "rainbow family" and her early life embodied the very inequalities she would later work to dismantle. Raised by her mother and her mother's female partner in the 1990s – when such families remained largely not spoken about – Sanna experienced exactly how societal structures could either lift people up or hold them down.
"We were, by Nordic standards, poor. It shaped my way of thinking, how I see people, how I see the structures in our society."
This understanding would become the central point of her political philosophy. As the first person in her family to attend both high school and university, Sanna's trajectory from student activist to world leader reads like a masterclass in turning adversity into advantage. Yet what I believe truly sets her apart, isn't just where she came from, but how she chose to lead once she arrived.
A New Kind of Leader for a New Kind of World
When Sanna took office in 2019, at 34 she didn't just bring youth to the role – she brought a revolution in representation. Her coalition government became a global symbol of progressive leadership: four of the five party leaders were women under 35 and 12 of the 19 cabinet ministers were female. This wasn't just statistical progress; it was a seismic shift in what political power could look like.
"I wanted to show the younger generation, especially young women, that you can be yourself. You don't have to become something else; you don't have to be an older man. We need diversity. We don't need more gray-suited people."
Her leadership and government was tested almost immediately. As COVID-19 swept the globe, Sanna's government responded with a combination of scientifically backed data and human compassion. Her daily press conferences became a masterclass in crisis communication, helping Finland achieve one of Europe's lowest infection rates while minimizing economic damage. Then again, when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, she led Finland through the fastest NATO accession in the alliance's 74-year history, turning her country's geographic vulnerability into a strategic advantage.
Policies with Purpose
As Prime Minister, Finland didn't just weather these crises, it also delivered policies that drove progressive change. Her government implemented one of the world's most equitable parental leave policies: 164 days per parent, regardless of gender. They set an ambitious target for carbon neutrality by 2035, positioning Finland at the forefront of climate action. Education reform, mental health support, and social welfare enhancements weren't just policy decisions – they were investments in human potential.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Sanna's leadership produced remarkable results that speak to the power of her approach:
Under her tenure, Finland maintained its position as the world's happiest country for four consecutive years (2020-2023), according to the UN World Happiness Report
Finland rose to become the world's most gender-equal country in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2023, achieving the highest score in the report's history
During the COVID-19 crisis, Finland recorded one of Europe's lowest mortality rates while maintaining economic stability, with just a 2.3% GDP decline in 2020 compared to the EU average of 5.9%
Her government's climate initiatives put Finland on track to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, with renewable energy sources accounting for 40% of final energy consumption by 2022
"The strength of a society is measured not by the wealth of its most affluent members but by how well its most vulnerable citizens are able to cope. The question we need to ask is whether everyone has the chance to lead a life of dignity."
Breaking the Mold, Setting New Standards
What I love about Sanna’s story, and it speaks to her legacy, is how she's redefined the very nature of leadership. With over a million Instagram followers, she's shared much of her private life with the world and shown that transparency and authenticity aren't weaknesses but rather, superpowers. And when critics attempted to criticize her for dancing at a private party, they were met with resounding support from people all over the world posting their own videos of the dancing and using the hashtag #IStandwithSanna.
This unapologetic embrace of her full humanity – as a leader, mother, friend and a woman who refuses to conform to any external expectations – has resonated globally with a generation hungry for genuine representation.
"At the same time that we are mothers and decision makers, we are having fun with our friends. We are playful. We are all these different things at the same time. And we don't have to diminish ourselves at all. I think women deserve everything. They should have everything—like men have always had."
The Future She Sees
"I'm in politics because I thought that the older generation wasn't doing enough about the big issues of the future. I needed to act. I couldn't just think, 'It's somebody else's job'."
This sense of personal responsibility, combined with her unwavering commitment to authentic leadership, has created a blueprint for what modern leadership can achieve when it prioritizes collective wellbeing over traditional measures of success.
For me, Sanna showed the world that effective leadership isn't about fitting into prescribed roles but about bringing your whole self to the task of creating a better world. As we face unprecedented global challenges, reading her story is a great reminder that the future belongs to those brave enough to reimagine it, one bold step at a time.
As as for her critics she says, ‘I’m not prime minister anymore, but I’m still partying,”
Female Founders Raising Capital
GreenMates | FoodTech | B2C | Pre-Seed
Imagine a world where accessing healthy and smart food choices is as easy as unlocking your phone!
Please meet GreenMates, a foodtech app that empowers users to make more informed, health conscious choices with their diet and nutrition. In a landscape where food transparency is often lacking, GreenMates fills the gap by delivering crucial information on the health and environmental impact of food products, helping users make better choices and fostering positive change.
For retailers and food producers, GreenMates offers a platform to meet new government regulations, such as the digital product pass, and serves as an additional marketing channel, reaching new customers and providing valuable consumer data.
Co- Founders: Pauline Emke & Hanna Freese
The Raise: €350k at €3m pre-money valuation to help them scale and launch a pilot for health insurance companies.
#TheRant
Why the Time is Now for Female Founders
Many of us hoped to witness a historic milestone this week, a symbolic victory that would signal progress and change. While that particular ceiling remains intact, I'd like to remind you of something: we don't need to wait for permission to create the future we envision. The time for female founders isn't on it’s way – it's already here.
Consider this: we're living in an unprecedented era of opportunity for female entrepreneurs. The landscape is shifting and the data tells an inspiring story. When female founders receive proper support and investment, we build companies that outperform their counterparts by significant margins. Boston Consulting Group's research shows that for every dollar of funding, female led startups generate 78 cents in revenue, compared to just 31 cents generated by male-led startups – that's 2.5 times more capital efficiency.
But the story gets even better. According to a study by First Round Capital, among their portfolio companies, those with a female founder performed 63% better than their investments in all-male founding teams. And when female-led startups do succeed, we tend to succeed bigger – we are five times more likely to scale to billion-dollar valuations compared to the average startup.
What makes this moment so unique? We're standing at a powerful intersection:
Technology has democratized access to resources, knowledge and markets in ways previously unimaginable.
Women today are more educated than ever before – earning more bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral degrees than men.
Global investor awareness about the untapped potential of female founded businesses is finally catching up.
Support networks and communities for female founders are stronger and more accessible than ever.
Yet these statistics and trends aren't just numbers on a page, they're proof of what we've always known: when we have the opportunity to lead, innovate and build, society benefits. Our unique perspectives, collaborative leadership styles and ability to identify underserved markets create businesses that don't just succeed – they transform industries.
So yes, we may feel the weight of unrealized and delayed progress, remember, the most powerful response to disappointment isn't anger or despair – it's action. Every woman who starts a business, scales a company or supports another female founder is creating ripples of change that extend far beyond herself. We're not just building companies; we're exemplifying role models, creating opportunities and reshaping what's possible for the next generation.
This isn't about waiting for the world to change – it's about being the change we want to see. It's about showing young girls that they can dream bigger than being "the first woman to..." – they can be founders, CEOs and visionaries in their own right. It's about creating a world where female leadership isn't remarkable because it's rare, but remarkable because of its impact.
The path forward isn't about proving others wrong – it's about proving ourselves right. It's about channeling our energy into building, growing and supporting each other. Because when we build successful businesses, we're not just creating wealth – we're creating examples, opportunities, and new realities of what’s possible.
So yes, take a moment to feel disappointed. Take a moment to acknowledge the work still ahead. But then, remember, there has never been a better time to be a female founder. The tools are in our hands. The data is on our side. The networks are in place.
Let's get to work.
#HypeCorner
The amazing female founders who have raised capital with their teams over the past week. HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE AMAZING WOMEN:
🇳🇱 Dr. Rose (rezvan) Sharifian Co-founder of SeaO2
🇩🇪 Diana Saarva Co-founder of Miros
🇬🇧 Amber Michelle Hill, PhD Founder & CEO R.grid
🇱🇺 Olga Porro Founder & CPO of fundcraft
🇨🇭 Estelle Clerc Co-founder & CRO CellX Biosolutions
🇬🇧 Karishma Gupta Founder & CEO Eslando
🇫🇷 Iris Maréchal & Chloé Geoffro Co-founders of Theremia
🇬🇧 Katrien Cruz Grobler- Founder of AI KAT
👏 Congrats again to all of these founders. I am also loving the fact this list is getting longer each and every week! 🙌🏼
Events for Female Founders
🇵🇹 {Lisbon} Web Summit is BACK 11-14th of November! If you’re heading to down to Lisbon, let me know, we have a group of our Community Female Founders who will be meeting up!
🇦🇹 {Vienna} Invest*Austria is happening on the 6th of November this year. It is the leading event to connect Angel Investors, Venture Capital and Private Equity, covering the entire funding lifecycle of innovative companies within the regional.
🇫🇮 {Helsinki} On 20-21st of November, SLUSH 24 will host its annual pitch competition, however this year Cherry Ventures and general catalyst are putting up €1 Million for the winning startup. Could that be you? Apply here: https://slush.org/startups/slush-100/
🇬🇧 {London} Women of Silicon Roundabout is the UK’s largest tech event for women and happening on the 27th and 28th of November this year. WoSR is where the leading voices in technology meet.
Do you know of any events or programs aimed at supporting female founders? Send them over to be featured!
Thanks again for taking the time to read this week’s newsletter!
☀️ Have a wonderful weekend! ☀️
JH