Christoph Raethke has been part of the European startup and angel ecosystem since the late 1990s. As the host of the Angels of Deutschland podcast, he has spent years demystifying angel investing and startup funding for a broader audience. In its third season, the podcast turns its focus to: Defence Tech Investments for Angels. We...

Michael Akampa has spent his career navigating between two distinct worlds — emerging markets in Africa and highly structured innovation ecosystems in the Nordics. As a founder, investor, and ecosystem builder, he works at the intersection of finance, technology, and impact, helping companies and capital flow across borders. We talked about his journey, what he’s...

Naimul Abd is the Co-Founder and CEO of SweBAN, the national network organization for business angel networks in Sweden. He’s also the CEO of Connect Sverige Region Öst – an ecosystem connecting startups, investors, and partners. He also leads several Nordic startup ecosystems originating from Silicon Valley / US, including Founder Institute, Startup Grind, and...

Meet Seren Rumjancevs, CEO at Dealum — the next-generation investor group collaboration platform that’s reshaping how early-stage investors work together. With over two decades of experience in innovation and technology management, Seren has dedicated her career to helping founders and investors connect more effectively. Read more about her journey through the startup ecosystem, the mission...

Sweden has earned a global reputation for building ambitious companies. From Stockholm’s unicorns to broader regional innovators, the country punches well above its weight. But even in a thriving ecosystem, early-stage financing can still be complicated, slow, and unevenly distributed. In the Netherlands and Germany, hundreds of successful funding rounds have already shown what’s possible when...

In an era where the energy transition demands both speed and creativity, agile innovation has become more than a buzzword — it’s a necessity. At the forefront of this transformation is Carlotta Krone-Danhier, Ecosystem & Business Development Manager at dena’s Future Energy Lab. With a background that bridges climate tech startups and global innovation networks,...

In 2019 Leapfunder completed its very first funding round in Germany. At the same time we became a full member of BAND, Germany’s association of angel networks. Since then, we have completed 44 successful German funding rounds. That surely gives us reasons to celebrate a belated 5 year birthday of Leapfunder Germany.

Switzerland is home to one of Europe’s most vibrant and fast-growing startup ecosystems, and at its heart is SICTIC, the country’s largest and most active business angel network. With over 500 members and over 130 startups supported in 2024 alone, SICTIC plays a pivotal role in connecting founders with “smart money” investors. One of the...

Meet Chingiskhan Kazakhstan — a serial entrepreneur who’s redefining mobility, community, and startup culture in the Netherlands. From co-founding SELANA, the first company to legalize e-scooters in the country, to building bondi, a mobility-meets-city-exploration app, and FounderFuel, dedicated to creating the most valuable and engaged community for founders and investors experiencing growth, his ventures share...

What does it take to create an impactful business? Few are better positioned to answer that than Boudewijn Docter, co-founder of EFFECT Photonics and a key figure in the Dutch deep-tech ecosystem. With a background in electrical engineering and photonics, Boudewijn has spent years navigating the complex entrepreneurial journey.  His company is one of the...