Hey there,
I'm Sophie Webber, Communications Lead at Founderland. π After an exciting collaboration last year developing PAM, your Pitch AI Mentor, I officially joined the team this month. π
Since joining Founderland, I've been diving into GENDEX, our latest project championing diversity (more on this soon!), and meeting our newest cohort of inspirational Compass founders.Β
With a background in venture building, product management, and entrepreneurship, I've navigated diverse roles across the globe β from the UK to Shanghai, now settling in Berlin for almost 5 years. My passion lies in supporting and mentoring early-stage founders, particularly in fostering inclusive entrepreneurship. π
Through this newsletter, Iβll be sharing dynamic, intersectional insights from Europe's vibrant startup, VC, and tech scene. πͺ© Feel free to share it with your circle of founders, investors, innovators, and policymakers passionate about inclusive entrepreneurship. π
Now letβs jump in β¨
Sophie Webber, Communications Lead
π Key Dates for European Founders & Techies
Feb 27 - The AI Scale-Up Stories: GreenTech x AI - Discover the impact of AI in the GreenTech sector with insights from industry experts. Reserve your spot.
Mar 8 - Attention Black or Afro-German founders in Germany! Join the Founderland x AiDia Problem Hacking Summit to conquer business challenges. Apply by Mar 8.
Mar 8 - Female Innovators Conference Frankfurt: Boosting womenβs self confidence through fostering innovation, networking, and more. Register here.
Mar 10 - Apply now for The Migrant Accelerator Spring Batch! Migrant-led startups in Germany can get β¬2,000 for prototyping, VC office hours, and expert workshops. Apply by Mar 10.
Mar 15 - Compass Demo Day: Join other top-tier investors to watch exclusive pitches from our cohort over drinks and nibbles. Invite-only event. RSVP here.
Craving more events and exclusive opportunities? Join our vibrant community platform β it's free, user-friendly, and packed with resources!
ποΈ Top Stories & Featured Articles
ποΈ Anisah Britton and Steph Bailey debut new Sifted podcast, The Inclusive Startup Playbook, offering insights for crafting sustainable startups. π
π Amidst ongoing debates surrounding DE&I, 58 Black VCs are standing firm in reshaping the VC landscape and championing underrepresented founders. π€©
π° Giant Ventures unveils a $250M fund dedicated to backing startups in climate, health, and diversity.
π On Tuesday expert and founder Alissa Hitzemann led a Compass storytelling workshop. Discover what we learned from Founderlandβs Stephanie von Behr. π€
π European female founders hit a VC milestone, snagging 5.2% of deals, with UK leading the charge. π¬π§
π‘ Seeking advice for your startup journey? Founderland's Deborah Choi emphasises the power of community.
βοΈ Germany joins the growing list of countries experimenting with a four-day workweek, with a new pilot project involving 45 companies. π©πͺ
π° Europe's startup grant system requires an overhaul as it fails to meet the needs of entrepreneurs. Startups deserve better.
A snapshot from last weekβs Compass session led by Arlan Hamilton founder of Backstage Capital.
That's all for now! I'd love to hear your thoughts on our more condensed format. Feel free to share any suggestions by emailing me at sophie@founderland.org.
Cheers,
Sophie βοΈ
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