Venture Nordics Alumni
Meet the Venture Nordics alumni, a group of international general partners, limited partners and family offices who took part in Europe’s top program designed for international investors interested in setting up their presence in Nordics or investing in Nordic-based funds. Find out who they are and what inspired them to join the program.
Venture Nordics is Europe’s leading investor program for international venture capital firms and limited partners looking to understand and access the New Nordics and Finland’s dynamic business ecosystem. Hosted in Helsinki during Slush, the world’s largest venture capital event, the program offers a highly efficient way to explore one of Europe’s most active and innovative regions.
Each year, Venture Nordics brings together a carefully selected group of global investors and connects them directly with the people shaping the Nordic ecosystem. Participants take part in curated meetings with Nordic VCs and LPs, receive introductions to key ecosystem players, and gain firsthand insight into how the region’s investment landscape operates.
The program also provides direct access to the startup and scale-up community that defines the Nordics as a global innovation hub. Participants meet high-potential companies and receive complimentary access to Slush, making Venture Nordics a focused and high-value experience for investors considering long-term engagement in the Nordics.
Participants 2024 Arctic15
Abhijeet
Hivarekar
Co-founder, Haritaki (VC)
Abhijeet co-founded Haritaki, a Singapore and Hong Kong based buyout firm. The company focuses on environmental sustainability, with a roll-up strategy targeting industrial air pollution control. The platform aims to consolidate 15–20 companies over five years and is in the early stages of its first acquisitions. With over 20 years of experience across banking, credit ratings, and asset management, Abhijeet previously held roles at Standard & Poor’s, UBS, Credit Suisse, ABN AMRO and IDBI Bank. He joined Venture Nordics to evaluate Helsinki as a potential hub for Haritaki’s European expansion, understand the Finnish business ecosystem and regulatory environment, and explore partnerships with sustainability-focused funds, investors, and companies aligned with Haritaki’s environmental mission.
Ashish
Kumar
Co-founder and General Partner, Fundamentum (VC)
Ashish is a Co-founder and General Partner at Fundamentum, a growth-stage venture capital firm focused on backing technology-driven companies. A former tech founder turned investor, he began his career at Microsoft in the US before founding three technology companies in India, two of which were successfully acquired. Ashish has led and supported investments in companies including Spinny, PharmEasy, FarEye, and WishLink. He joined Venture Nordics to better understand European venture ecosystems and identify innovative products with potential in both European and Indian markets, while building relationships with Nordic investors aligned with the Europe–India investment theme.
Celine
Schulze
Co-founder, Narwhale Ventures (VC)
Celine is the owner of Narwhale Ventures, an early-stage venture firm focused on building a sustainable, low-carbon blue economy by investing in ocean-focused startups from pre-seed to Series A. With experience across China, Singapore, Switzerland, and Germany, she has been active in the global startup ecosystem since 2010. She joined Venture Nordics to become an active investor in the Finnish startup ecosystem, expand Narwhale Ventures’ presence in the Nordics and Baltics, and build relationships with founders, investors, and academic partners advancing ocean and sustainability technologies.
Linn-Cecilie
Linneman
Partner, LUMO Labs (VC)
Linn-Cecilie is a Partner at LUMO Labs, an early-stage venture firm investing in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, and immersive technologies, with a strong focus on impact-driven startups. She brings over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and investor and previously served as CEO of the Katapult Group, one of Europe’s leading impact venture platforms focused on climate and ocean innovation. Linn-Cecilie is also a strong advocate for gender equality and a co-founder of SHE Conference. She joined Venture Nordics to broaden her network and deepen her understanding of the Finnish startup ecosystem. She still has strong ties with Helsinki and has made several investments in Finnish-based companies as part of the LUMO Labs.
Matthew
Hicks
Senior Investment Analyst, VC funds, The Church Commissioners for England (LP)
Matthew is a Senior Investment Analyst at The Church Commissioners for England, where he focuses on global venture fund investments with a strong emphasis on ethical and responsible capital allocation. He supports strategic investments into top-tier venture capital funds backing high-potential startups, aligned with long-term sustainable growth. The Church Commissioners manage a diversified investment portfolio valued at over £10 billion, with a meaningful allocation to private equity and venture capital. Matthew joined Venture Nordics to deepen his understanding of the Nordic innovation ecosystem, build relationships with local investors and institutions, and explore opportunities to invest in Finnish VC funds supporting high-impact startups across the region.
Milapsinh
Jadeja
Founder & Managing Director, Iroller Capital (VC)
Milap is an accomplished angel investor, ecosystem builder, and strategic advisor from India, with a global portfolio spanning 70+ startups. He founded Iroller Capital to support early-stage companies with capital raising and growth strategy. Alongside investing, he works closely with Government of India–led initiatives to strengthen the national startup ecosystem and enable founders from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through platforms like Kal Ke Krorepati. In Finland, Milapsinh is actively engaged in the Media & Gaming space and is exploring cross-border collaborations between Nordics and India. On the investment side, he set up a fund in Finland focused on Medtech and Healthtech innovation, with initial commitments in place and capital deployment planned shortly.
Rahul
Rajani
Partner, Manerama Capital (LP)
Rahul is a Partner at Manerama Capital, a family-run investment office with operations in London, Mumbai, and Singapore, investing as a limited partner across venture capital and private equity funds globally. The family office also makes direct investments in technology companies (some examples are Cover Genius, Vespene, H2O.ai, and Cerebras Systems). Based in London, Rahul oversees the family’s investment activities across Asia and Europe and is also involved in developing renewable energy assets in India. He joined Venture Nordics to deepen his understanding of the European venture landscape, engage with Nordic technology founders and institutions, and assess regional investment strategies, capital performance, and policy frameworks supporting innovation.
Vadim
Shpak
Managing Director, Vickers Venture Partners (VC)
Vadim joined Venture Nordics from his role as Managing Director at Vickers Venture Partners, a Singapore-based VC investing globally in deep tech across AI, biotech, and clean energy. He came to Finland to engage with the deep-tech and life sciences ecosystem, build strategic alliances, and explore co-investment opportunities across the Nordics.
Vivek
Dogra
Co-founder and General Partner, Defossilisation Development Fund (VC)
Vivek has co-founded the Defossilisation Development Fund (DDF), a Switzerland-based climate-tech investment fund focused on eliminating fossil fuel–derived materials across industrial value chains. He brings extensive experience as a corporate venture builder, with a background spanning venture capital and global consumer goods leadership. Prior to DDF, Vivek served as a Venture Partner at ECBF, Europe’s first circular bioeconomy fund backed by the European Investment Bank, and previously established and led Nestlé’s Open Innovation Hubs in Singapore and London. He joined Venture Nordics to deepen his understanding of the Finnish and Nordic innovation ecosystem, explore partnerships, and assess opportunities in the region and is now actively taking steps to establish DDF’s presence in Finland.
Participants 2024 Slush
Ana
Lopéz Soler
Venture Investment Director, Secways (LP)
Ana is the Venture Investment Director at Secways, a family office actively investing in early-stage startups across Europe and in venture funds globally. With over 18 years of experience spanning public markets and venture capital, she focuses on identifying strong founders, scalable technologies and determined fund managers. She joined the program to gain a deep understanding of the Nordic startup ecosystem and its key technological strengths. Ana has already built a strong network in Finland and Secways has recently made a fund investment in the latest Vendep Capital’s fund.
Andrea
Böhmert
Managing Partner – SBI Ventures Europe (VC)
Andrea, Managing Partner at SBI Ventures Europe, leads the European venture investment activities of SBI Holdings, a Japanese financial conglomerate backing the fund. SBI Ventures Europe focused on supporting high-potential startups across fintech, blockchain, and emerging technologies, while providing access to SBI’s global network and strategic expertise. With a 20-year track record in venture capital, including over 40 investments and notable exits across four funds in South Africa, Andrea joined Venture Nordics to gain insight into how Finland and the wider Nordic region were addressing the implications of rapid demographic change. Through the program, she engaged with founders, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders to identify aligned companies and explore future investment and collaboration opportunities.
Anjani
Bansal
Director, Equity and Debt Investments, Opportunity International Australia (VC)
At the time of his participation in Venture Nordics, Anjani was Partner and Country Head at Global Brain Corporation in Tokyo, a leading venture capital firm with 2B AUM and over 350 active investments globally. With a career spanning software development, impact investing, and venture capital, and experience across the US, Africa, and Asia with organisations including Morgan Stanley, UNDP, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he brought a global and impact-driven perspective to the program. Anjani joined Venture Nordics to explore Finland’s deep tech ecosystem and identify technologies with potential applications in Asian markets while building relationships with Nordic investors and founders. Since then, he has transitioned into his current role as Director of Equity and Debt Investments at Opportunity International Australia.
Christian
Bjelland
Operating Partner, Head of Capital Formation & Strategic Partnerships, Lowercarbon Capital (VC)
Christian works at Lowercarbon Capital, the multibillion-dollar climate venture fund founded by Chris and Crystal Sacca, investing in companies cutting emissions and scaling breakthrough climate solutions. He brings deep experience across venture capital, venture studios, private equity, and company building, with previous roles including Managing Director at Redesign Health and early leadership at Trident and Hello Alfred. As a Venture Nordics participant, he explored the Finnish healthcare and digital health ecosystem to understand local market needs and assess interest in the venture studio model. Through the program, he connected with Finnish founders, investors, and strategic partners across the healthcare and venture landscape.
Felicity
Meyer
Investment Manager, BoxOne Ventures (VC)
Felicity is an Investment Manager at BoxOne Ventures, where she leads investments in cleantech, foodtech, and agtech, bringing an operator-driven approach and deep expertise in life cycle assessment. She actively supports portfolio companies, drawing on experience managing lab operations at a leading biotech accelerator in Boston and working in early leadership roles at growing startups. Felicity joined Venture Nordics to better understand opportunities for collaboration between North American and Scandinavian investors, founders, and researchers, with a particular focus on deep tech and sustainability-driven innovation. Through the program, she connected with Nordic investors and ecosystem players aligned with long-term, impact-focused investing.
Jeremy
Scheibböck
Partner, Potrero Capital (LP)
Jeremy is a Partner at Potrero Capital, a global single-family office with roots in Silicon Valley and Germany that has made approximately 80 venture fund investments and backed over 400 startups across fintech, adtech, and cleantech. He leads late seed to pre-IPO investments, bringing a strong focus on impact investing and a broad network spanning angel investors, venture funds, and family offices in both Europe and the United States. Jeremy joined Venture Nordics to gain exposure to the Finnish startup ecosystem and establish a strong foothold in the Nordic venture landscape. Through the program, he built relationships with local VCs and family offices and explored opportunities for future LP commitments and co-investments in the region.
Jeremy
Teboul
Partner, OTB Ventures (VC)
Jeremy is a Partner at OTB Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on early-stage deep tech investments across areas such as robotics, applied AI, and space technology. He brings an entrepreneurial background, with prior experience in consulting and in co-founding an accelerator for early-stage startups in New York, and has worked closely with founders from pre-seed through Series A. Jeremy joined Venture Nordics to strengthen his network among Nordic VC firms and to learn more about Finland’s innovation and academic hubs, particularly in robotics and space.
Kristaps
Ronis
Partner, Ion Pacific (VC)
Kristaps is a Partner at Ion Pacific, a specialist investment firm providing liquidity solutions to the global venture capital and technology ecosystem, managing approximately $500 million in assets. Based in Switzerland, he works closely with European venture capital funds and technology scale-ups, structuring secondary and recapitalisation transactions to address liquidity needs. Ion Pacific had completed multiple transactions in the Nordics, including the recapitalisation of a Stockholm-based fintech fund and a founder liquidity solution for a global female health and wellness scale-up. Kristaps joined Venture Nordics to build deeper connections with Finnish VC funds and scale-ups, exchange perspectives on regional fundraising dynamics, and better understand local liquidity needs across the ecosystem.
Nobutake
Suzuki
President and CEO, MUFG Innovation Partners (CVC)
Nobutake is President and CEO of MUFG Innovation Partners (MUIP), the corporate venture capital arm of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, managing approximately $650 million across multiple funds and investing globally in fintech, digital marketplaces, blockchain, and technology enablers. He joined MUFG in 2018 to lead open innovation initiatives for the group and has served as CEO of MUIP since 2019. Prior to MUFG, Nobutake began his career as a venture capitalist at Global Brain, where he invested in Japanese and international startups and managed corporate venture funds, alongside earlier experience in banking roles at MUFG, including in New York. He joined Venture Nordics to engage with the Nordic venture ecosystem and explore opportunities for collaboration and innovation aligned with MUFG’s global investment strategy.
Participants 2025
Cathryn
Paine
Partner, Anzu Partners (VC)
Cathryn is a Partner at Anzu Partners, where she leads the firm’s business operations and oversees its in-house law firm, Lex Generalis. She also serves on the Investment Committee for Anzu’s latest fund and brings a decade of experience from high-growth technology startups. Cathryn has been recognized among Venture Capital Journal’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in VC and she is dedicated to advancing women’s representation in private company boards through her work with the Women on Boards Project. Anzu Partners backs industrial and technology businesses globally, including Arduino, the open-source platform central to prototyping and embedded computing, which was acquired in October 2025 by Qualcomm. Anzu has existing relationships in the Finnish ecosystem, and Cathryn joined the program to deepening those ties as Anzu looks to broaden it’s Nordic investments, specifically in electronics and chemicals.
Furkan
Serbetci
Managing Partner, ISTCAPITAL (LP)
Furkan is Managing Partner at ISTCAPITAL, where he leads early-stage tech, private equity, and co-investment strategies across Europe and the U.S. With a background in entrepreneurship and scaling growth-stage companies, he brings both operational and investment expertise. ISTCAPITAL backs AI, healthtech, fintech, SaaS, and digital infrastructure ventures, with investments such as Spline and Eloquent AI (YC). Furkan is interested in long-term collaboration with Nordic VCs and startups. He also wants to explore frameworks to support portfolio companies entering Finland.
Jett
Fein
Founding Partner, Broadway Venture Partners (VC)
Jett is a Founding Partner at Broadway Venture Partners, backing capital-efficient early-stage technology companies. For 11 years, Jett was a General Partner at Headline where he partnered at the early-stage with several companies including Gopuff, NomNom (acquired by Mars), Honeycomb.io, and Trellis Research, and helped grow Headline’s AUM to $4B. Jett holds a B.A., with distinction, from Stanford University, where he received the J.E. Wallace Sterling Award, and a J.D. from Berkeley Law. Jett joined the program to meet and connect with LPs, GPs, and startups in Finland and the Nordics.
Laura
Fox
Co-founder & Managing Partner, Streetlife Ventures (VC)
Laura is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Streetlife Ventures, investing in B2B pre-seed and seed urban climate solutions across mitigation and adaptation sectors. She previously scaled Citi Bike at Lyft into one of the largest transportation systems in the U.S. and over $120M in ARR, led urban tech diligence and new product creation at leading organisations such as Sidewalk Labs and BCG, and teaches MBA courses at NYU Stern. Laura is enthusiastic about building deep ties in Finland’s ecosystem and sees the Nordics as a natural fit for climate-focused innovation.
Luka
Jurcic
Investment Analyst, CoastCap (LP)
Luka is an Investment Analyst at CoastCap, a Vienna-based family office, where he leads due diligence and manages portfolio investments. His career spans wealth management, M&A at a private bank, and hands-on startup finance. CoastCap invests in impactful, scalable companies, with Isar Aerospace as a standout in its portfolio. Luka is eager to understand Finland’s VC ecosystem, from funding dynamics to vertical strengths. He sees opportunities for co-investments and long-term collaboration with Finnish startups and VCs.
Maureen
Fan
CEO & Co-founder, Baobab Studios (CVC)
Maureen is the CEO and co-founder of Baobab Studios, 10 time Emmy winning transmedia animation company at the intersection of gaming, Hollywood, and technology. She previously led Zynga’s Farmville franchise, helping take the company public, and has a strong record of turning entertainment IP into global phenomena. Baobab Studios works with leading distributors such as Disney, Netflix, and Roblox to create cross-platform IP with top creative talent like Eric Darnell (Madagascar) and Osnat Shurer (Moana). Maureen joined the program to meet with content LPs, genAI LPs, Finland’s game studios, and GenZ developers. She has been very keen to explore Nordic genAI capabilities and partner with the Nordic content ecosystem.
Marrit
van den Heuvel
Portfolio Manager, imec.xpand (VC)
Marrit is a portfolio manager at imec.xpand, where she leads the fund’s ESG strategy and is passionate about translating innovation into societal impact. She brings a strong international outlook and deep expertise in building networks between startups, investors, and research institutions. imec.xpand is one of the world’s largest funds dedicated to early-stage semiconductor innovation. Marrit highlights their investment in INBRAIN Neuroelectronics, developing neural platforms for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Marrit joined the program to connect with Finnish universities, VCs, and founders, with an eye toward investing in semiconductors and nanotech.
Michael
White
Partner, Planet Ocean Fund of Funds (LP)
Michael is a Partner of Planet Ocean fund – the first fund of funds in the ocean economy investing in nutrition, materials, supply chains, infrastructure, carbon and data. Planet Ocean is a founder member of the 1000 Ocean Startups. Michael is a certified expert for Blue Invest focused on the seaweed sector. He set up Innpact Fund Management SA as the first Luxembourg AIFM for impact funds. Over the last 30 years he has founded and managed VC, growth and clean energy funds, including 3TS Capital with Sitra Finland as sponsor. In Finland, Michael is keen to expand the 1000 Ocean Startups ecosystem and he joined tge program to meet innovators in the core sectors of the Planet Ocean fund.
Norma
Cernadas
Vice President, American Chemical Society (CVC)
Norma joined Venture Nordics from her role as Vice President at the American Chemical Society, bringing experience as both a startup founder and growth scaler. She set up ACS Ventures, part of ACS Publications, to drive innovation through investments, acquisitions, partnerships and builds that advance scientific communication and knowledge. ACS is a non-profit with a mission to advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community, and champion scientific integrity. Its leading Nordic transaction was the acquisition of ChronosHub in Denmark. Norma is motivated by a venture mindset to learn from other investors and ecosystems. She sees Finland as an important hub for science-driven innovation and wants to build lasting relationships in the region.
Reinhard
Meier, MD MBA
Founding Partner, YZR (VC)
Reinhard is a physician-turned-investor and the founding partner of YZR Capital, a Munich-based venture firm focused on HealthTech. With prior entrepreneurial experience in telemedicine, he brings medical insight and business acumen to early-stage investing. YZR Capital supports globally scalable healthtech companies, including Scan.com, Biorce, and DeepLife. Reinhard joined the program to connect with Finnish founders and health innovators. He has been also exploring partnerships with funds and institutions to tap into Finland’s healthcare innovation landscape.
Shawn
Xu
Partner, Lowercarbon Capital (VC)
Shawn is a Partner at Lowercarbon Capital, a multibillion-dollar climate fund founded by Chris and Crystal Sacca. He focuses on software and deeptech solutions for the energy transition, leading investments outside the U.S. Lowercarbon Capital backs companies making real money while tackling climate change, such as Cloover in Sweden. Shawn values building authentic relationships with founders and fellow investors. He joined the program to meet LPs and co-investors while supporting the region’s role in climate tech innovation.
Yannick
Sonnenberg
General Partner, Emergence Ventures (LP & VC)
Yannick is General Partner at Emergence Ventures and has worn many hats in his career: founder, advisor, fund manager, angel investor, and board member. He has built a boutique Fund of Funds that invests in emerging managers, micro-VCs, and solo GPs, alongside selective direct investments. His portfolio includes companies such as Lovable and Magic.dev. Based between Copenhagen and Berlin, Yannick is deeply connected in European venture networks. In Finland, he wants to support portfolio growth in tech and expand relationships with the local investors.
Join Venture Nordics 2026
Curious to explore the epicenter of the region with the most unicorns per capita after Silicon Valley, where VC funds consistently perform above the European average? Join the Venture Nordics Program and explore why Finland is the place to be. Apply now to get the chance to be one of the 10 participants selected for this exclusive experience.
