Women in Tech powered by Bird & Bird: At the forefront of innovation - Key takeaways from Nima Tisdall, Nordic Makers

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2024 – we are delighted to launch our new Women in Tech series, where we will hear interesting stories from inspirational people leading the charge at the forefront of innovation.

In episode 1, we hear from Nima Tisdall, a Forbes 30 under 30, and CEO & Operating Partner at Nordic Makers. Nordic Makers is a very active business angel network in the Nordics, investing in early stage startups from across the region and helping them to thrive.

Interviewed by Danish Tech & Comms Partner Martin von Haller Grønbæk, Nima outlines her vision for developing an ecosystem in the Nordics that fosters a leading startup environment, and helps to put the next generation of Scandinavian unicorn companies firmly on the agenda.

Listen to the podcast here and read our key takeaways from the podcast below.

• Opportunities and challenges for Women in Tech: Despite progress, women and individuals from diverse backgrounds still face challenges in accessing funding and navigating male-dominated networks. Initiatives like female-only networks have been a first step, but merging these with broader networks is crucial for inclusivity and diversity in tech.
• Challenges in scaling Nordic startups: While Nordic countries excel in fostering early stage tech startups, there is a struggle to scale these companies. Limited access to capital and differences in scaling strategies compared to the US pose significant challenges.
• Bridging geopolitical gaps: The Nordics and the EU, have the potential to play a significant role in the global tech landscape, providing an ethical alternative to data handling and fostering innovation within the region.
• Networking and access to capital: Network connections significantly impact access to funding and opportunities, posing challenges for those outside established circles to secure investments.
• Diverse perspectives drive innovation: Embracing diverse perspectives, including gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic backgrounds, fosters innovation and strengthens the tech ecosystem.
• The importance of inclusive networks: While specialised networks can provide support, it is crucial to ensure inclusivity and avoid reinforcing silos, promoting collaboration and diversity.
• Generational shifts in tech culture: Gradual changes in tech culture, particularly regarding diversity and inclusion, are occurring across generations, signalling a positive shift in attitudes and practices.
• Equitable funding distribution: Efforts are needed to ensure equitable funding distribution, with a focus on supporting female founders and underrepresented groups to drive balanced growth and innovation in the tech sector.
• Focus on sustainability: Nima’s journey includes founding Blue Lobster, a digital marketplace for sustainable fishing, highlighting the importance of addressing sustainability issues in the fishing industry, particularly in Denmark.

These takeaways provide insights into both the opportunities and challenges within the Nordic tech ecosystem and emphasise the importance of sustainability, scalability, and diversity in driving innovation and growth.