This year’s Slush began with exactly the right community, and it set the tone for the entire week.
On Tuesday, I had the honor of hosting the EIT (European Institute of Innovation & Technology) Community Supernovas “Build Your Tribe” side event, a gathering that brought together women founders, women investors, and women ecosystem builders from across Europe and far beyond.
What unfolded in that room was powerful: a sisterhood that needed no explanation, no justification, and no permission to belong.
Women hold ecosystems together, quietly, consistently, and powerfully.
And when we meet in a space designed for us, shaped by us, and filled with people who understand our journeys, something shifts.
Tuesday felt like that shift.
The room was alive with stories, ambition, generosity, and a global sense of purpose.
A Gathering of Women Who Refuse to Shrink
The diversity in the room mirrored the richness of Europe’s entrepreneurial landscape:
- A Moldovan woman with Finnish experience now leading EIT work from Spain
- A Venezuelan community builder
- A Kazakh Forbes 30 Under 30 scientist-founder
- An Ivorian energy innovator who crossed five EU cities with a caravan of founders
- A Bulgarian–Norwegian ecosystem builder
- A Slovak–Austrian medical founder
- A Romanian entrepreneur thriving in France
- And many others who brought their brilliance and boldness
Together, they created a rare moment of connection:
🔥 Women who don’t shrink
🔥 Conversations that require no translation
🔥 Ambition that runs deep, not loud
For once, no one in the room had to prove they belonged.
We simply did.
Tools for Building Inclusive Investment
EIT Community Supernovas also shared a practical toolkit on mitigating gender bias in investment, an essential resource for anyone shaping Europe’s innovation ecosystem. Access it here: https://supernovas.eitcommunity.eu/supernovas-esade-and-equinox-equality-experts-launch-pioneering-tool-to-tackle-gender-bias-in-europes-vc-ecosystem/
Communities Leading the Way
For those seeking ecosystems that actively elevate women’s leadership and visibility, these are essential communities to follow:
EIT Community Supernovas Programmes
- Women2Invest
- Business Angels Academy
- Venture Capital Academy
- Rocket Up (open call in December)
- Women Leadership Programme
Other European Communities Building Equity & Access
- The Nine (Brussels — Georgia Mourad Brooks)
- Nordic Women in Tech Awards
- Unconventional Ventures
- The Shortcut
- Startup Refugees
These organizations are shaping the future of inclusive innovation, one founder at a time.
A heartfelt thank you to Elena Popovici, Celeste Reglá Díaz, Blanca Chocarro Ruiz, and Celia Alija Pérez for organizing such a warm, intentional, and energizing gathering.
And to the many women who showed up with their full selves, Asha Singadia, Clara Bale, Kelly Keodara, Jonna Pitkänen (congrats on Gaidor’s two years!), Marzhan Kabduakhitova, Teddy Slavcheva, thank you for the stories, the laughter, and the courage you brought into the room.
My gratitude also goes to my wonderful collaborators MySpeaker Finland, LIWLIG Finland, Susanna Suorsa, and Thomas Gromoff for helping create moments that matter.
The spirit of this event, the sisterhood, the solidarity, the shared ambition, is the kind of quiet power that metrics can’t measure but ecosystems rely on.
May this gathering be one of many. May we continue building networks where women don’t just participate, they shape, lead, and redefine what’s possible.
