Embrace your strengths. We don't all have the same goals and values, and your path does not need to fit anyone else's box. Explore the things that you like, understand the aspects of yourself that make you thrive and dare to go for the opportunities that fit with your definition of happiness.
What's your story before you joined Skåne Startups?
My love for Chemistry and Biology, back in high school, drove me to a Bachelor's degree in Food Technology. Even though I loved eating the food that we were producing in our labs, during my 3rd year my interests vastly changed.
I immersed myself into personal finances, stock market investments and how entrepreneurship can be a catalyzer of achieving your financial goals. I got hooked and watched every single seminar and course that I could find on the topic, but I still felt that I needed to know more.
In 2018, I had finally saved enough to leave Greece and attend a one year Master's program in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. My world was blown. The educative approach in Lund University was immersive, extremely fast-paced and catapulting me out of my comfort zone. I saw a world of entrepreneurship that is socially and environmentally conscious and learned a lot of the values that I represent today.
After a brief exploration of a real estate career, my love for the entrepreneurial ecosystem became undeniable and unavoidable and that's when I returned to Sweden and started working at Skåne Startups.
What was your role at Skåne Startups?
Besides panicking every time Zhenni Liang asked me to present myself on stage😅, my main task was to build a database with all the Scanian-based startups. That gave us the opportunity to map out the local startup ecosystem, understand their needs and connect them with the right stakeholders.
I loved creating dealflows for local and international investors and making startups visible to investors that might not have come in their way otherwise. I got to collaborate with Sony and find relevant investors for their Accelerator startups and spent (MANY) hours transcribing and creating a cohesive text for our blog posts after each event.
I created life-long friendships, saw tiny startups grow and achieve great things, and met bold people that actively contribute to a better world.
What did you enjoy the most at Skåne Startups?
On a professional level, I learned so much about the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the different stakeholders. I saw first-hand the dynamics between investors and entrepreneurs and unlocked this completely new path of a career in VC.
On a personal level, every day at Skåne Startups I was surrounded by people that I deeply admire and love. I will forever cherish the bond we've created with my colleagues, the camaraderie, support and the ability to lift each other up in the hardest of times. Skåne Startups is full of daring dreamers that will get out of their way to help and give back in any way they can.
Can you tell us about your current work?
My experience building the startup database for Skåne Startups became my ticket for my next job opportunity at Pale blue dot.
Pale blue dot is an €87M seed-stage venture capital firm, investing in climate tech startups that reduce and reverse the climate crisis and help us prepare for a new world. Pale blue dot is based in Malmö, Sweden, and invests in early stage companies in Europe and the US.
I do data management, and beyond the database, I collect, organize, and present different types of information for a variety of applications. Some of these are: sourcing new dealflow, finding startups within a specific industry to support the investment decision process, and finding investors for the future rounds of our portfolio companies. I treat data as an asset and I always aim to create high quality outputs that bring great value to the team.
What is your advice for other talents?
Embrace your strengths. We don't all have the same goals and values, and your path does not need to fit anyone else's box. Explore the things that you like, understand the aspects of yourself that make you thrive and dare to go for the opportunities that fit with your definition of happiness.
Go where the people you admire and appreciate are. Surround yourself with role models and people that can see your worth. Ask what you don't know, ask for guidance, and give back as much value as you can.
Something you are unreasonably passionate about?
The importance of vulnerability as key to achieving greatly both in personal and professional setups. And gender & racial equity, of course (but this isn't unreasonable!).
