A year ago, I brought in the first investors to our inaugural fund. It’s a responsibility I feel every day, especially in a complex market environment defined by financial risk, limited liquidity, and a geopolitical landscape that has created a new normal for investors.

[Explore interest to join our investor network.](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedgB9nkFMlgAA48PnWdtVkKjPG07R3fJGQC6w3KYeoFQ_4Qw/viewform?usp=header)

Over the past year, more than 1,700 companies have applied for capital from the fund. We have selected companies by following them closely through our community. What we look for are strong founding teams who have built their businesses and reached customers, where commercialization is a key factor. In less than a year, we have invested in six companies so far. One portfolio company has interesting conversations going at a doubled valuation, another has tripled by the interest from other investors. We have also invested in an AI company collaborating with OpenAI. 

 

Building a fund with a community at its core has clear advantages. One example is our ability to share portfolio progress at FEARLESS, the largest conference in the Nordics for women in entrepreneurship, which we host ourselves. We use our community to evaluate investments, support commercialization, contribute to business development, establish international collaborations, and make relevant investor introductions. Through the community, our communications gain broader reach, and access to networks and expertise is always close at hand.

We have also had the opportunity to invest in two companies that actively sought us out, precisely because of who we are and what we stand for. There is still much work ahead. A fund typically spans seven to ten years.

We have already achieved a great deal, thanks to the trust we have been given, but also because our community provides valuable data points to guide us. That gives us renewed confidence and purpose moving forward. 

 

[Michaela Berglund](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelaberglund/)&#x20;

CEO [Feminvest](https://www.linkedin.com/company/feminvestsweden/) and Founder [Feminvest Ventures](https://www.linkedin.com/company/feminvest-ventures/)

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[Join our community.](https://www.feminvest.se/en/medlemskap/)

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The Feminvest Approach to Building Real Value