Startup Grants in Sweden News | November, 2026 (STARTUP EDITION)

TL;DR: Startup Grants in Sweden News, November 2026: How Founders Get Non-Dilutive Funding

Table of Contents

The Startup Grants in Sweden news, November, 2026 edition shows you can still raise up to SEK 5 million from Vinnova without giving up equity. The money goes to founders who treat grant writing as a repeatable skill. Most others stop after their first rejection.

Where the money is: Innovativa Startups pays up to SEK 500,000 and covers 100% of project costs. Larger Vinnova grants reach SEK 5 million, and Almi soft loans reach SEK 3 million. The Swedish Energy Agency co-funds climate tech prototypes. The EIC Accelerator offers up to €2.5 million in grants plus €10 million in equity.
What gets funded: Deeptech and climate tech get priority. Write your project as an experiment with a hypothesis, a test, a success threshold, and a clear budget. Vague company visions get rejected.
How you win: Register as an aktiebolag first. Then climb a Swedish funding stack one step at a time: voucher, Innovativa Startups, a larger Vinnova or Energy Agency grant, then Eurostars or EIC.
Common mistakes: Founders apply for the biggest grant first, copy text between calls, and treat gender and environment sections as filler. They also ignore co-financing. A 45% grant on a SEK 3 million project still leaves you paying SEK 1.65 million.

This guide comes from Violetta Bonenkamp (Mean CEO). She founded CADChain and Fe/male Switch, has won national and EU grants, and holds a Swedish MBA. Her main point: every krona of public money you skip is a krona you later pay for with equity at a worse price.

Compare eligibility, amounts, and deadlines in this list of government grants in Sweden. Then pick one programme you can apply to before the new year, and start your grant library today. That way, your next investor meeting starts with proof instead of promises.

Check out other fresh startup news and trends that you might like:

Alternatives to Zoom

Applying for a Swedish startup grant: 40 pages of paperwork, 3 months of waiting, and unlimited fika to keep the burn rate emotionally stable. Unsplash

Startup Grants in Sweden news for November 2026 comes down to one uncomfortable truth: Sweden still hands out serious NON-DILUTIVE money to early-stage companies, and most founders still apply for it the wrong way. Vinnova grants reach up to SEK 5 million, the EU-level EIC Accelerator offers up to €2.5 million in grants plus up to €10 million in equity, and the Swedish Energy Agency co-funds prototypes for climate tech teams. On paper, this is one of the most generous public funding systems in Europe. In reality, the money goes to founders who treat grant writing as a repeatable skill, and many others never get past their first rejection letter.

I am Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as Mean CEO. I run CADChain, a deeptech company in IP protection for CAD files, and Fe/male Switch, a game-based startup incubator for women. My ventures have received national and EU-level grants, and I earned my MBA at Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden, so I have watched the Swedish funding system from the inside and from the outside. This roundup gives you the current state of play, the numbers that matter, a step-by-step application guide, and the mistakes I see founders make again and again. Let’s break it down.

What is the state of startup grants in Sweden in November 2026?

Here is the short version for busy founders. Sweden’s public startup funding still rests on three pillars: Vinnova for grants, Almi Företagspartner for loans, and Industrifonden for equity. On top of that, sector agencies such as the Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten), regional bodies such as Tillväxtverket, and EU programmes such as Horizon Europe add extra layers of capital. A widely shared founder summary on Reddit puts it bluntly: “Almi (loans), Industrifonden (equity) and Vinnova (grants) are the main players that were set up with the backing of the Swedish government.”

The headline trends heading into the end of 2026 look like this:

DEEPTECH AND CLIMATE TECH get priority. According to the EUACC overview of Sweden startup funding, the government’s recent focus on deep-tech and climate-tech has opened new funding channels for hardware, energy, and biotech startups through Vinnova’s Strategic Programmes (SIPs).
Thematic calls dominate Vinnova. Calls cover AI, climate, health, and circular economy, so your project framing matters as much as your technology.
EU money flows through Swedish doors. Vinnova acts as the national contact point for Horizon Europe and runs Eurostars, the programme for SME-led international R&D (Research and Development) projects.
Private capital keeps moving. Swedish startups closed rounds all through 2026, from pre-seed tickets around $500,000 to Series A rounds of $10 million, which means grants now act as a bridge into equity rounds.
Rolling deadlines are common. Vinnova, Almi, and Tillväxtverket programmes listed by aggregators run on a rolling basis, so “waiting for the next call” is rarely a valid excuse.

One caveat before we go deeper. Grant amounts and deadlines in this article come from public aggregators and agency summaries. Agencies update calls several times per year, so ALWAYS verify the current call text on the official agency page before you write a single word of your application.

Why should founders care about non-dilutive funding right now?

Non-dilutive funding means capital you receive without giving away shares in your company. Grants, soft loans, and vouchers fall into this category. Equity investment from angels or venture capital (VC) funds is dilutive, because every euro you take costs you a slice of ownership. If you raise a SEK 500,000 grant before your pre-seed round, you walk into investor meetings with a tested prototype and a stronger valuation.

My personal take is harsh and I stand by it. “Every krona of public money you skip is a krona you later pay for with equity at a worse price.” At CADChain, grants paid for R&D work that no investor would have funded at that stage, because deeptech looks scary on a pitch deck (the slide presentation founders use to raise money) until something works. Grants bought us time to make it work. That time was worth more than any early cheque.

There is a second reason, and it matters a lot for women founders and solo founders. Public funding agencies judge your project on written criteria, while early-stage investors often judge you on network and pattern matching. My principle here is simple: “Women do not need more inspiration; they need infrastructure.” Grants are infrastructure. They reward clear thinking on paper, and clear thinking is a skill anyone can train.

Which startup grants in Sweden are open to founders in 2026?

Below is my working list of the programmes that matter for entrepreneurs, startup founders, freelancers, and small business owners in Sweden. I sorted them roughly by how early in your journey you can apply. For a broader catalogue, the Fe/male Switch guide to the top 15 government grants for startups in Sweden gives eligibility, amounts, and deadlines for each programme, with a 2026 edition linked inside.

1. Vinnova “Innovativa Startups”: up to SEK 500,000

This is the classic first grant for Swedish founders. According to Nordic Startup Hub’s guide to Swedish government support, Innovativa Startups gives non-dilutive grants of up to SEK 500,000 to early-stage limited companies with fewer than 10 employees and turnover under SEK 10 million. The grant covers 100% of project costs, projects can last up to nine months, and calls open several times per year. The goal is to test the market potential of a new idea, so your application should read like an experiment plan with clear hypotheses.

2. Vinnova project grants: up to SEK 5 million and beyond

Once you have early traction, larger Vinnova calls open up. The typical ceiling for startup and SME projects sits around SEK 5 million (roughly €450,000), focused on R&D, product development, and commercialisation. According to ABGi’s analysis of Swedish R&D funding incentives, large strategic collaborative projects can receive SEK 52 million or more, often covering 80% to 100% of eligible costs. Those mega-projects usually involve consortia of companies, universities, and research bodies, so a startup joins as a partner, rarely as the lead.

3. Innovationscheckar (vouchers): up to SEK 100,000

Vouchers are small and fast. They give SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) up to SEK 100,000 to buy external help, such as business development, IP strategy, or access to test-beds. Infrastructure vouchers can reach SEK 400,000. Applicants must show environmental and gender-equality considerations, which many founders treat as box-ticking. Do not do that, because evaluators read those sections.

4. ALMI startup loans: up to SEK 3 million

Almi Företagspartner is a state-owned company offering soft loans (loans at below-market interest), micro-loans, and venture capital through the Almi Invest fund family. Startup loans reach up to SEK 3 million and often require no collateral. One detail trips up foreign founders constantly: according to Business Sweden’s Incentives Guide for companies investing in Sweden, Almi only commits to companies already registered in Sweden. Register first, then apply.

5. Tillväxtverket grants: typically up to SEK 2 million

Tillväxtverket, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, funds business development, export, and green projects with a regional focus. Amounts vary by programme and typically reach up to SEK 2 million. If your startup operates outside Stockholm, Gothenburg, or Malmö, this agency deserves a serious look, since regional development areas get extra attention.

6. Swedish Energy Agency grants: from SEK 300,000 to multi-million pilots

Energimyndigheten runs a staircase of grants for energy and climate tech startups:

Concept Development Grants: up to SEK 300,000 for early proof of concept work.
Customer Verification Grants: up to 45% of costs, with a maximum of SEK 3 million, to build prototypes that match real customer demand.
Pilot and Demonstration Grants: up to 45% of costs for projects above SEK 7 million, so TRL 5 technologies can be tested in the real world.

TRL stands for Technology Readiness Level, a 1 to 9 scale used by the EU and many agencies. TRL 5 means your technology has been validated in a relevant environment, while TRL 9 means a proven system in full commercial operation.

7. EIC Accelerator: up to €2.5 million grant plus up to €10 million equity

The EIC Accelerator is the European Union’s flagship programme for high-risk, high-potential startups under Horizon Europe. The grant funds up to 70% of eligible costs, and the equity component requires investor-style due diligence. Target readiness sits at TRL 6 to 8. In 2025, full application cutoffs fell on March 12 and October 1, so founders aiming for 2027 should check the new cutoff dates now and plan backwards. The Seal of Excellence, a quality label for proposals that scored well but missed funding, can unlock national top-up funding through Vinnova.

8. Eurostars: international R&D for SMEs

Eurostars funds cross-border R&D projects led by SMEs, and Vinnova runs it in Sweden. If you have a partner company in another country, this is a strong route that many Swedish startups overlook. Cross-border projects also look good in later investor conversations, because they prove you can work with partners abroad.

9. Regional business development grants: 10% to 35% of costs

Swedish counties offer grants covering 10% to 35% of costs for SMEs investing in machinery, product development, or marketing. Priorities differ by region, and regional offices handle applications. Sweden also runs 8 regional structural fund programmes backed by the European Regional Development Fund, which co-finance projects alongside EU grants.

10. Invest Stockholm scholarships: SEK 100,000 and SEK 250,000

Invest Stockholm runs an annual scholarship competition with prizes of SEK 100,000 in categories such as creative industries, life science and health, social impact, travel and tourism, and simplification of everyday life. An Acceleration Scholarship of SEK 250,000 goes to a previous winner. Small money, big visibility, and a strong signal for later applications.

11. Public Employment Service start-up support for jobseekers

Freelancers and career switchers, pay attention here. According to Verksamt’s guide to financing your business start, jobseekers with a viable business plan may qualify for start-up support from the Swedish Public Employment Service. The EU Youth Wiki chapter on start-up funding for young entrepreneurs in Sweden adds that young people in the Job Guarantee programme can get support for up to six months, and that special support exists for people with disabilities. The Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) also offers start-up support for farmers up to 40 years old.

12. Sida challenge funds: for impact startups in developing markets

Sida, the Swedish development agency, co-finances business projects that improve living conditions in developing countries. Grants usually require at least 50% co-financing, and one global challenge fund in this space can reach up to USD 15 million. If your startup sells into Africa, South Asia, or Latin America, this line of funding gets far less competition than Vinnova.

What do the numbers say about Swedish startup funding?

Let’s put the figures side by side, because the gaps between programmes tell you a lot about strategy.

100% vs 45% vs 70%: Innovativa Startups covers all project costs, the Swedish Energy Agency covers up to 45%, and the EIC Accelerator covers up to 70%. The later your stage, the more of your own money you need.
SEK 500,000 to €12.5 million: the full ladder from a first Vinnova grant to the maximum EIC grant plus equity spans roughly a 250x jump. Founders who climb it step by step win more often than founders who jump straight to the top.
65 science parks and incubators: the SISP network (Swedish Incubators and Science Parks) connects startups to Vinnova grants and Almi financing. Many successful applicants come through these doors.
Fewer than 10 employees, turnover under SEK 10 million: these thresholds for Innovativa Startups mean a growing company loses access fast. Apply early.
Top Horizon Europe performer per capita: Sweden ranks among the strongest Horizon Europe participants per capita, according to EUACC. Translation: your Swedish competitors already know how to write EU proposals.

That last point is the FOMO moment of this article. If your competitors win public money and you do not, they get a year of free R&D runway while you burn equity. Sweden’s ecosystem is mature, and the founders who treat grants seriously are often the same founders who close equity rounds later.

How do grants compare with the VC rounds Swedish startups closed in 2025 and 2026?

Grants never exist in a vacuum. Data from Growth List’s database of funded Sweden startups shows a steady flow of equity deals from late 2025 through mid-2026. A few examples worth studying:

Legora (legal AI) raised a $150 million Series C in November 2025.
Endra (construction and AI) raised a $20 million seed round in December 2025.
AlixLabs (nanotechnology and materials) raised about $16.3 million in a Series A in November 2025.
Melt&Marble (food biotech) raised about $8.5 million in a Series A in December 2025.
Stilla AI raised a $5 million pre-seed in January 2026.
Lightbringer (generative AI for IP and legal tech) raised a $10 million Series A in June 2026.
Vaja (solar and agtech) raised about $3.5 million in seed funding in June 2026.
Tenet Industries (drones and defense hardware) raised a $500,000 pre-seed in June 2026.

I am not claiming these companies used grants, and you should not assume so either. The pattern I want you to notice is sectoral. Biotech, materials, nanotech, energy, and defense hardware all appear on this list, and these are exactly the categories where Swedish public funding concentrates. A deeptech founder who stacks a Vinnova grant, an Energy Agency verification grant, and an Almi loan before raising seed money negotiates from a far stronger position than one who shows up with slides only.

As someone who works on IP protection for engineers, I also notice the rise of legal tech and IP tech names like Legora and Lightbringer. Investors are paying for software that makes legal and compliance work invisible to the user, which is a principle I have pushed with CADChain for years: “Protection and compliance should be invisible.”

How do you apply for a startup grant in Sweden? A step-by-step guide

Next steps. This is the process I use and teach inside Fe/male Switch. It works for Vinnova, Tillväxtverket, the Energy Agency, and with some adjustments for the EIC Accelerator.

Register your company correctly. Most programmes require a Swedish limited company (aktiebolag, AB). A sole proprietorship (enskild firma) often fails eligibility checks for Innovativa Startups. Almi requires Swedish registration before it commits.
Map your TRL and stage honestly. Write one sentence describing where your technology stands today and one describing where the grant will take it. Pick programmes that match that jump.
Build a funding ladder, one rung at a time. A typical sequence: innovation voucher, then Innovativa Startups, then a larger Vinnova or Energy Agency grant, then Eurostars or EIC. Each win becomes proof for the next application.
Read the call text three times. First for eligibility, second for evaluation criteria, third for the exact words the agency uses. Mirror their vocabulary in your headings, because evaluators score against a checklist.
Write the project as an experiment. State your hypothesis, the test, the success threshold, and the budget per activity. Evaluators fund learning, and vague visions get rejected.
Prepare a clean budget. Break costs into personnel, external services, equipment, and other costs. Check the co-financing rate. If a programme funds 45%, show where the other 55% comes from.
Address gender equality and environmental impact with substance. Name concrete actions, such as balanced hiring for the project team or measured emission reductions. One paragraph of real commitments beats a page of slogans.
Get an outside reader. Your local incubator, a SISP science park, or an Almi advisor can review drafts. Use them before submission, never after rejection.
Submit early and track everything. Rolling programmes still have budget limits. Log every submission, outcome, and evaluator comment in a single spreadsheet, so each rejection improves the next attempt.
Plan reporting from day one. Grants come with progress and financial reports. Set up project accounting now, because sloppy reporting can force you to repay money.

A practical shortcut: AI tools can speed up research and first drafts. The Fe/male Switch team built an AI Grant Finder and Application Writer that matches startups with EU grants and drafts application text. I believe in human-in-the-loop AI, so treat any AI draft as raw material. You own the judgment, the numbers, and the story.

Which mistakes kill Swedish grant applications most often?

I have read many rejected applications from founders in my programmes, and the same errors repeat. Here is why so many good ideas lose:

Applying to the biggest grant first. Founders with no track record go straight for the EIC Accelerator. Evaluators want evidence that you can spend public money responsibly, and small grants build that evidence.
Pitching the company instead of the project. Grants fund a defined project with a start date, an end date, and measurable outputs. Your company vision belongs in one paragraph.
Ignoring co-financing math. A 45% grant on a SEK 3 million project still leaves you paying SEK 1.65 million. Founders discover this after approval and panic.
Copy-pasting between calls. Every agency scores against its own criteria. A Vinnova application recycled for Tillväxtverket reads like it was written for someone else, because it was.
Treating gender and environment sections as filler. These sections carry real weight in Swedish evaluations.
Missing registration or size thresholds. An unregistered company, a sole proprietorship, or turnover above SEK 10 million can disqualify you before anyone reads your idea.
Giving up after one rejection. Rejection comments are free consulting. Founders who resubmit with targeted fixes often win the second or third time.
Forgetting about tax relief. The R&D payroll tax deduction (Forskningsavdrag) lowers employer contributions for staff doing R&D. Many founders chase grants and leave this money on the table.

What do most founders get wrong about grant money? My provocative take

Here is my unpopular opinion: grant writing is a GAME, and most founders refuse to learn the rules. I built Fe/male Switch around the idea of gamepreneurship, which treats entrepreneurship as a role-playing game with quests, scores, and consequences. Grant funding fits that model perfectly. There is a scoring rubric, a set of players, a limited budget, and repeat rounds. Founders who study the rubric win more.

My second take: “Gamification without skin in the game is useless.” Applying for grants forces you to commit to numbers, timelines, and measurable outcomes in writing. That discipline improves your startup even if you get rejected. I have seen founders discover during budget writing that their product plan made no financial sense, which saved them months of building the wrong thing.

My third take is about dependency. Some founders become grant addicts, jumping from call to call without ever selling anything. Swedish agencies notice this. A grant should buy you evidence that customers want your product, and then you should go sell it. Use public money as a launch ramp with a clear exit into revenue or equity.

My fourth take concerns parallel entrepreneurship. I run multiple linked ventures at once, and grant applications become reusable assets across them. Market research, team CVs, gender equality plans, and budget templates carry over. If you treat each application as a one-off, you start from zero every time. Build a grant library inside your company: a folder of approved texts, evaluator comments, budgets, and letters of support.

And my last take, for the no-code crowd: “Default to no-code until you hit a hard wall.” Grant evaluators love a working prototype. With no-code tools, a solo founder can build a clickable demo in weeks and include real user test results in the application. I built the whole Fe/male Switch game environment with no-code tooling, so I know this route works.

Who gets left out of Swedish startup grants, and how can they get in?

The system is generous, and it still has gaps. Freelancers working as sole proprietors often fall outside Vinnova eligibility. Foreign founders struggle with registration requirements and Swedish-language guidance. Women founders face the same structural barriers they face everywhere: smaller networks, less access to experienced reviewers, and fewer role models who have won large grants.

Some fixes that work:

Freelancers: convert to an aktiebolag once your idea becomes a product, and check Public Employment Service support if you are a jobseeker starting out.
Foreign founders: register in Sweden early, use Business Sweden resources, and join an incubator from the SISP network for local guidance.
Women founders: find a peer group that reviews each other’s applications, and practise in a low-risk setting before the real submission. That is exactly the sandbox logic behind Fe/male Switch.
Founders outside big cities: regional grants and Tillväxtverket programmes often have fewer applicants per krona than national calls.
Young founders: check youth-specific support through the Public Employment Service and agricultural start-up support if you work in farming.

Frequently asked questions about startup grants in Sweden

What is the largest startup grant available in Sweden?

For a single startup, the EIC Accelerator offers the largest package: up to €2.5 million in grants plus up to €10 million in equity. Among national programmes, Vinnova startup and SME grants typically reach SEK 5 million, while large collaborative Vinnova projects can exceed SEK 52 million across a consortium.

Do I need a Swedish company to apply?

For most national programmes, yes. Innovativa Startups targets limited companies, and Almi only commits to companies registered in Sweden. EU programmes such as the EIC Accelerator accept companies from any EU member state or associated country.

Can freelancers get startup grants in Sweden?

Freelancers can access some support, such as start-up assistance from the Public Employment Service for jobseekers and certain regional grants. For Vinnova grants, converting to a limited company is usually the smart move.

Can I combine several grants?

Often yes, as long as the same costs are not funded twice and you stay within EU state aid limits. Stacking a voucher, a Vinnova grant, and an Almi loan across different project phases is a common strategy.

How long does a Vinnova grant decision take?

Timelines vary by call, so check the call text for the decision date. Plan your cash flow as if the money arrives months after submission, and never make payroll depend on a pending decision.

What should founders do before the end of 2026?

The Startup Grants in Sweden news for November 2026 is good news for prepared founders and bad news for everyone else. The money exists, the programmes run on rolling or recurring calls, and deeptech and climate tech sit at the top of the priority list. The founders who win treat grants as a ladder, write projects as experiments, and learn from every rejection.

Your to-do list for the next 30 days:

Check your company form and registration against the eligibility rules of your top three target programmes.
Write your funding ladder on one page, from voucher to EIC, with target dates for each rung.
Pick ONE programme you can apply to before the new year, ideally Innovativa Startups or an innovation voucher.
Contact an incubator or science park in the SISP network for a draft review.
Start your grant library today, so every future application gets faster and better.

I will end with the principle that shaped my own path from a Swedish MBA classroom to running deeptech and edtech companies: “Education must be experiential and slightly uncomfortable.” Writing your first grant application will feel uncomfortable. Do it anyway, because the founders who learn this game early keep more equity, build better products, and walk into investor meetings with proof instead of promises.

FAQ on Startup Grants in Sweden in 2026

Who qualifies for the "Starta eget" start-up grant from Arbetsförmedlingen?

The grant is mainly for jobseekers registered with Arbetsförmedlingen. The agency assesses both your business plan and your personal ability to run a company. Support normally lasts six months, or ten months for people with a disability. Secure approval before you start trading, and bring a realistic budget. Read the May 2026 guide to Swedish start-up support eligibility

Are EU Innovation Fund grants realistic for Swedish climate startups?

They are realistic for scale-up stage companies. PaperShell, a Swedish deeptech company, won €40.3 million to scale sustainable material production. These grants target companies moving from pilot to industrial volumes. Tailor your pitch to measurable sustainability outcomes and set up clear compliance workflows before applying. See how PaperShell landed its EU grant

Which Swedish grants suit health, welfare, and working-life startups?

Forte Project Grants offer up to SEK 5 million for projects in health, working life, and welfare, and the 2026 deadline fell on February 27. Health-tech founders should consider partnering with a university researcher early, because Forte focuses on research-driven projects rather than pure product builds. Compare Forte with other Swedish government grants

How hard is it for Swedish startups to move from pre-seed to Series A?

It is very hard. Only 26% of pre-seed startups reach seed, and 25% of seed startups reach Series A. Capital also concentrates in a few mega-deals such as Stegra and Legora. Use grants and soft loans to extend your runway until you can show revenue proof. Check the October 2026 Sweden startup ecosystem report

How should I scope a grant project so evaluators take it seriously?

Most Swedish grants run six to nine months. Define one tight deliverable, a line-item budget, and the next funding step after the project ends. If you cannot explain what the money pays for and what changes by the final day, you are not ready to apply. Read why grants work as a timed strategic tool

What role does Industrifonden play compared with grants?

Industrifonden is a state-backed venture capital fund that invests in up-and-coming companies, mainly in technology and life science. Unlike Vinnova grants, its money is dilutive. Approach it once grant-funded R&D has reduced your technical risk and you can show a credible path to scale.

Can mobility and transport startups in Sweden access EU-level funding?

Yes. EIT Urban Mobility offers up to €2 million per company for solutions that improve how cities move people and goods. Swedish founders working on logistics, micromobility, or smart infrastructure should line up municipal pilot partners, because city test-beds give applications concrete real-world validation.

Where can Swedish founders find structured guidance on EU funding beyond national agencies?

Founders expanding beyond Sweden need a map of EU grants, cross-border company setup, and investor expectations in different markets. Start with Horizon Europe resources and Enterprise Europe Network advisors. Then build a multi-country funding calendar that lines up national and EU deadlines. Explore the European Startup Playbook

Can US venture capital follow Swedish grant funding?

It can. US investors supply about 73% of capital in European mega-rounds above €100 million. Swedish founders aiming for large later rounds should document grant-funded milestones in English and keep a clean data room. Present public funding as risk reduction already achieved, not as dependency on grants.

What budget should a first-time Vinnova applicant request?

Most Vinnova R&D cases fall between SEK 150,000 and SEK 3 million, well below the headline ceilings. First-time applicants should request an amount that matches a single, testable milestone. A modest, well-justified budget signals credibility and leaves room to apply for larger amounts in later calls.

Violetta Bonenkamp

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as Mean CEO, is a female entrepreneur and an experienced startup founder, bootstrapping her startups. She has an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 10 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely. Constantly learning new things, like AI, SEO, zero code, code, etc. and scaling her businesses through smart systems.