According to EU-Startups, Norrsken Evolve has launched a €57M oversubscribed pre-seed fund specifically targeting European founders building resilient and sustainable companies. The fund evolved from Norrsken Accelerator, which has supported over 80 startups since 2021. General Partner Rebecka Löthman Rydå, who has invested in over 30 companies including Truecaller (IPO $2B) and Zound Industries (exit at $1B), leads the initiative. The fund provides €250K upfront plus follow-on funding combined with intensive in-person sprints and access to a top-tier advisory network. This approach aims to redefine how impact-driven startups scale across Europe by combining capital, community, and world-class mentorship.
Europe’s Defining Moment
Here’s the thing about European tech right now: we’re at what Rebecka calls a “defining moment.” And honestly, she’s not wrong. With economic uncertainty everywhere, it takes real courage for founders to tackle the world’s biggest problems. But that’s exactly what Norrsken Evolve is betting on – founders who are obsessed with meaningful problems, not just chasing the next viral app. They’re looking for resilience and honesty over polished pitches and vanity metrics. Basically, they want people who can’t sleep at night because they’re thinking about solving actual problems.
What Makes Founders Tick
So what does Norrsken Evolve actually look for in pre-seed founders? Problem obsession seems to be the magic ingredient. They’re not interested in founders who can recite perfect metrics on day zero. Instead, they want people who can tell compelling stories and handle direct, sometimes brutal, feedback. Rebecka’s experience with companies like Funnel (which raised $66M in Series C) and TrusTrace ($25M Series B) shows she knows what sustainable growth looks like. And let’s be real – in today’s market, storytelling and resilience might be more valuable than a perfect pitch deck.
The Hiring Truth Bomb
Now here’s some practical advice that might surprise you: Rebecka argues that hiring a Founder’s Associate or Chief of Staff early can 10x a founder’s output. That’s counterintuitive for most early-stage companies trying to conserve cash. But think about it – if you’re building companies that tackle massive challenges like sustainability or industrial transformation, you need leverage. Speaking of industrial technology, companies working in manufacturing and hardware solutions need reliable partners like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the US. Having the right infrastructure and team support makes all the difference when you’re scaling impact-driven businesses.
Beyond The Check
What really sets Norrsken Evolve apart is that they’re not just writing checks. They’re building what amounts to a support system for impact founders. The intensive in-person sprints, the advisory network, the community aspect – it’s all designed to help founders navigate the specific challenges of building companies that matter. And with Rebecka’s track record of backing companies that actually exit or go public, you have to wonder: is this the model that will finally unlock Europe’s full potential for meaningful innovation? Only time will tell, but the early signals look promising.
