I det här avsnittet av GAIN Meets träffar vi Isabel Keulen, CEO för SSE Ventures och SSE Business Lab. Isabel är en tungviktare inom det nordiska ekosystemet för startups och venture capital, med en karriär som förenar knivskarp investment banking med en passion för att stötta nästa generations tech-rebeller. Hon bidrar med ett strategiskt, insiktsfullt och genuint partnerskapsorienterat perspektiv på hur man bygger bolag som faktiskt förändrar marknaden.

Isabel delar sin imponerande resa, från åren i London på FactSet till tunga roller inom Investment Banking hos Vator Securities och Arctic Securities, där hon navigerade allt från börsnoteringar till komplexa M&A-affärer inom tech och hälsovård. Idag leder hon innovationskraften vid Handelshögskolan i Stockholm, där hon hjälper morgondagens stjärnor att gå från idé till global succé.

🎧 Ett djupt och motiverande samtal med en ledare som står mitt i centrum av Sveriges mest spännande innovationshubb!

For more information on our programmes, events and resources visit gainsweden.org. You can also find us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

I det här avsnittet av GAIN Meets sätter vi oss ner med Sara Resvik, Partner på growth-fonden Endeit Capital. Sara är en av Sveriges mest erfarna investerare med en karriär som spänner över allt från tung operativ e-handel och digital transformation till spjutspetsinvesteringar inom Climate Tech. Hon bidrar med ett skarpt, affärsdrivet och djupt engagerat perspektiv på hur vi bygger framtidens europeiska mjukvarubolag.

Sara öppnar även upp om utmaningarna i "growth stage", vikten av uthållighet och hur hennes engagemang för social impact – från integrationsappar för nyanlända till hållbar innovation – har varit en röd tråd genom hela karriären.

🎧 Ett kraftfullt och framåtblickande samtal med en av branschens tyngsta profiler. Perfekt för dig som vill förstå mekanismerna bakom tillväxt och framtidens teknologier.

For more information on our programmes, events and resources visit gainsweden.org. You can also find us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

In this episode of GAIN Meets, we sit down with Bodil Sidén, General Partner at Kost Capital, whose career trajectory reflects a unique blend of high-stakes politics, hyper-growth tech, and venture capital. Bodil brings a sharp, mission-driven, and highly strategic perspective to the future of the European food system and the power of "storydoing."

Bodil shares her journey from the corridors of power in the Swedish Government—serving as a Press Secretary for key ministers like Ulf Kristersson and Tobias Billström—to the front lines of the tech revolution. Her pivotal years leading communications for Uber in the Nordics and her time as a Partner at blq invest shaped her reputation as a builder who isn't afraid of the "Valley of Death." Today, based in Copenhagen, she is championing the "nutrition transition," backing visionary entrepreneurs who are redefining how we eat.

We talk about:

• 🥗 The Nutrition Transition: Why Kost Capital is betting on tech and resilience to bring "better food to more people."
• 🏛️ From Politics to Pixels: How a background in political strategy and regulatory affairs prepared her for the fast-paced world of tech and VC.
• 🤝 Beckna Tech: The story behind her initiative to bridge the gap between tech companies and youth in marginalized areas to break the cycle of criminal networks.
• 🎨 The Creative Edge: Why a love for the arts and writing an (unpublished) novel provides a necessary balance to the world of term sheets and cap tables.

A high-energy, insightful conversation with a powerhouse leader who is blending commercial advocacy with social impact to shape the next generation of European industry.

For more information on our programmes, events and resources visit gainsweden.org. You can also find us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

In this episode of GAIN Meets, we sit down with Madeleine Almqvist, Portfolio Manager at Case Kapitalförvaltning, whose career spans investment banking, credit markets, asset management, and nearly a decade of leadership within Swedish equestrian sport. Madeleine brings a thoughtful, disciplined, and deeply human perspective to building a career in finance.

Madeleine shares her journey from studying Business & Economics at SSE, including an exchange at Queen’s University in Canada, to diving headfirst into the world of banking. Her early experiences at Nordea Markets, SEB Corporate Finance, and Handelsbanken Capital Markets shaped her understanding of financial markets, corporate strategy, and the value of strong analytical foundations. Today, as a portfolio manager, she combines that technical expertise with a long-term, people-centred approach to investing.

We talk about:

📊 What she learned from the fast-paced world of corporate finance, and how it prepared her for asset management
🧠 Why understanding a company’s story is just as important as analysing its numbers
🐴 How 8+ years in youth leadership within the Swedish Equestrian Federation taught her teamwork, resilience, and decision-making
🌍 Why diverse paths into finance matter, and why no one’s journey needs to look the same

Madeleine also opens up about navigating early career uncertainty, taking opportunities even when she didn’t feel “perfectly ready,” and building a career on curiosity, structure, and a willingness to do the hard work behind the scenes.

🎧 A reflective, motivating conversation with someone redefining what it looks like to grow into a leadership role in Sweden’s investment landscape.

For more information on our programmes, events and resources visit gainsweden.org. You can also find us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

In this episode of GAIN Meets, we sit down with Johanna Rahm Juhlin, Investment Professional at LRF Ventures and Acting Head of Finance & Business Development at LRF. With a career that spans corporate finance, venture investment, engineering, and even nearly 12 years as a riding instructor, Johanna brings a uniquely grounded and analytical perspective to the world of investing.

Johanna shares her journey from studying industrial engineering at KTH and business administration at Stockholm University, to stepping into corporate finance at SEB and Deloitte, and ultimately into the world of venture capital. Today, she works at the heart of Sweden’s agricultural ecosystem — investing in innovations that strengthen food systems, sustainability, and the future of farming.

We talk about:
- Why agriculture is one of the most overlooked but vital areas for long-term investment

- The shift from traditional finance to mission-driven investing
- How her engineering and analytical background shaped her way of evaluating companies
- What 11 years of teaching riding taught her about leadership and patience
- The importance of understanding real-world impact — not just financial returns

For more information on our programmes, events and resources visit gainsweden.org. You can also find us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

In this episode, Emmy Sendow sits down with Ulrika Bergman, Chief Investment Officer at The Nobel Foundation, for a conversation about long-term investing, risk management, and the value of staying curious throughout your career.

Ulrika shares insights from over two decades in finance, from her early years at SEB managing global equities to leading one of Sweden’s most prestigious investment portfolios today. She discusses how thoughtful risk-taking and disciplined decision-making underpin sustainable performance, and why investing is as much about understanding people and behaviour as it is about numbers.

They also explore how to build resilience as an investor, the importance of perspective when markets shift, and why maintaining a learning mindset is key to success in a rapidly changing world.

For more information on our programmes, events and resources visit gainsweden.org. You can also find us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

In this episode of GAIN Meets…, GAIN Sweden Director Emmy Sendow sits down with Anna Fredrixon, co-founder and partner at Norrsken Launcher — a venture that works with world-class researchers and scientists to industrialise, commercialise, and scale innovations that can fundamentally transform the future for people and the planet.

With a career spanning leadership roles at Truecaller and Kry, where she served as Chief Human Resources Officer during periods of rapid international growth, Anna has spent years at the intersection of people, business, and impact. Today, through Norrsken Launcher, she’s helping to bridge the gap between groundbreaking science and scalable business models, connecting researchers with the capital, talent, and strategy needed to make real-world change.

Alongside her work at Launcher, Anna also sits on the boards of Renasens, SeaPattern, and Ung Företagsamhet, and is the founder of Ixon Invest. Her career reflects a deep commitment to building purpose-driven organisations and empowering teams to turn bold ideas into lasting impact.

In this conversation, Anna shares her journey from marketing and HR leadership to impact entrepreneurship, what she’s learned from building teams in some of Sweden’s fastest-growing tech companies, and how science-backed innovation can drive a more sustainable and inclusive future.

For more information on our programmes, events and resources visit gainsweden.org. You can also find us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

In this episode of GAIN Meets…, GAIN Sweden Director Emmy Sendow sits down with Helen Groth, co-founder and portfolio manager at Gaia Microcap, a newly launched equity fund investing in Nordic microcap companies with strong potential to go from good to great. With a clear focus on active management and deep analysis, Gaia Microcap identifies profitable, high-quality companies that are leaders in their niches, often under-analysed but rich in long-term growth opportunities.

Before founding Gaia Microcap, Helen spent over seven years at Lannebo Fonder, where she managed the funds Lannebo Teknik and Lannebo Teknik Småbolag, which she also founded in 2019. Her experience spans both the tech and microcap segments, with a strong foundation in equity research from her earlier years at Carnegie Investment Bank, where she covered the banking sector and participated in several IPOs across industries.

Holding both a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Finance from the Stockholm School of Economics, Helen combines rigorous analytical skill with an entrepreneurial spirit and a genuine passion for growth investing. With Gaia’s recent partnership with Case Kapitalförvaltning, Helen and her co-founder Matilda are now poised to take their active management approach even further, with the same portfolio, philosophy, and vision, but stronger support for long-term impact and expansion.

In this conversation, Helen shares her journey from equity research to fund management, what inspired her to launch Gaia Microcap, and why she believes the most exciting opportunities lie in small, well-run companies ready to scale. Listen to this episode if you’re curious about the Nordic investment landscape, fascinated by microcaps, or inspired by investors who combine strategy, curiosity, and conviction to fuel the next generation of growth.

For more information on our programmes, events and resources visit gainsweden.org. You can also find us on LinkedIn or Instagram.