Latest fund size
$22.4M
Announced
October 21, 2026
Global HQ
Sweden
Members only
Check size
$500K-$3M
Members only
Stage focus
Pre-Seed, Seed
Members only
Regions of investment
Europe
Members only
BackingMinds is a Stockholm-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 by Sara Wimmercranz and Susanne Najafi, investing in early-stage companies across Sweden and the wider Nordics that tackle environmental or social challenges, such as cutting carbon emissions and improving healthcare and education. The firm backs founders who are often overlooked by traditional venture capital, including women, founders with immigrant backgrounds, and companies based outside capital cities.
Sara Wimmercranz, Founding Partner and CEO
Susanne Najafi, Partner
Lisen Oliw, Investment Partner
Alexander Hjertström, Principal
Members only
Names, roles, emails and LinkedIn profiles for the team, plus the fund's website.
BackingMinds invests at the pre-seed and seed stages in commercially promising companies across Sweden and the Nordics that address environmental or social challenges, including cutting carbon emissions and improving healthcare and education.
The firm organizes its thesis around three areas: Climate & Resilience, AI & Digital Sovereignty, and Human Potential, and looks specifically for founders beyond established venture capital networks, including women, founders with immigrant backgrounds, and companies based outside capital cities.
Members only
What the fund looks for in founders and which sectors it backs.
The European Investment Fund is anchoring BackingMinds Invest III, the firm's third fund, with a commitment of roughly $22.4 million, its first institutional investment in the fund.
The commitment is backed by the EU's InvestEU programme under its Social Impact Equity component, and EIF's backing is expected to help the fund attract further institutional investors.
BackingMinds' second fund raised roughly $56.1 million in 2022.
Across its first two funds, the firm backed 23 companies: 46% had at least one female founder, 43% had founders with immigrant backgrounds, and 71% were based outside a capital city.
Members only
Fund size, LPs and track record.
Leadership
BackingMinds was co-founded by Sara Wimmercranz, Founding Partner and CEO, and Susanne Najafi, Partner. The broader team includes Lisen Oliw, Investment Partner, and Alexander Hjertström, Principal.
Investment Strategy
The firm writes checks of roughly $500,000 to $3 million.
Members only
Leadership, investment strategy, notable investments and exits.
