Time to Raise by Techarena Announces Ten New Companies for Spring 2025: From Shrimp Farming to AI-driven Risk Assessment

Time to Raise, the leading program dedicated to supporting women-led startups in their fundraising journey, has proudly announced its seventh cohort of innovative startups.

The 2025 cohort was carefully selected from an outstanding pool of applicants across 13 countries, reflecting the program’s growing global footprint. Among the cohort, eight are from Sweden, while the UK and Iceland are each represented by one promising startup.

“This year’s applicant pool demonstrated exceptional quality and ambition, with nearly half having previously raised capital and an average fundraising target of €3.2 million,” said Mikaela Larsell Ayesa, Director of Time to Raise.

“9 of the selected companies highlight how the Nordic region continues to be one of the leaders in innovation. Word-of-mouth recommendations from previous participants, investors, and founders remain the primary recruitment channel, emphasizing the program’s strong reputation in the global startup ecosystem.”

The featured companies have an average of 5-6 team members, representing the ideal growth stage for the program’s intensive mentorship and investor network expansion. 

Application insights reveal shifting industry trends, with Biotech & Healthtech leading the way at 24.6%, followed by AI & Software (14.5%) and Sustainability & Agtech (13%). This diverse representation highlights how female founders are tackling some of society’s most pressing challenges through technological innovation.

The Selected Cohort 7 Companies:

• Normain: Normain empowers non-technical users to build custom automations of existing business processes and templates.
• Håva: Produces tasty and fresh shrimp in a sustainable, high-efficiency system, ensuring weekly harvests without antibiotics or chemicals.
• Sigrid Therapeutics AB: Provides a non-pharmaceutical approach to improving metabolic health using its SiPore® technology, reducing blood sugar spikes.
• Opus Futura: Develops a predictability index to minimize bias in recruitment, matching individuals with ideal work relationships.
• Umazi: Builds a compliance and digital identity platform that combines AI-driven risk assessment with Web3-enabled digital IDs.
• Safety by Cilia: Revolutionizing personal security with cutting-edge, patent-pending safety technology, integrated into jewelry.
• Cognes Medical Solutions: Delivers an AI-powered dementia prescreening tool using facial analysis via smartphone.
• Reselo AB: Produces a high-performing polymer from forest waste, replacing rubber in various applications.
• Ato Energy AB: Harnesses AI-driven solutions to create an interconnected system where dynamic rating, capacity, and intelligence drive the future.
• Smakshare: Simplifies meal planning and grocery shopping by integrating recipe management with online checkout.

About Time to Raise

Time to Raise by Techarena is the leading European program dedicated to supporting female-led startups with the tools, networks, and resources needed to secure funding and scale their businesses. The program’s investor network, conducting workshops in the program, includes NEA, Ventech, Zenith VC, Kinnevik, Pale Blue Dot, Northzone, Oxx, Cherry Ventures, and Kvanted. Participants benefit from mentorship by business angels and investors from VCs and family offices, including a16z Scout, Sweet Capital, Fåntell, Defiance Capital, RunwayFBU, Creandum, and Bessemer Venture Partners, among others.

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