Press
Built for Visibility
Our work is shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Europe—and the press is taking note. This page features select media coverage of Founderland’s mission, our programmes, and the remarkable women in our community. From global publications to local features, these stories spotlight the growing influence of women of colour founders across sectors.
KIAF – Founderland shortlisted – Positive Change / Non-Profit / Design (2021)
Founderland, formerly Tech in Colour, was shortlisted at the Kyiv International Advertising Festival in the Positive Change – Non-Profit / Design category. In collaboration with R/GA, the rebrand centered on building a place of belonging for women of colour founders across Europe. The flexible identity system—rooted in individuality, community, and visibility—led to a 268% spike in founder applications, a 10× increase in LinkedIn followers, and $700K in Google.org funding.
PAM (Pitch AI Mentor) by Founderland & R/GA EMEA shortlisted – Best Use of AI (2024)
Founderland’s PAM—built with R/GA EMEA—was shortlisted in the 2024 Campaign Tech Awards under Best Use of AI. The tool creates a safe, secure online space for women of colour founders across Europe to rehearse investor pitches and receive instant, personalised feedback on delivery, slides, and content—scaling investor-readiness beyond the high-touch Compass accelerator.
PAM [Pitch AI Mentor] by Founderland - Shortlisted for Future Impact / Design (2024)
Founderland’s PAM, developed with R/GA EMEA, was shortlisted at the 2024 ADC Annual Awards in the Future Impact / Design category. Built for women of colour founders, PAM is an AI-powered tool that offers a safe space to rehearse pitches and get real-time, personalized feedback, scaling access to investor readiness across Europe.
The One Club ADC Awards – PAM [Pitch AI Mentor] by Founderland wins Bronze Cube -Artificial Intelligence
Founderland’s PAM, developed with R/GA EMEA, was honored at the 2025 ADC Annual Awards with a Bronze Cube in the Artificial Intelligence category. The AI-powered mentor offers women of colour founders a private, supportive space to rehearse investor pitches, receiving personalized feedback on delivery, slide content, and structure. With less than 0.5% of VC funding going to women of colour, PAM significantly expands access to VC readiness beyond Founderland’s in-person Compass program
Creative Review – Founderland: PAM (Pitch AI Mentor) Revolutionizes Investor Pitch Preparation
Founderland’s award‑winning AI tool, PAM, offers women of color founders a private, safe space to rehearse and perfect their investor pitches with instant, personalized feedback on delivery, slide design, and content. Developed with R/GA and shortlisted in Creative Review’s Annual Awards, PAM helps scale Founderland’s impact beyond its in-person Compass accelerator—supporting thousands across Europe
BBC News – Dr Fiona Pathiraja on Innovation in Menstrual Health
BBC News features Dr Fiona Pathiraja, a Founderland member and investor at Crista Galli Ventures, in a story spotlighting the rise of femtech startups using menstrual blood to improve women's health. She shares insights on the scientific breakthroughs, investment potential, and societal shifts driving this emerging sector.
Cynthia Mensah-Neglokpe (Founder of Clicqui & KORE) on Building Community Through Passion Projects
Founderland member Cynthia Mensah-Neglokpe joins the Women Authors of Achievement podcast for a live recording in Berlin, where she shares how she transformed her creative passion into two impactful ventures: Clicqui, a community platform for women, and KORE, a boutique strength studio. In this inspiring conversation, she opens up about entrepreneurship, the power of community, and what it means to build businesses rooted in purpose and joy.
BBC News – Dr Youmna Mouhamad (Founder & CEO of Nyfasi) Hopes to Inspire Young Black Women in STEM
Dr Youmna Mouhamad, Founder and CEO of Nyfasi, is profiled as an Enterprise Fellow in the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Enterprise Hub. She’s building innovation in the afro-hair care sector with Myana Naturals, a specialized applicator device designed to ease the tedious and painful process of detangling and conditioning tightly curled hair. Focused on empowering Black women, her UK-based venture aims to reduce conditioner application time (often 20+ minutes) and celebrate natural beauty, with plans to roll out in both UK and US markets.
Education Revolution: Noam Gerstein (Founder of The Bina School) Featured in Authority Magazine
Noam Gerstein, founder of The Bina School and a Founderland community member, shares her bold vision for the future of education. She discusses how Bina blends digital-first learning with social-emotional development, and why small class sizes, well-supported educators, and personalized growth plans are essential for today’s young learners.
Founderland Member Sharan Bal Transforms Non‑Alcoholic Spirits: Van Sha.
Sharan Bal, a Founderland alum, has created Van Sha—an aromatic, spice-infused non-alcoholic spirit drawing from Indian heritage and crafted with bold innovation. Discover how her brand is redefining the zero-proof shelf and celebrating cultural roots.
Beame: Founderland Member Eniye Okah’s Bold, Smart Revolution in Black Haircare.
Eniye Okah, a visionary member of Founderland, is transforming the future of Black haircare with Beame—a smart, tech-driven solution rooted in cultural pride and innovation. Discover how she's reshaping beauty standards with purpose and precision.
Founderland Member Nneka Fleming Shares Her Story on Fox Williams Podcast
In this episode of Forward Thinking: Founder Stories by Fox Williams, Nneka Fleming, co-founder of Airfro and a Founderland community member, shares how her frustration with unsuitable haircare products led her to create a natural, effective solution for curly hair. Airfro caters to active lifestyles and family needs, offering fast, texture-friendly haircare.
Beame: Founderland Member Eniye Okah’s Bold, Smart Revolution in Black Haircare.
Tech.eu covers the €3.6 million seed round raised by Secfix, co-founded by Fabiola Munguia, a member of the Founderland community. The funding, led by Octopus Ventures, will help expand Secfix’s automated cybersecurity and compliance solutions for European SMEs.
Ovom Care, Co-Founded by Lynae Brayboy, Raises €4.8M
EU-Startups covers the €4.8 million funding round raised by Berlin-based Ovom Care, co-founded by Dr. Lynae Brayboy, a member of the Founderland community. The startup is advancing AI-powered fertility diagnostics to make reproductive healthcare more accessible and inclusive.
Silicon Canals Highlights Founderland’s Mission
Silicon Canals profiles Founderland’s work to dismantle systemic barriers for women of colour founders in Europe. The article details the funding gap these entrepreneurs face, the origins of Founderland, and how its community-led model is driving access to capital, visibility, and long-term support.
Founderland’s Alina Bassi Featured on ESMT Podcast
In this episode of the ESMT Berlin podcast Campus 10178, Alina Bassi shares her journey as a founder and her role in building Founderland. The conversation explores the structural barriers women of colour face in entrepreneurship and how Founderland is using community, capital, and technology to create systemic change.
Femwealth Covers Launch of Rise and Thrive Report
Femwealth spotlights the launch of Founderland’s Rise and Thrive report, an in-depth exploration of the experiences of women of colour founders in Europe. The article outlines how the report addresses the lack of data on diverse entrepreneurs and offers actionable insights for funders, policymakers, and allies seeking to build a more inclusive startup ecosystem.
Founderland Recognised at the ADC Awards 2025
Founderland received honours at the 2025 ADC Awards, celebrating excellence in creative work for nonprofit clients. The recognition affirms the impact of Founderland’s brand identity and storytelling in advancing its mission to support women of colour entrepreneurs. The award spotlights design as a tool for equity and visibility.
Sifted Highlights Deborah Choi Among Leading Black and Mixed-Race Female Founders
Sifted spotlights Deborah Choi, co-founder of Founderland, as one of the prominent Black and mixed-race female founders reshaping Europe’s startup scene. The article explores how these entrepreneurs are building successful ventures despite structural funding inequities, and why their visibility is essential to driving lasting change in the tech ecosystem.
Founderland Featured on Female Business Angels Podcast
In this International Women’s Day special of the Female Business Angels podcast, Founderland’s co-founders discuss the barriers facing women of colour in the startup ecosystem and how Founderland is building infrastructure to change that. The episode explores fundraising inequality, community-driven solutions, and what it takes to #BreakTheBias in tech and venture capital.