Founder and investor perspectives from Triin Linamagi

The startup ecosystem has made significant progress in recent years, but founders still face challenges when it comes to accessing the capital, networks and opportunities needed to scale. We spoke with Triin Linamagi, Founder and CEO of Sie Ventures and Founding Partner of Arãya Sie Fund, about supporting underrepresented founders, what investors look for, and why collaboration across the ecosystem will be critical to driving the next wave of innovation.

Q&A with Triin Linamagi

How can the ecosystem work together to create more opportunities for underrepresented founders?

When we talk about diversity, it's important to recognise that the challenge goes far beyond funding alone. Capital is crucial, but access to networks, introductions, knowledge and opportunities can be equally transformative. If funding is the outcome, access to the right networks is often the starting point.

The ecosystem can do far more to intentionally open these networks through founder communities, warm introductions, customer connections and opportunities for founders to build meaningful relationships before they begin fundraising.

There is also a responsibility on investors and ecosystem organisations to broaden where they search for talent. If we continue to rely on the same networks and referral patterns, we'll keep discovering the same types of founders. Access to opportunity should not depend on who you already know.

What is the most common mistake you see startups make when approaching investors, and how can they avoid it?

One of the biggest mistakes founders make is trying to explain everything about their business rather than clearly articulating the one or two reasons the opportunity is truly compelling.

Investors are looking to understand a few fundamental points: What problem are you solving? Why does it matter now? Why are you uniquely positioned to solve it? And what evidence do you have that this could become a very large business?

I also see founders approaching fundraising too transactionally. Rather than simply focusing on raising a specific amount of capital, founders should focus on building relationships early. Take the time to understand what different investors care about, where there is genuine alignment and how you can create conviction over time. Don't optimise for the meeting. Optimise for the relationship.

Looking back on your career in venture investing, what is one lesson that has fundamentally shaped how you assess opportunities today?

The lesson that has had the greatest impact on my investment approach is understanding a founder's long-term conviction and ambition.

I'm increasingly drawn to founders who have a genuine obsession with the problem they're solving. But it's not just about whether the business is attractive. I want to understand what success looks like for them personally. What are they ultimately trying to build? What kind of outcome would be meaningful and why?

I also spend time understanding how founders have responded to challenges throughout their careers and lives. Have they demonstrated resilience? Can they adapt when things don't go to plan?

At the earliest stages, investing is largely about backing a founder's ability to navigate uncertainty. That's why I focus as much on the individual behind the company as I do on the company itself.

What excites you most about the future of the European startup ecosystem over the next five years?

Europe is home to an incredible combination of talent, technical expertise and ambition. We have world-class universities, strong pools of technical talent and increasingly vibrant startup hubs emerging across multiple countries.

I'm particularly excited by the opportunities being created in AI, climate, healthcare, fintech and deeptech. We're also seeing more European founders building globally-minded businesses from day one, which is incredibly encouraging.

There is still an opportunity for Europe to become better connected. Europe doesn't need to become Silicon Valley. Instead, it should focus on connecting the strengths that already exist across different markets. The diversity of talent, expertise and industries across the continent is a genuine competitive advantage if we make it easier for founders to access those opportunities.

As someone who works closely with both founders and investors, what is one change you would like to see in the startup ecosystem that could unlock significantly more innovation and growth?

I'd like to see much deeper collaboration across every part of the ecosystem.

While access to capital is important, many startups are actually constrained by access to customers, talent and the expertise required to scale. There is a huge opportunity for investors, corporates, universities, governments and founder communities to work together more deliberately to create those connections.

The progress we've seen so far is encouraging, but I believe we've only scratched the surface of what's possible. Imagine an early-stage company receiving investment alongside direct access to potential customers, advisors, talent networks and international growth opportunities. That combination could dramatically accelerate a company's trajectory.

Capital provides runway. The right network provides speed.

About Triin Linamagi

Triin Linamagi is the Founder and CEO of Sie Ventures, an angel syndicate and capital platform that connects investors with high-quality opportunities while supporting women founders through dedicated programmes designed to help them fund and scale their businesses.

She is also the Founding Partner of Arãya Sie Fund, an early-stage venture fund investing in women-led businesses across the UK and Europe, with a focus on healthcare, climate, fintech, deeptech and AI. Prior to her venture capital career, Triin built and operated technology companies, giving her a unique perspective as both founder and investor.