Stockholm-based Techarena has secured over €1 million (SEK 12 million) in funding from BackingMinds to accelerate its international expansion. Known for convening startups, investors, and thought leaders through flagship events like Techarena Challenge and Time to Raise, the platform has seen 600% revenue growth in three years and hosted over 18,000 participants in the past year alone. Founded in 2014, Techarena is doubling down on its mission to build Europe’s innovation infrastructure through high-impact physical gatherings at a time when digital saturation makes human connection more vital than ever. The fresh capital will be used to scale Techarena’s presence across the continent, launching new initiatives that foster entrepreneurship, expand access to networks and capital, and bolster Europe’s position in the global innovation race.
Founded in 2014 by Omid Ekhlasi and Tommy Fondelius, Techarena has grown into one of Europe’s most dynamic stages for innovation, gathering startups, investors, policymakers, and tech leaders from over 120 countries. Over the past year alone, more than 18,000 participants have joined its various formats—including Techarena Challenge, TOP46, and the Time to Raise program—while the company’s revenue has surged by 600% over the past three years.
“Europe stands at a critical moment for innovation. Especially in uncertain times, building a resilient Europe is essential. Techarena is at the heart of creating a thriving innovation ecosystem, perfectly positioned to leverage Europe’s massive tech and digital infrastructure investments. We’ve followed the company for over a decade and share a common vision: to make capital and networks more accessible to a broader range of outstanding entrepreneurs. We are incredibly proud to be backing Techarena on their trailblazing expansion,” says Susanne Najafi, Founder of BackingMinds.
The investment marks a strategic partnership with BackingMinds, co-founded by renowned investors Susanne Najafi and Sara Wimmercranz, whose mission is to challenge traditional venture capital patterns and support underrepresented founders and overlooked markets.
“AI won’t replace human interactions – quite the opposite. The more digitalized our world becomes, the more vital physical spaces are for innovation. Techarena is exactly what Europe needs to fuel entrepreneurship and innovation,” says Sara Wimmercranz, Founder of BackingMinds.
With this new funding, Techarena will expand its presence across Europe, launching new events and ecosystem-building programs designed to strengthen the region’s innovation capacity amid accelerating technological and geopolitical shifts.
“I’ve known Susanne and Sara for a long time and have been one of their biggest fans. Bringing such exceptional entrepreneurs with the right values and bold international ambitions on board felt like a natural next step. With BackingMinds now part of the journey, we continue our mission to support entrepreneurs through a platform that creates real value by enabling growth. Techarena is expanding into Europe with a strong community and the ambition to make a lasting mark,” adds Omid Ekhlasi, Founder and CEO of Techarena.
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Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/techarena-raises-e1-million/
