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Nordea – helping founders grow, preserve ownership and find the right investors
How much of your company will you still own at the time of exit? It’s a question many founders ask too late. Startups often dilute their company ownership due to a lack of awareness of the different funding options available for growth. When capital decisions are made without a clear understanding of the alternatives, ownership can become the hidden cost of growth.
In our experience, the strongest companies build a capital structure that preserves optionality. This means combining different sources of funding – non-dilutive instruments, bank financing and equity – in a way that supports growth without giving away more ownership than necessary.
“Ten years ago, Nordea made a bet on founders, while many didn't take them seriously yet. A decade later, Startups are 15% of European GDP and grows faster than other industries. We're thankful for Nordea believing in startups and Slush for ten years. That's what a real long-term partner looks like, and we're glad to keep building the next decade together,” says Noora Saksa, CEO at Slush.
At Nordea, we work closely with more than 5,000 startups across the Nordics, supporting founders as they navigate these decisions in practice. We advise founders on how to combine the right sources of capital to support growth while preserving ownership. Beyond traditional bank financing, we also act as a connecting partner on a pro bono basis, bringing together startups and investors whose ambitions and long-term visions truly align.
“For ten years, our partnership with Slush has been built on a shared belief in the power of ambition, growth and entrepreneurial dreams. At Nordea, we believed in startups long before they became a trend, and our ambition has always been to help promising companies grow into global success stories. We are committed to supporting founders as they turn ideas into startups, startups into scaleups, and dreams into real impact across the Nordics and beyond. We believe that when bold ambitions are given the right support, both businesses and society can thrive,” says Nina Arkilahti, Head of Business Banking at Nordea.
Planning your next step? Come talk to us!
At Slush 2026, our ambition remains clear: to create the right matches between startups and investors.
- Explore our Investor Speed Dating events and apply to get your own date with investors.
- Get on-site advice from our Startup & Growth experts on funding, capital structure and scaling.
- Connect at our Investor Day Dinner, an exclusive networking opportunity with key players across the investor ecosystem.
See you at Slush 2026, where the next chapter of your growth story could begin!