Nordic Startup News Early Stage Startup News From The Nordics
Interviewing Ms.Penny Schiffer, CEO of Raized.ai
By Vahur Orrin
With its iconic slushy weather and electrifying atmosphere, Slush remains one of Europe’s most sought-after startup conferences. For Penny Schiffer, CEO of Raized.ai, attending Slush is a yearly pilgrimage. “This is my fourth time here,” Penny says.
“Slush isn’t just a conference; it’s a perfectly orchestrated environment where startups, investors, and ideas collide with energy and optimism. I’ve worked hard to make this event count, and I’m excited for the kickoff.”
This year, Penny arrived with a clear objective: to showcase a new product line from Raized.ai, a platform revolutionizing fundraising with artificial intelligence. Through Slush’s powerful matchmaking tools, Penny secured 35 one-on-one meetings with potential customers and investors—a feat that underscores her preparation and persistence. Her strategy involved a hybrid approach: leveraging Slush’s app to send over 280 meeting requests and reaching out to another 50 potential contacts on LinkedIn.
“Investors often wait until a few days before the event to check their schedules, so I used LinkedIn to nudge them. It’s hard work, but hustling is the only way to build a full agenda,” she explains.
When asked about her approach to reaching out, Penny emphasized the importance of personalization.
“I aimed to balance being specific and generic. For some, I tailored my messages to align with their interests, showing how Raized.ai could be applied to their area of expertise. It’s important to demonstrate that you’ve done your research and that your solution can genuinely add value,” she notes.
While Slush offers countless opportunities, Penny reminds startups that the process is competitive and requires resilience. “I sent hundreds of meeting requests and faced plenty of rejections. It’s not about avoiding rejection—it’s about persevering. The startups that succeed are the ones willing to put in the effort.”
Raized.ai’s platform, now capable of generating detailed sector and competitive insights, has grown significantly in its ability to meet niche demands. Penny recounts a recent interaction at Slush, where a venture capitalist interested in space technology tested her platform by requesting a report on startups doing bio manufacturing in space. Less than a minute, Raized.ai delivered a tailored list, including companies the investor already had in mind.
“That moment showed the power of our tool. It’s exciting to see how our technology can meet even the most specific needs,” she reflects.
Penny also shared her outlook for Raized.ai in 2025. The company plans to expand its offerings, including deeper sub-sector analyses and APIs for integration into other systems. “We’re building tools that not only deliver data but help investors and corporations make smarter, faster decisions,” she says.
When discussing the broader startup ecosystem, Penny highlighted parallels between Switzerland and the Nordics. Both regions grapple with attracting U.S.-level investment due to differing scales of opportunity but remain hubs of innovation. Despite recent challenges in the global investment climate, Penny remains optimistic:
“The funding frenzy of 2021 is behind us, but the quality of startups is improving. With the right focus and effort, there’s still plenty of opportunity.”
For startups preparing for Slush 2025, Penny’s advice is clear: start early, personalize your outreach, and embrace the hustle. “It’s not growth hacking; it’s growth hustling,” she concludes with a smile.
