Catharina Schröder
Head of Investor Relations
I didn’t identify as an entrepreneur until the chairman of my board at that time told me with a smile, “There is no doubt about it – you’re too stubborn to be a regular CEO.”
Yes, we are still good friends. By then, I had already founded a podcast, launched a female-led investment company, worked on commercializing research from Uppsala University, taught Lean methodology to its master’s students, served as an active board member for Handelsbanken Uppsala City, and led the entrepreneurial organization Drivhuset in Uppsala, which incubated over 200 startups whereby almost 50% were female-founded.
My curiosity for innovation, people, and creating exciting solutions to real-world problems has always driven me. An optimist by nature, I’m quick to see the potential and solutions in every challenge.
Living in Australia for almost 3 years while pursuing my bachelor’s degree offered me the incredible opportunity to snorkel around the Great Barrier Reef in my free time. While it was breathtaking to be surrounded by vibrant marine life, including some sharks, I also witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of climate change and pollution on the corals and their ecosystems. This experience deepened my awareness of one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: the loss of biodiversity caused by climate change.
My passion for startups stems from their ability to create transformative impact. Startups represent the intersection of creativity, innovation, and resilience—qualities I deeply admire. The key driving force behind my work in venture capital is the opportunity to positively impact the planet and its people. For me, sustainability extends far beyond measuring CO2 emissions.
It requires a holistic approach, viewing nature and humanity as interconnected rather than separate entities. I am particularly passionate about fostering healthy work environments where individuals can thrive, not just survive, and achieve balance across all aspects of life. Great achievements are only possible when people are supported by the right conditions—both within and beyond the workplace.
Therefore, I am also proud to be part of the Spintop team. Spintop Ventures knows that sustainability is not only about compliance, but to regularly follow up on sustainability KPI:s and addressing the questions with the same continuity as financial KPI:s.
When I’m not immersed in venture capital, you’ll find me leading yoga classes, hiking in the forest, cold bathing in the ocean, or skiing down a mountain.
Motto: Just because no one else has done it before, doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
Education: MSc Economics and Business at Uppsala University, BCs International Business at Swinburne University of Technology
Languages: English, Swedish, and once upon a time at a piazza in Florence fluent Italian.
Before Spintop: Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, CEO of the Entrepreneur Foundation Drivhuset Uppsala, Founder of Schröder Invest, Chief Investment Officer at the angel investment firm Linnéa Capital.