When Birgit Kyvik Wester started exploring the startup world during her master’s degree in business development, she found herself increasingly drawn to the dynamics of early-stage investment. A few years later, her academic interest became much more personal and practical, and Women2Invest helped make that leap possible.
From academic research to real-world application
“What motivated me to explore early-stage investment was my master’s degree,” Birgit explains. “I studied business development and was involved in a startup at the time, which sparked my interest in the startup ecosystem.”
That early interest soon turned into deeper reflection. For her thesis, Birgit chose to investigate the lack of women in investment decision-making roles.
“I wrote my thesis on Why there are so few female partners in venture capital, a particularly fascinating topic in the context of Norway, where we’ve made significant progress on gender equality in many other areas of business.”
Despite having gained first-hand exposure through her trainee position at Firda, a Norwegian VC firm, Birgit felt the need to go further.
“At Firda, I have gained valuable insights into the practical side of investing, observing how the partners evaluate potential investment cases, conduct due diligence, and make final decisions. However, most of my work has been with portfolio companies Firda has already invested in. That’s why Women2Invest appealed to me as a great opportunity to deepen my understanding of the investment process and become more confident with the language and frameworks used in the industry.”
A comprehensive and eye-opening experience
The Women2Invest programme provided Birgit with an in-depth look at how investment decisions are made, from both a technical and strategic perspective.
“The programme has given me a deeper understanding of the processes surrounding investments, including policies, due diligence, and a European perspective on investing. I’ve also learned a lot about negotiations, exits, and fund metrics, topics I was less familiar with before.”
For Birgit, the standout element of the programme was the calibre of the instructors and the structure of the sessions.
“The most eye-opening part of the training was the incredibly skilled lecturers who took the time to thoroughly explain and engage with the material they were teaching to the Women2Invest cohort. I found that really inspiring! I was also surprised by how in-depth and detailed the sessions were. Even though I already had some background knowledge, I learned a lot, both from the lecturers and from the other women in the programme.”
Looking to the future
Today, Birgit feels well-equipped to continue building a career in the investment ecosystem, and ready to play an active role in driving change.
“Yes, definitely! I hope to continue working within the venture capital ecosystem, either as a founder of a startup in the coming years or as an associate at another VC firm. There are so many talented people in the industry that I’m eager to learn from.”
Her story is an example of how Women2Invest empowers women with knowledge, confidence, and community to turn their potential into impact.