Yesterday at Slush Bilbao (Spain), the Supernovas team had the opportunity to take part in an insightful panel discussion on venture capital (VC) literacy. Ana Alcaine, Supernovas Project Manager joined the conversation focused on breaking down barriers to early-stage investment knowledge and making VC more accessible—especially for women investors and entrepreneurs.
Moderated by Ainhoa Saralegui (Investment Associate at Acurio Ventures), the panel featured key voices in the VC ecosystem, such as Manuel González Abril (Founder & CEO of Boske), Jorge Campo Teruel (Head of Iberia & Board Member at Baby VC), Amélie Mariage (Investment Partner at Akka) and Ana herself.
A key takeaway? The VC world remains difficult to navigate, especially in Europe, where early-stage investment knowledge is not as widely available as in the US. But let’s deep dive in what was discussed:
Why is Early-Stage Investment Knowledge Limited?
As Manuel González Abril highlighted, Southern Europe’s VC industry is still in its infancy, with most funds emerging in the last decade. This lack of historical investment pathways has left many founders and investors without clear learning resources. Supernovas, we see this knowledge gap firsthand, especially when it comes to angel investing. Ana Alcaine emphasized that many aspiring investors—particularly women—struggle to find resources on how to conduct due diligence, co-invest, or support startups beyond capital. This is why the programme is commited to increasing diversity in VC by supporting female investors through our specialized academies (Women2Invest, VC Academy and BA Academy).
The Democratization of Investing
“There are no typical profiles regarding the profile of investors; many entrepreneurs turn investors at some point, and many VC professionals too. But we also have consultants, corporate executives, professors etc.
Our Academy focuses on different pillars: learning (we cover the whole investment process through live sessions with practitioners and a wealth of content in other formats), designing (participants work in their own investment strategy – what, why, why me, how), practicing (assignments, teamwork) and networking”, concluded.
Jorge Campo Teruel also referenced Crescenta, a platform providing education and resources for VC investors.
So what is it that women (and everyone) interested in VC that can do to further expand their knowledge on the field? So, (besides applying for the activities that Supernovas offers) the panellists had some key suggestions to share:
- Reading books on VC fundamentals, like “The Business of Venture Capital” of Mahendra Ramsinghani.
- Listening to industry podcasts, like “The Twenty Minute VC“
- Attending events like Slush Bilbao, 4YFN, and other startup gatherings
- Seeking mentorship and networking opportunities
Is Early-Stage Investment for Everyone?
While increasing diversity in the investor pool is crucial, early-stage VC remains high-risk. The panelists emphasized that investments should be a small part of any portfolio and that co-investing with experienced investors can help mitigate risk. Venture capital is no longer an exclusive domain for a privileged few. Through initiatives like Supernovas, Boske, Baby VC, and Akka, more women and diverse investors have the opportunity to participate and thrive in this space. By building knowledge and networks, we can make venture capital truly accessible to all!