Sigma Squared Society

European Forum Alpbach 2024 - The Moment of Truth! ⛰️🇦🇹 We are very excited to continue our partnership with the European Forum Alpbach. Together, we are committed to empowering the next generation of ambitious young founders by providing access to a global platform of EFA to advocate innovation and impact. Our Sigma Squared Fellows, including Lumi Maunuvaara, Amir Akta, Kami Krista, Chris Hahn, Maxime Paradis and Oliver Meyer, participated in „Europe in the World Days” which focused on crucial topics of democracy, climate, and economy. The annual theme of EFA24 – ”Moment of Truth” – reflects the decisions we founders are also participating in. Thank you, European Forum Alpbach for hosting us so warmly in Austria!

"You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'" - George Bernard Shaw This quote, highlighted by Risto Siilasmaa as a key differentiator of entrepreneurs, set the tone for an evening full of insights that challenged our understanding of success and leadership. Last week, Lumi Maunuvaara and I had the privilege of organizing a dinner with Risto Siilasmaa for the Sigma Squared Society Finnish chapter.   Risto, the mind behind "paranoid optimism," shared some invaluable lessons. He emphasized the power of reflection - taking time to think deeply about our experiences and decisions. He encouraged us to embrace paranoid optimism: consider all scenarios, have a plan A, B & C, but remain clear in our direction. He also shared insights that challenge our conventional understanding of success. In a world obsessed with growth metrics and profit margins, his words were a refreshing reminder of what truly matters. Are we measuring success by the right metrics?   True success, I've come to believe, isn't just about financial stability or rapid growth. It's about fulfillment, strong relationships, inner peace, and the capacity to uplift others. How many of our "successful" business leaders can truly claim this holistic success?   Risto's experiences and advice have been invaluable over the years, teaching me to think like a paranoid optimist and to shift the gradient of luck. But more importantly, they've emphasized the responsibility we carry as entrepreneurs, leaders, and people. And how important it is to be a good person.   As we move forward, I'm more convinced than ever that we need to redefine success. We must prioritize innovations that address pressing global issues - climate change, healthcare inefficiencies, societal inequalities. This ethos guides us at AIATELLA, where we're driven by the potential to make a real difference in healthcare.   Let's challenge ourselves to think bigger, to measure our success not just by our bank accounts, but by our positive impact on the world, by doing the best we can with the chances we are given. After all, in the grand scheme of things, isn't that what truly matters?   Thank you, Risto, for continuing to inspire and challenge us. And thank you to everyone who joined us. These are the conversations that shape our thinking and drive us to be better. Let's help each other solve the biggest problems and achieve true success.

Sigma Fellow Fabiane Kuhn has been recognised by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Innovators Under 35 list! 🎉 The MIT Innovators Under 35 is an annual recognition that highlights the brightest young minds shaping the future of technology. Each year, over 500 innovators are nominated, with only 35 ultimately selected by a panel of expert judges for their contributions in fields like AI, biotechnology, software, energy, and more. Fabiane, co-founder of Raks Agricultural Technology, earned this honour for her work in agriculture. Her startup has developed a soil moisture sensor system that helps farmers optimise irrigation, increase crop yields, and manage resources more efficiently. Congratulations to Fabiane on this massive achievement! 🌟 Link: https://lnkd.in/dcrWzUwp

In this Fellow Story post, let's meet Gaelic Jara Reinhold, a Sigma Fellow who has always been driven by the desire to make a positive impact on the world. 🎉 From a young age, Gaelic was captivated by the idea of solving problems—like when he tried to redesign mail distribution centres at just 10 years old. Though that particular project didn’t take off, the seed of innovation was planted early on. As the automotive industry began shifting towards electric vehicles, Gaelic pursued a degree in electrical engineering, drawn by the potential to be at the forefront of technological change. But it wasn’t until 2022, during revision breaks spent watching Shark Tank with a friend, that Gaelic fully embraced the entrepreneurial spirit. The two would spend hours brainstorming business ideas and drafting plans to create something meaningful. One problem, in particular, stood out to Gaelic: the lack of personal safety when walking alone at night. Growing up in Uruguay with a French-Argentinian background, Gaelic knew that safety issues persist regardless of a country’s economic status. This concern only deepened after moving to London, where his friends' harrowing experiences with street crime underscored the need for a solution. When his co-founder (and also a Sigma Fellow 🥳) Ina Jovicic suggested creating a wearable device to enhance personal safety, Gaelic knew this was the opportunity to make a real difference. He soon dropped out of his master's program and dedicated all his energy to the venture. Today, Gaelic is working tirelessly to develop a product that not only protects users but also aims to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place. Outside of work, Gaelic finds balance by riding his motorbike (at a safer speed after a close call at 70 km/h) and indulging in a love of desserts, a passion inspired by his Michelin-starred pastry chef father. To offset the sweets, he stays active by running and having the occasional gym session. For Gaelic, the work on his startup eNOugh is more than just a job—it’s a passion, a mission to create a safer world. And that’s what makes him a true Sigma Fellow. ♥️

We are very excited to share with you that this year's Sigma Squared Summit will take place on November 23 & 24 in Valencia, Spain! 🇪🇸🌟 We have partnered with Valencia City Council through València Innovation Capital, together with Startup Valencia to bring our global summit to Valencia for our biggest event to date! 🌍 Our flagship event is at the heart of this community, bringing together Sigma Fellows and exceptional leaders from all over the world and creating the space for meaningful connections to happen. Many of our Fellows have described the event as their highlight of the year, and we cannot wait to be with everyone in the room and experience that Sigma Magic! 💫 A big thank you to Krloos Rivera for inviting us to Valencia and making this happen together with Nacho Mas. Here is what Paula Llobet Vilarrasa, the city's Innovation Councillor, said about the importance of bringing our summit to Valencia when she met Greta Pappa from our team last month: “The celebration of the Sigma Squared Summit in Valencia is a unique opportunity for our local ecosystem and for that of all of Spain. It will generate many business and investment opportunities. Furthermore, it consolidates our city as an innovative and technological hub of reference in the Mediterranean, and promotes our internationalization and our capacity to attract talent, investments and businesses, to generate wealth and quality employment”. You can read the full article here (in Spanish): https://rb.gy/5cpc40 If you are not part of our community and you want to join our invite-only event this November, here are a few ways you can do so: ➡️ If you are interested in volunteering and helping us on-the-ground during an incredible event while getting a glimpse into the world of the world’s post-ambitious founders under 26, please fill out this form: https://lnkd.in/dH_bTt6T ➡️ If you want to buy a ticket and join the summit as a guest, please email [email protected] and we will follow up with you. ➡️ If you are a founder under 35, you have the chance to win a ticket and participate in our invite-only summit. Please apply by filling out this form: https://lnkd.in/dp4CDcnk If none of the above applies to you and you'd still like to get involved, please reach out to us via [email protected]. We cannot wait to host you in Valencia this November! Keep an eye on our socials for more exciting updates... 🚀

It has been a packed week with bicoastal events at Headline! From #NYC to #SF, we hosted… 🍷 #Consumer scouts & friends dinner in a cozy alleyway wine cellar in NYC. ⚙️ Build Club AI Builders Demo Day in our SF HQ with founders flying all the way in from Australia to demo. 📺 Sigma Squared Society TED Talk Powerpoint Night where we dove into the history of language, AI wearables, adventure-seeking, and more. We love fueling community and connections — stay tuned for future Headline community events in a city near you. We can’t wait to see you! Matthew Brown Zehra Naqvi Sasha Krecinic Annie Liao 🇦🇺 Lisa Shmulyan

Welcome to Sigma Squared Society's Ted Talk night hosted by Michelle F. at Headline 💡 Owen on AI agents Austin on the future of personal AI wearables Kaito on "cryptocurrencies" Shobha on the history of modern language Changhee on community in Korea Flor on adventure-seeking behavior in founders #ABA #Alwaysbelearning 🧠

Last month, the Berlin Chapter of Sigma Squared hosted their annual event – the Berlin Boat Tour! ⛵☀️ This tradition brings together Sigma Fellows from different countries to connect and recharge. This year, over 40 Fellows attended, strengthening their bonds while sightseeing Berlin from the water. Many thanks to Forge and Hauptstadtfloß for helping in making the event happen. Sigma is dedicated not only to business-related events but also to fostering meaningful connections among our Fellows in more intimate settings. A special thank you to the Berlin Chapter Fellows who organised the gathering. We’re already looking forward to next year’s tour! ⛵️

Our Sigma Squared Society Asia team has grown ❤️ Last year, along with the first six members of the newly established Indian chapter, we launched the first chapter in Asia to connect a global community of over 1,000 ambitious young entrepreneurs under 26 with the Indian ecosystem. Sigma founders have raised over $1.9 billion (85% of which was raised after joining the fellowship) 🔥 Today, I am excited to announce that we now have a team of six building four chapters across the Asian continent! 🌏 Min Seon— the founder of Umoh US, building the chapter in Seoul 🇰🇷 Debabrata Das— the founder of ProMeat, building a chapter in Mumbai 🇮🇳 Jessica Eunjung Lee— founder and community builder, building a chapter in Singapore 🇸🇬 Shreya Pattar— founder of SPVentures, building a chapter in Dubai 🇦🇪 And finally, Sidharth R., founder of Swasthya Plus Network, is leading the Asia team 🚀 Our nomination cycle is currently open, and if you’re interested in being part of the community, reach out! 📩

XenoPatch GmbH, led by our Sigma Squared Fellow Paul Armin Thouet, has secured a seven-figure Pre-Seed funding! 🚀 XenoPatch is a medtech startup specializing in the development of therapy solutions that combine heat, cold, and vibration to enhance the efficiency of thermotherapeutic treatments, particularly in physiotherapy. Its multi-patented, app-controlled device enables professionals and patients to conduct therapy sessions flexibly and effectively, with wireless portability provided by a battery. This funding round, led by bmp Ventures and supported by other angel investors, will enable XenoPatch to accelerate market entry and achieve crucial device approvals. XenoPatch's solutions promise to revolutionize patient care, enhancing efficiency and outcomes. Congrats to Paul and the team! 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/g3RnZ8hj