Copenhagen-based startup NobodyWho has raised €2 million in pre-seed funding to challenge the tech giants who dominate the AI landscape with their large cloud-based models. Founded by Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm, a seasoned entrepreneur and artist, this company positions itself as the David boldly facing the Goliaths of AI by promoting an alternative: Small Language Models (SLMs) that run locally on devices like laptops and smartphones.
As a female founder myself, I find NobodyWho’s story intriguing, not just for its technical achievements, but for the values it stands for: privacy, sustainability, and empowering smaller players in an environment that often favors scale over ingenuity. Let’s break this down and see what lessons can be drawn for other entrepreneurs, especially women navigating the startup ecosystem in Europe.
How Does NobodyWho Stand Out?
Big Tech’s cloud-based Large Language Models (LLMs), like OpenAI’s GPT or Google’s Bard, dominate conversations about AI. These massive systems require enormous computational power, which comes with hefty costs, not only to organizations but also to the planet, as they drain energy resources and contribute to growing carbon footprints. NobodyWho takes a simpler yet ground-breaking approach by designing software that brings AI down to the personal level.
Local-first computing means these SLMs operate directly on your device, ensuring privacy since data doesn’t flow to external servers. Studies claim this setup leads to up to 100x lower carbon emissions during training and 500x lower during inference. It's not just a climate-friendly solution; it’s a smarter way forward for startups that might balk at the expenses of large-scale cloud services.
Five Lessons Female Founders Can Take from Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm’s Approach
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Build a Mission-Driven Product
NobodyWho isn’t just building AI for the sake of it. Every technical decision ties back to tangible goals: reducing carbon emissions, democratizing access to AI tools, and championing user privacy. As founders, ensuring the values of your startup align with public concerns can create deeper trust from customers and investors. -
Target What Big Tech Overlooks
Rather than trying to out-compete giants on their terms, NobodyWho challenges the norm with an alternative that makes practical sense, smaller models tailored for specific uses. Entrepreneurs should always ask, “What problems are underserved by mainstream solutions?” The answer could be your niche. -
Be Selective with Investors
Falkenstrøm and her team brought in funding not just from any venture capitalists but from firms like PSV Tech and The Footprint Firm, known for their focus on climate alignment and sustainability. If you choose investors who share your values, you’re more likely to secure lasting partnerships. -
Leverage Personal Experience
Falkenstrøm’s track record, from UN-commissioned AI projects to experimenting aboard NASA’s International Space Station, is reflected in her ability to innovate thoughtfully. Draw on unique aspects of your background, no matter how unrelated at first glance, they might help you make decisions others in your industry wouldn’t think to explore. -
Question “Bigger is Better” Assumptions
Startups often fall into the trap of thinking scale must always mean growth. Falkenstrøm’s SLMs challenge this idea by showing how small, efficient systems can lead to robust solutions. Sometimes, smaller simply works better.
How to Start Your Own Venture with a Unique Focus
Here’s a simple guide for crafting your vision as a founder:
- Define the key problem: Make sure you’re crystal clear about the challenge you want to solve, whether it’s high costs, inefficiencies, or accessibility for underserved markets.
- Focus on one strong differentiator: Too many startups dilute their efforts by chasing all sorts of features. Zero in on what makes your solution unique and let that guide your development.
- Choose funding partners wisely: Investors aren’t just there for the money, they’ll often shape the direction your startup takes. Work with those who understand your goals.
- Engage the community: Building something groundbreaking without user feedback is futile. Partner with early adopters or developer communities who can fine-tune your product.
Mistakes My Fellow Entrepreneurs Should Avoid
NobodyWho’s recent success shows how steering clear of common pitfalls can pay off:
- Trying to be a clone of Big Tech: Competing on scale or features is generally a losing battle unless you bring something fresh to the table.
- Taking shortcuts with privacy: Across Europe, regulators and users deeply care about data protection. Cutting corners here could alienate your primary audience.
- Ignoring environmental impact: Investors, not just those focused on sustainability, are beginning to scrutinize how startups approach energy use. Make this a priority to future-proof your business.
A Broader Lesson for Entrepreneurs
NobodyWho makes one thing clear: don’t underestimate the power of aligning your technology with societal values. In Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm’s case, this formula turned generational concerns like climate change and data security into unique selling points. And it worked.
For women founders, this approach highlights the importance of bringing our distinct perspectives to the forefront. There’s often untapped opportunity in areas others dismiss or overlook. Think local AI, sustainable fashion, or anything else that stands apart within crowded industries. We just need the courage to challenge the norms while staying firm about our mission and ideals.
What Comes Next for NobodyWho
NobodyWho plans to invest its €2 million in scaling its SLM technology across Europe, with a view to turning on-device AI into the norm. With their engine already open source and thousands of developers involved on GitHub, the startup is set to create both practical tools and a broader ecosystem for local AI innovation.
Final Takeaway
NobodyWho offers a reminder that startups can challenge entrenched systems without following the traditional path of scale and dominance. If you’re a founder in Europe, especially a woman entrepreneur looking for inspiration, consider Falkenstrøm’s journey. Build a business that’s rooted in values while using your voice and experience to take on the giants, and maybe create a success story worth sharing along the way.
Want more insights into the startup ecosystem? Take a closer look at NobodyWho’s funding story on Tech.eu.
FAQ
1. What is NobodyWho and what sets them apart in the AI industry?
NobodyWho is a Copenhagen-based startup aiming to challenge Big Tech’s cloud-heavy Large Language Models (LLMs) with Small Language Models (SLMs) that run locally on personal devices. These models prioritize privacy, reduce carbon emissions, and reduce dependence on costly cloud infrastructure. Learn more about NobodyWho on Tech.eu
2. Who are the founders of NobodyWho and what is their background?
Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm, an award-winning entrepreneur and artist, founded NobodyWho, alongside co-founder and CTO Asbjørn Olling. Falkenstrøm has led AI projects for the UN and NASA, showcasing her innovation in the tech space. Read more about the founders on Tech Funding News
3. How is NobodyWho’s technology different from standard Large Language Models (LLMs)?
NobodyWho’s Small Language Models (SLMs) operate locally on devices, ensuring privacy and reducing energy consumption. They eliminate the need to send data to external servers, unlike cloud-based LLMs. Discover NobodyWho’s tech approach on Arctic Startup
4. How is NobodyWho addressing climate and sustainability goals?
By using local-first SLM technology, NobodyWho claims to reduce carbon emissions by up to 100x during training and 500x during inference compared to traditional cloud-based LLMs. Learn about their sustainability efforts on Øresund Startups
5. How is NobodyWho’s funding being used?
The €2 million pre-seed funding will be used to improve their technology, expand their reach across Europe, and strengthen their position as a leader in local AI innovation. Explore NobodyWho’s funding story on Tech.eu
6. What companies have invested in NobodyWho?
NobodyWho’s investors include PSV Tech, The Footprint Firm, and Norrsken Evolve, funds known for their emphasis on sustainability and early-stage innovation. Check out the investor details on Tech Funding News
7. How does NobodyWho promote privacy in AI?
By shifting AI models from the cloud to local devices like smartphones and laptops, NobodyWho ensures that data remains with the user and is not shared with external servers. Learn more about their privacy-first approach on Øresund Startups
8. What industries or use cases can benefit from NobodyWho’s Small Language Models?
SLMs are ideal for industries like healthcare, legal, and education, where privacy, cost-efficiency, and lower carbon impact are critical. They are also accessible tools for NGOs and small businesses.
9. How does NobodyWho support developers globally?
NobodyWho operates as an open-source platform, engaging over 5,000 developers on GitHub and offering tools and integrations for seamless use. Explore their developer outreach on Tech.eu
10. What’s next for NobodyWho?
NobodyWho plans to scale their technology, expand their developer ecosystem, and position SLMs as a mainstream alternative in Europe with climate-aligned AI solutions. Discover their future plans on Arctic Startup
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
