In a world where women entrepreneurs are still underrepresented, I’m proud whenever I see a startup breaking new grounds in typically male-dominated spaces like tech or HR. With Pack recently raising €5.8 million to expand globally, it's a good moment to reflect on what this means for entrepreneurs, especially women in Europe.
A Lesson in Ambition: Pack’s Leap into Global Expansion
Founded in Italy in 2022 by Pietro Maria Picogna and Giacomo Gentili, Pack has only been around for a few years, but their success is a wake-up call for many of us. Their human capital intelligence platform is powered by AI to help companies better understand their workforce, with solutions focused on mapping skills, assessing talent, and crafting personalized development paths. What stands out to me is their clarity of vision and ability to execute on it.
Their international expansion plan comes at just the right time. The funding will allow them to grow their team beyond the current 30 employees and tap into major markets like Germany, France, and the UK. They’re not just building software; they’re addressing the critical gap in workforce agility that businesses are grappling with.
The European HR tech space is fertile ground, and Pack successfully made themselves stand out. Their focused entry into Series A funding with investors like Rialto VC and Acadian Ventures demonstrates a strategic and network-driven approach that many startups can learn from.
Lessons for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs
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Start Funding Conversations Early
Many businesses wait to seek funding until they’re desperate, or worse, after they’ve run out of cash. Pack landed €3.5 million in their first tranche fairly early (in September 2025), which gave them momentum to raise the full amount in December. The takeaway? Start your funding relationships well before you’re seeking investments. -
Build Relationships with Industry Experts
Beyond traditional VCs, Pack attracted well-known HR tech figureheads such as David Clarke and Doris Tomanek. Angel investors aren’t just cheque-writers; they bring industry know-how and networks. For female founders, networking events or sector-specific forums like EU Startups or local incubators can be your best starting point. -
Focus on Problem-Solving
Investors are looking for savvy teams that bring strong solutions. Pack doesn’t just offer features, they address universal talent management challenges, which makes their product relevant. So ask yourself: Will your idea address a real pain or unlock unrealized potential? Finding this answer early can provide clarity. -
Be Bold with Expansion Plans
Often, women are reluctant to think big when it comes to scaling. I know the feeling, I too struggled with it when growing my ventures. But as Pack's strategized move into new markets proves, targeting Europe’s biggest economies creates opportunities. Research thoroughly, prepare meticulously, then take that leap.
Avoid This Common Startup Trap
Many founders (women in particular) hesitate to delegate when growing their businesses. Letting go of control was one of my hardest lessons as an entrepreneur. Pack’s co-founders clearly understand the value of growing their team to 50 employees within six months. Scaling up not only increases capacity but also builds collective expertise. Trust your hires, and learn to focus on vision over micromanagement.
What This Means for European Female Founders
European funding ecosystems, although improving, still leave many women entrepreneurs underfunded. Studies show that only around 2% of venture capital goes to women-led businesses. This is disheartening, but don’t let the numbers stop you. Instead, focus on three strategies:
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Tap Diverse Financing Channels
Beyond traditional VCs, look for government grants, angel investors, or platforms focused on supporting women-led startups. Organizations like Female Founders or the Digital Europe Programme could offer invaluable help. -
Develop AI Knowledge to Stay Competitive
The business world is now defined by tech, whether you operate in fintech, HR, or even fashion. Free resources from universities (like WIPO’s online blockchain and AI courses) helped me develop skills that, in turn, gave my businesses an edge. -
Join Accelerators That See Your Potential
Participating in startup incubators can unlock mentorship, funding, and international exposure. Programs like YES!Delft or Brightlands supported my journey in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
Next Steps for Your Journey
If Pack’s story inspires you, reflect on how you can scale your own growth. Start by asking:
- What’s my scalable value?
- Which partnerships can push my vision further?
- When should I start courting international markets?
Here’s my advice: Don’t rush it, but don’t hold yourself back either. Focus on the process, use the data, learn from others (like Pack!), and then go for it.
For women in the startup ecosystem, securing €5.8 million might feel out of reach. But stories like these can redefine what's possible. If you’ve got your “next big thing,” now’s the time to start building, pitching, and networking your path towards it. There’ll be challenges, sure, but the journey is worth every step. Europe isn’t just a space for tech bros; it’s our space too.
Want deeper insights or mentorship? Connect with me through F/MS. Let’s reshape the entrepreneurial landscape together.
FAQ
1. Who are the founders of Pack?
Pack was founded in 2022 by Pietro Maria Picogna and Giacomo Gentili. See Pietro Maria Picogna's profile | Explore Giacomo Gentili's profile
2. What is Pack’s primary product focus?
Pack offers an AI-native human capital intelligence platform aimed at workforce development through skills mapping, talent assessment, and personalized growth solutions. Visit the Pack website
3. How much funding did Pack recently raise?
Pack raised €5.8 million in its Series A funding round, which was finalized in December 2025. Read the Tech.eu announcement
4. What will Pack focus on with its new investment?
Pack plans to expand its workforce from 30 to 50 employees, enter markets in France, Germany, and the UK, and enhance its AI-powered platform. Discover Pack's Expansion Goals
5. What sets Pack apart from other HR tech platforms?
Pack distinguishes itself by offering actionable insights for strategic talent management through AI, focusing on building agile workforces for the future. Explore Pack's unique solutions
6. Which investors participated in Pack’s funding round?
Key participants included Rialto VC and Acadian Ventures, along with industry veterans like David Clarke and Doris Tomanek. Learn about Acadian Ventures
7. Why is Pack targeting European markets like France, Germany, and the UK?
These markets represent major economies and strategic opportunities for HR tech advancement and adoption. Read Pack’s Market Expansion Plans
8. What lessons can women entrepreneurs learn from Pack’s success?
Women founders can emulate Pack’s emphasis on early funding talks, strategic networking, bold expansion, and addressing real problems. Check out women's startup tips
9. What does the Series A funding timeline look like for Pack?
The first tranche of €3.5 million closed in September 2025, and the final amount was secured by December 2025. Discover the funding milestones
10. What tools are available for aspiring women entrepreneurs in Europe?
Resources like the Female Founders network and the Digital Europe Programme can provide mentorship, grants, and other support structures. Explore Female Founders | Discover the Digital Europe Programme
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.
