As a female entrepreneur who has built businesses “from scratch,” I felt a sense of curiosity and excitement when I read about StirlingX extending its seed round to $11M. It made me reflect on how different approaches, like focusing on external funding versus bootstrapping, shape the journey of building impactful startups. While I bootstrap my ventures, the StirlingX story offers key insights into how fundraising can fuel growth in niche, high-tech industries like drone operations and data intelligence.
StirlingX’s $11M Seed Round: Key Insights Entrepreneurs Should Know
Raising $11 million is no small feat, especially for a company in the burgeoning deeptech sector. StirlingX, based in the UK, specializes in advanced drone operations coupled with AI-powered data analytics. What’s interesting is that the funds were collected during a seed round, showcasing how investors are increasingly comfortable committing substantial capital at early stages, provided the technological edge and market promise are transparent.
The leading role was played by RCM Private Markets Fund, which is supported by Rokos Capital Management. Additional participants like GALLOS Technologies, ONE9, and angel investors joined the round. What can we learn from this? Having diverse investors offers multiple layers of credibility and growth opportunities.
5 Lessons European Female Entrepreneurs Can Learn from StirlingX’s Journey
1. Choose Your Focus Wisely
StirlingX carved a niche in critical sectors like national infrastructure and defense by offering high-value solutions: drones that measure, scout, and provide actionable data. This is a key takeaway for startups, specialize in something complex yet impactful. For women navigating the entrepreneurial landscape, identifying sectors with untapped potential is not just smart; it’s essential for long-term success.
2. Align with Industry Trends
StirlingX’s growth coincides with rising national security concerns and the increased adoption of autonomous technology. As entrepreneurs, tracking trends beyond your immediate field can help identify opportunities. Currently, data intelligence, low-carbon solutions, and women-led innovation hubs are trending across Europe. Jump on these sooner rather than later.
3. Attract Investment by Showcasing Dual-Use Capabilities
By serving both commercial and defense markets, StirlingX diversified its revenue streams. For anyone building a startup, pitch investors on how your business can thrive in multiple sectors without diluting focus.
4. SAFE Instruments Aren’t Complicated
A thing that caught my eye was the use of a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), something often misunderstood or avoided by early-stage founders. It’s a clean way of pulling in capital without immediately giving up shares. If you’re unsure where to start, learn more from resources like StartupSchool.
5. Communicate Boldly but Transparently
StirlingX’s pitch centered on “sovereign, secure technology” delivered to high-security clients. European women often undervalue boldness in their communication. Whether bootstrapping or seeking capital, frame your narrative so it leaves no doubt about the value and trustworthiness of your vision.
Common Mistakes in Fundraising That Female Founders Should Avoid
I’ve seen many founders stumble when it comes to capital raises. Based on StirlingX’s story and broader observations, here are pitfalls to avoid:
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Pitching Too Broadly
Investors need to know exactly what you’re solving. StirlingX stayed focused on specific niches like defense and infrastructure, never forcing their service into areas they didn’t understand deeply. -
Relying on One Investor’s Opinion
Spreading risk across multiple investors, as StirlingX did, reduces dependency. If multiple investors back you, it strengthens the perception of your value. -
Underestimating Timing
StirlingX extended their seed round strategically, after proving initial success. Pulling the trigger too early or haphazardly can lead to friction, wasted energy, and less favorable terms. -
Ignoring Dual-use Solutions
If women entrepreneurs designed projects to highlight applications across different use cases, more industries and funding options could potentially open up.
Practical Guide to Secure Funding as a Startup Founder in Europe
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Know Your Investors: Investigate funds specializing in your sector. RCM Private Markets Fund supported StirlingX thanks to its expertise in complex investment areas like defense technologies.
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Build Initial Traction Without Venture Capital: Show results, even small ones. StirlingX had proof of delivering on critical national infrastructure projects with established players. You don’t need to bootstrap like I did, but you do need to show market interest and a working MVP.
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Tell the Right Story: Position your product as something that solves a critical challenge or seizes an emerging opportunity. StirlingX communicated its role in solving intricate defense and infrastructure problems with precision and clarity.
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Seek Strategic Partners Before a Lead Investor: Find niche industry players who align with your mission before pitching larger VCs.
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Be Generous with Equity Early On: Sharing equity with the first believers might feel like a loss initially but could help get that essential initial momentum.
Wrap-Up: Inspiration for Female Founders
StirlingX’s story is a compelling example of how startups with a sharp focus and strong vision can attract substantial investment. For female entrepreneurs, the biggest learning is that high-impact sectors are not the exclusive playground of male-dominated firms. With strategy and confidence, women-led ventures can excel, whether they’re bootstrapped or investor-backed.
Personally, I’ve always valued the autonomy of building something on my terms, without relying on external funding. But that path is not for everyone, and sometimes, partnerships are the fastest way to scale. Whether you take inspiration from StirlingX’s fundraising success or choose the bootstrap route like I do, the important thing is to carve out your strategic niche and go all in. That’s where the magic happens.
If you’re a woman in STEM or considering launching your own venture, now is the time to rise. Resources exist–from platforms like Fe/male Switch to bootstrapping guides. Let’s create, support, and grow networks that keep us moving forward. There’s room for all of us.
Feedback moment: What’s your biggest barrier to raising funds as a female founder?
FAQ
1. What is StirlingX's focus as a company?
StirlingX specializes in advanced drone operations and AI-powered data analytics designed for high-security and complex environments, such as defence and national infrastructure. Visit StirlingX's official website
2. How much money did StirlingX raise in its seed round?
StirlingX raised a total of $11 million during its extended seed funding round, including earlier investments from 2025. Read more on Tech.eu
3. Who led StirlingX's funding round?
The RCM Private Markets Fund, managed by Rokos Capital Management, led StirlingX's extended seed funding round. Learn about Rokos Capital Management
4. Which other investors participated in the round?
Other investors include GALLOS Technologies, ONE9, and unnamed angel investors, strengthening StirlingX's credibility. Discover GALLOS Technologies | Explore ONE9
5. Which industries does StirlingX serve?
StirlingX provides solutions for critical national infrastructure, defence, and commercial sectors, designing drones and analytics platforms to support decision-making. Explore StirlingX's applications
6. What makes StirlingX's products innovative?
Their technology combines automated drones, resilient communication networks, and AI-driven analytics, enabling faster decisions and reducing operational risks. Find out about their innovation on Tech.eu
7. How did StirlingX structure its funding round?
StirlingX utilized a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) framework to raise capital without immediately giving up shares.
8. What are the key use cases for StirlingX drones?
StirlingX's drones are utilized for pre-construction planning, real-time surveying, environmental compliance, and operations in high-security sectors. Learn about StirlingX's use cases
9. How will StirlingX use its $11 million funding?
The funds will be directed towards international market expansion, product development, talent acquisition, and scaling up operations at its Cambridge and Oxford facilities. Find additional funding details on Startuprise
10. Who is the CEO of StirlingX, and what are their goals for the company?
Dean Jones is the CEO, focusing on delivering sovereign, secure technology for critical infrastructure and defence while driving global expansion. Connect with Dean Jones on LinkedIn
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.
