BLING Capital
We turn potential into performance through equal access.
What we do
We invest in visionaries
Our investment approach is dedicated to back diverse founders with a vision who bring fresh, diverse perspectives to the global business landscape.
This is what you need to know if you want an investment from us:
- We invest in teams with at least one underrepresented founder in Sweden
- Our initial investments range from 100kSEK – 1mSEK.
- No stage is too early for us to invest in. We prefer investing early and we want to be a long-term partner.
- We look for high potential of impact, disruptive solutions and scalability
- We’re always happy to talk great ideas with great founders.
About us
BLING Capital was established in 2022. We are a founder led investment team based in Sweden backed by a network of top entrepreneurs and investors with a global reach.
BLING Capital’s investments are guided by its main purpose: tapping into overlooked potential of underrepresented founders. We believe that there are countless opportunities that are undervalued simply because they don’t have access to closed homogeneous investor networks.
We aim to invest early and be a long-term stakeholder in businesses founded by world-class diverse founder teams that create value for people and society. We value companies with a sustainable and forward leaning business model addressing large, global markets and solving real problems.
our team
Deqa Abukar
General Partner, Member of the Board & Investment Committee
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Deqa Abukar has over a decade of experience in business and brand development, marketing, PR, and community building. As the founder of BLING and other impactful initiatives, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering innovation, equity, and growth. With a background in political science, three years as an investor, and extensive experience as a board member, Deqa is a versatile leader dedicated to empowering founders and driving transformative change.
Deqa’s work and achievements have earned widespread recognition. She has been honored on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, celebrating her as one of the most influential young leaders, and has received accolades including the Best Investor Award and the prestigious Swedish Great Journalism Prize. Her career spans roles in journalism, business development, and coaching, reflecting her passion for amplifying underrepresented voices and shaping a better future. Deqa is not just an investor but a changemaker, committed to building ventures that inspire and impact society.
Adnan Yousuf
General Partner & Member of the Investment committee
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Adnan Yousuf is a serial entrepreneur with over a decade of experience as a business developer, strategist, and investor. With a background in tech and finance, Adnan has founded multiple startups across industries such as technology, education, and e-commerce, showcasing his versatility and innovative mindset. As the founder of BLING, he has demonstrated his passion for fostering entrepreneurship and driving meaningful social change.
Adnan’s entrepreneurial journey began at just 16, and since then, he has dedicated his career to empowering others to innovate and succeed. Known for his strategic vision and ability to identify emerging opportunities, he combines deep industry knowledge with a commitment to creating lasting impact. Adnan’s work reflects his unwavering belief in the power of entrepreneurship to transform communities and build a better future.
Rami Almudafar
Partner, Fund manager & Member of the Investment committee
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Rami Almudafar is an accomplished Managing Partner and Fund Manager with a distinguished career spanning entrepreneurship, venture capital, and leadership development. With a background in finance and a deep commitment to fostering equitable access to capital for underrepresented groups, Rami brings a strategic and impactful approach to venture funding.
As the former Head of Business Development (Incubators & Accelerators) at Almi, Rami spent seven years driving growth for over 100 early-stage startups across diverse industries. He provided critical coaching, scaling strategies, and financing solutions while organizing pitch events that connected business angels with high-potential ventures, facilitating transformative partnerships.
Before Almi, Rami led management team and board recruitment initiatives at Alumni Global, specializing in leadership transitions for listed companies and private equity-held firms. His expertise included management assessments and board evaluations, further solidifying his reputation as a trusted advisor in dynamic sectors.
In addition to his role at BLING Capital, Rami is an active board member and serves on the Advisory Board for Master’s students in Entrepreneurship at Lund University, Sweden. His career reflects a passion for empowering founders, driving innovation, and creating pathways for diverse entrepreneurs to thrive.
Fredrik Granström
Chairman of the Board of Directors
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Fredrik Hansen, Attorney at Law and Co-Founder of Hansen Law, brings over 20 years of experience advising tech and life sciences companies on venture financing, M&A, IP strategy, and more. With a deep understanding of startup and corporate challenges, he leads a modern legal practice focused on empowering fast-growing ventures through expert counsel and meaningful partnerships.
Kenneth Axelsson
Member of the Board
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Kenneth Axelsson is an experienced entrepreneur and board member with expertise in investments, business development, and leadership. He has held key roles, including CEO of Förenade Liv Gruppförsäkring AB, and contributed to multiple successful exits, including companies acquired by EY, Nyherji Iceland, and A/S EDB Norway. With a focus on driving growth and transformation, Kenneth continues to support businesses in achieving lasting success.
Johan Crona
Member of the Board
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Johan Crona is an experienced entrepreneur and investor with over 20 years of expertise in building and scaling technology-based startups. Passionate about SaaS business models, Johan specializes in partnering with early-stage companies to drive growth and long-term success.
As the former CEO of Almi Invest Stockholm, Johan managed early-stage venture investments across Internet/Media, Life Science, and Cleantech, with a particular focus on B2B technology companies. In 2017, he founded Cloud Capital, a private investment company dedicated to supporting SaaS entrepreneurs with flexible, hands-on partnerships tailored to their growth journeys.
Pär-Jörgen Pärson
Member of the Investment Committee
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A partner at Northzone since 2004, PJ’s primary areas of focus are disruptive businesses in consumer internet, health and fintech. His portfolio includes multi-billion dollar exits in market-defining companies such as Spotify, iZettle and Avito.
Johan Karlsson
Member of the Investment Committee
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Johan founded Slättö in 2013 and continues to lead the company’s growth strategy, monitoring performance and driving business development. Johan serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee, overseeing critical investment decisions. Johan is also a co-founder of Neptunia Invest and of MW Group, which he established in 2012 alongside his brother.
Johan has served as a Sergeant in the Reserve at the Coastal Ranger since 2005. He has also completed a Commercial and Business Law program from Linköping University.
INVESTMENTS
Mission statement
Zero talent waste
By serving the unserved and by enabling equal access to opportunity for all entrepreneurs we tap into overlooked potential and create a catalyst for social and economic change.
Empower visionaries
Our investment approach is dedicated to empowering diverse founders with a vision who bring fresh, diverse perspectives and the potential to disrupt established norms and systems.
Entrepreneurs lead, we assist
Our role is to support and work side by side with the teams we fund. Yet, we always keep in mind that the entrepreneurs are the ones steering the ship.
A marathon, not a sprint
We consider our investments more than just transactions. They are meaningful partnerships that often originate before any financial commitment, persist during our entire engagement period, and last even after we’ve exited as investors.
