Sara Kemppainen is in charge of Special Projects at Fifty Years.
She is particularly interested in supporting founders solving complex problems that are traditionally overlooked by investors. She led the development of Repro Grants, a “fast grants” program to accelerate high-risk, high-reward research in the chronically underfunded field of women’s reproductive health.
Before joining Fifty Years, Sara was the Head of Program at Slush, the world-leading startup event, where she crafted a program with the singular purpose of providing the best advice for early-stage entrepreneurs. She is also the founder of Women in Innovation and Leadership, a professional network that promotes personal growth, collaboration, and gender equality.
Before her entrepreneurial pivot, Sara was on a fast track to becoming a tech policy expert. She received her Bachelor’s from the honors college of Leiden University and started a Dual Master’s at Sciences Po / Columbia University.
Sara is originally from Finland but went to high school in an Italian fisherman village. Among other adventures, she has sailed around the world and worked as a lumberjack.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sarakemppainen/ →