Women Tech Iceland

29/05/2026

Big news from WomenTechIceland!

A new board has taken the reins, and we are so excited for what’s ahead. Since 2017, our mission has been all about connecting, supporting, and amplifying women and non-binary people in the Icelandic tech scene, and we are just getting started.

As we look toward our big 10th anniversary next year, we are entering a deeply meaningful chapter. We are full of energy and already planning exciting things for the upcoming winter season, where we look forward to bringing our community together through engaging events, networking opportunities and more. We can't wait to keep building a stronger, more inclusive community together.

Meet the new WomenTechIceland board: Ásta Þöll Gylfadóttir, Emiliya Ivanova-Nikolova, Ingunn Sigurpálsdóttir, Natascha Karstaedt, Ólöf Kristjánsdóttir, Ósk Heiða Sveinsdóttir, Payal Shah

A huge shoutout to our departing board members! With this new chapter, we want to send the biggest, most heartfelt thank you to Valenttina Griffin, Paula Gould, and Randi Stebbins. Thank you for your passion, your hard work and impact.

Stay tuned for our upcoming events — we can’t wait to see you there!

https://vb.is/folk/ny-stjorn-skipud-hja-womentechiceland/

06/05/2026

Big news!

Our amazing co-founder, Paula Gould, is the recipient of this year's Hvatningarverðlaun from Vertonet.

The annual Hvatningarverðlaun (Incentive Award) recognizes someone who uplifts and inspires women and non-binary people in tech, advocating for inclusion, increasing visibility and participation, and leading with purpose and a desire to inspire change.

Paula is the true embodiment of that. She is the fearless co-founder of WomenTechIceland and shows us every day how to lead a life that is impactful and genuine.

In her thank-you speech, Paula made sure to highlight the people around her, her co-founders, board members, and of course her family. Even in a moment meant for her, she chose to spotlight the work others are doing and gave them a voice and a platform.

Congratulations, Paula. So well deserved. We're lucky to have you ✨🎉

30/04/2026

Supporting Indigenous innovation is circular, sustainable, and an opportunity to learn the ways and being that the broader innovation sectors say we need to get back to. Continue fostering the connection and mutual cooperation you witnessed this week during Iceland Innovation Week by supporting the Empowering Innovation Spirit Conference with EntrepreNorth in August 2026.

For too long, Northern Indigenous entrepreneurs have had to travel south to find gatherings that speak to their ambitions. The Empowering Innovation Spirit Conference was born from a simple but necessary shift: creating a premier, culturally rooted space designed by the North, for the North.

From August 24–26, we are gathering 250+ Indigenous entrepreneurs, youth leaders, funders, and allies on the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta'an Kwäch'än Council in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Partnering with EntrepreNorth is a tangible commitment to economic justice and TRC Call to Action #92. It is an opportunity to stand alongside Northern communities driving systems change through:

Cultural Immersions: Deepening understanding through on-the-land programming.

Knowledge Sharing: Supporting hands-on workshops and fireside chats.

Relationship Building: Connecting directly with the businesses and policy-makers shaping the North.

In the spirit of reciprocity, we are committed to uplifting our partners in a way that is meaningful and reflective of our shared values.

If this resonates with your mission, we would be honoured to discuss how we can collaborate.

📧 Reach out to us at: [email protected]
🌐 Learn more: www.entreprenorth.ca

28/04/2026

This morning at Iceland Innovation Week, we hosted a panel that reminded us why this work matters.

"Access is the Innovation: Funding, Networks, and Opportunity for Women Founders" brought together voices from Iceland and Canada and the conversation went deep.

We talked about what happens when the default settings don't include you. When funding still depends on who you know. When the same narratives get heard over and over, and new ones struggle to break through.

But we also talked about what changes when women and underrepresented founders get real access. They invest in each other. They notice different things. They build businesses that carry their communities forward through food, language, tradition, storytelling – and they redefine what success looks like.

Joella Hogan put it perfectly: it's hard work, but it's heart work. Chef Steph Baryluk shared how every dish she creates represents her community. Chaiwe Sól Patiswa Drifudóttir challenged us to see that excluding diversity doesn't just hold others back it holds everyone back. And Inga Eiriksdóttir reminded us that finding the right kind of funding matters as much as finding funding at all.

Funding needs to mirror the society we live in. Networks need to actually be open. And innovation? In the North, that has always meant finding a way to thrive.

Thank you to Ambassador Jenny Hill and Xina Cowan, CEO of EntrepreNorth, for helping bring this conversation to life.

🇮🇸🇨🇦

28/04/2026

This morning at Iceland Innovation Week, we hosted a panel that reminded us why this work matters.

"Access is the Innovation: Funding, Networks, and Opportunity for Women Founders" brought together voices from Iceland and Canada and the conversation went deep.

We talked about what happens when the default settings don't include you. When funding still depends on who you know. When the same narratives get heard over and over, and new ones struggle to break through.

But we also talked about what changes when women and underrepresented founders get real access. They invest in each other. They notice different things. They build businesses that carry their communities forward through food, language, tradition, storytelling – and they redefine what success looks like.

Joella Hogan put it perfectly: it's hard work, but it's heart work. Chef Steph Baryluk shared how every dish she creates represents her community. Chaiwe Sól Patiswa Drifudóttir challenged us to see that excluding diversity doesn't just hold others back it holds everyone back. And Inga Eiriksdóttir reminded us that finding the right kind of funding matters as much as finding funding at all.

Funding needs to mirror the society we live in. Networks need to actually be open. And innovation? In the North, that has always meant finding a way to thrive.

Thank you to Ambassador Jenny Hill and Xina Cowan, CEO of EntrepreNorth, for helping bring this conversation to life.

🇮🇸🇨🇦

26/04/2026

What a great start to Iceland Innovation Week! Looking forward to continuing the discussion on Tuesday morning at Gróska hugmyndahús!

22/04/2026

For women and non-binary founders, opportunity is endless - but access is not. True innovation requires shifting the landscape of funding and networking to be more inclusive. The Embassy of Canada, EntrepreNorth, and WomenTechIceland invite you to a moderated panel framing the lived experiences of women and non-binary founders across the Arctic.

22/04/2026

This exceptional panel hosted by the Embassy of Canada, EntrepreNorth and WomenTechIceland will frame the experiences of Arctic region women and non-binary founders and the ecosystem partnerships created to support them.

The takeaways will show intersectional, inter-industry partnerships available now, and what innovation still must be created to foster real opportunities.

Introduced by the Ambassador of Canada to Iceland, Jenny Hill, the panel speakers include:

Xina Cowan, CEO, EntrepreNorth

Chef Stephanie Baryluk, Nihkhah

Joella Hogan, The Yukon Soaps Company

Chaiwe Sól Patiswa Drifudóttir, Co-founder, R.E.C.

Ingunn Eiriksdottir, Investor, Platform & Sustainability Manager, Crowberry Capital

22/04/2026

Get to know our speakers for the "Access Is the Innovation Funding, Networks, and Opportunity for Women and Non-binary Founders" panel discussion, during Iceland Innovation Week, co-hosted by Embassy of Canada to Iceland, EntrepreNorth and Women Tech Iceland. Free event on 28 April at 9am at Gróska hugmyndahús (Fenjamýri). Registration link in the comments.