“Female Entrepreneurship for Innovation & Excellence Initiative (FENIX)” by Brookstreet & PRAXI Network
London, 20th of November 2024
Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP & PRAXI Network Announce the Launch of the “Female Entrepreneurship for Innovation & Excellence Initiative (FENIX)”
PRESS RELEASE
Following the resounding success of the PRAXI–Brookstreet Entrepreneurship Competition https://www.brookstreetequity.com/news/innovation-and-entrepreneurship-pitch-competition-by-praxi-and-brookstreet and our expanding collaboration with the PRAXI Network, Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP is proud to announce the launch of the Female Entrepreneurship & Network for Innovation & eXcellence (FENIX) Initiative: a cross-border initiative dedicated to empowering, accelerating, and investing in female-led innovation across Europe and beyond.
Timed to coincide with Women’s Entrepreneurship Day*, this initiative seeks to highlight the extraordinary pool of female founders, executives, and innovators who are shaping the future of the European innovation ecosystem.
Why This Matters
Female-led startups receive less than 2% of total VC funding globally.
Yet they statistically outperform in ROI, risk-adjusted capital efficiency, and ESG adherence.
Europe has an immediate opportunity to add €800B+ to GDP through increased female entrepreneurship.
Purpose of the Initiative
The Female Entrepreneurship & Innovation Council aims to become a platform of by delivering practical support, visibility, capital access, and mentorship to female founders at every stage. Together with PRAXI Network, we will design and execute programmes that catalyse innovation, elevate female role models, and strengthen Europe’s entrepreneurship landscape.
FENIX Pillars
1. FENIX Competition: Powered by Brookstreet & PRAXI
A dedicated competition exclusively for female-led startups/scaleups, focused on innovation.
Key features:
• National and EU-wide application stream ensuring broad access and visibility for female-led startups and scaleups across Europe and the global diaspora
• PRAXI-led technical support to prepare founders for competitive funding processes, including proposal refinement and EIC Accelerator readiness
• Joint Brookstreet–PRAXI evaluation and mentorship, offering strategic guidance, investment readiness support, and targeted scaling advice for shortlisted finalists
• Fast-track advancement for top-performing applicants to the main Brookstreet–PRAXI Entrepreneurship Award Finals, elevating their exposure to investors, corporates, and institutional partners
• EIC coaching package provided by PRAXI’s specialised team, helping founders navigate the EIC pathway and strengthen their competitive positioning
• High-visibility media recognition and award ceremony, celebrating outstanding female innovators and promoting their achievements across Brookstreet, PRAXI, and partner networks
2. FENIX Forum
A curated, high-touch annual forum hosted by FAB members, bringing together leading female founders, innovators, investors, and executives. The Summit will serve as the flagship gathering of the FENIX initiative, showcasing excellence, fostering collaboration, and amplifying the visibility of female-led innovation.
Key features:
· Keynotes from FAB Members highlighting global trends in innovation, leadership, sustainability, and entrepreneurship
· Panel discussions on capital access, scaling strategies, regulatory pathways, ESG leadership, technology, dual-use/defence innovation, and Longevity & HealthTech
· Showcase sessions for selected female-led startups/scaleups to present to investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders
· Curated networking forum for founders, funders, advisors, policymakers, and ecosystem partners
· Closed-door roundtable for FAB members and key institutional partners (PRAXI, Brookstreet, investors, EU stakeholders)
· Publication launch of the annual Women Innovators Report
• Celebration of achievements including recognitions for outstanding female leaders across innovation, business, and impact
3. FENIX Advisory Board (FAB)
Our inaugural FAB members include the following distinguished female leaders.
We warmly invite additional members to join this council; please contact us at FENIX@brookstreetequity.com
Nancy Papaioannou (New York, USA)
· Nancy Papaioannou is a distinguished Greek-American banking executive with more than four decades of leadership experience, recognised as the first Greek woman to serve as President of a U.S. bank through her leadership of Atlantic Bank in New York. Throughout her career, she has received multiple honours for her contributions to finance, community leadership, and Hellenic-American relations — including awards from the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce, the National Hellenic Society, and distinguished recognitions from AHEPA and several New York civic institutions. She has served as Chairwoman of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce.
Elena Stylianou (Athens, Greece)
· Elena Stylianou is the Managing Partner of RSM Greece’s Advisory and Outsourcing Arm. She is also the Chair of RSM Europe since July 2024 and is fully engaged with RSM International regional and global strategic initiatives. Elena has led numerous projects in Executive Search & Selection and Human Capital Advisory Services in collaboration with national and multinational corporations, in Greece and abroad. Elena is a Governor, Trustee, and Non-Executive Director of St Catherine’s British School in Athens.
Natalia Bolou (Paris, France)
· Natalia Bolou is Brookstreet’s Sustainability Officer for the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI), the world’s leading responsible-investment network with over 5,500 signatories and $121 trillion in assets. With a strong background in European Debt Capital Markets — among the earliest adopters of ESG — and the CFA Institute’s Certificate in ESG Investing, she leads Brookstreet’s ESG integration, sustainable-finance strategy, climate transition work and EU regulatory alignment.
Programme Supporters
About PRAXI Network
The PRAXI Network is a unit of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), the largest research organization in Greece. Established in 1991, it bridges the gap between research and industry, supporting innovation and technology transfer at the national and European levels. With a presence in seven cities across Greece, PRAXI Network provides consulting services, funding access, networking opportunities, and commercialization support for research results. It also coordinates key initiatives, such as the Enterprise Europe Network – Hellas. https://praxinetwork.gr/
Dr. Kostas Vavekis, Technical Coordinator, PRAXI Network
“The collaboration between PRAXI Network and Brookstreet has already demonstrated the strength and potential of the Greek and European innovation ecosystem. Through the FENIX Initiative, we are taking a decisive step toward empowering female entrepreneurs with the tools, guidance, and visibility they deserve. By combining our national innovation infrastructure with Brookstreet’s international investment expertise, we are creating a pathway for women-led ventures to scale, compete, and lead on a global stage.”
About Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP
Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP (“Brookstreet”) is a global, award-winning private equity and venture capital firm investing in next-generation innovations that deliver measurable performance across Digital Transformation, Green Transition, Longevity, and Dual-Use Technologies. Based in London’s Mayfair, Brookstreet partners with more than 150 founders, strategics, institutions, and family offices across the USA, Europe, MENA, and Asia, backing firms and founder with grit, deep technology, strong commercial traction, and global scalability. www.brookstreetequity.com
Omiros D. Sarikas, Founder & CEO, Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP
“Women are at the forefront of innovation, leadership, and economic transformation, yet their work remains consistently underfunded and under-recognised. With FENIX, we are committed to changing this. Together with PRAXI, we are building a platform that provides real access, support, and opportunities for female founders to rise, thrive, and shape the future of technology, sustainability, and society”.
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