Strengthening Sting for the Future: Welcoming Linda Karlsson and Mia de Besche
At Sting, we are constantly evolving, much like the startups we support. Over the past year, we have restructured our programs, launched new initiatives, and expanded our investor networks. Behind these milestones is a growing need to strengthen Sting itself, so we can keep delivering value to founders for decades. That’s why this fall, we are proud to welcome two new colleagues who will play key roles in shaping Sting’s next chapter: Linda Karlsson as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Mia de Besche as Head of Investor Relations and Finance.
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Building the foundation: Linda Karlsson as CFO
For a support organisation like Sting, long-term success depends not only on great coaching, programs, and networks, but also on the organisation's strength. Linda Karlsson joins us with over 20 years of international experience in finance, business control, and strategic leadership.
Her role will be to ensure that Sting remains financially strong, operationally sustainable, and ready to scale.
“Behind every thriving startup ecosystem is a support organisation that is just as well-run as the companies it helps,” says Linda. “My focus will be on building the structures and financial foundation that allow Sting to keep backing founders for many years to come.”
By reinforcing Sting’s internal capacity, Linda ensures that the organisation has the stability and flexibility to keep innovating in how we serve startups.
Expanding the reach: Mia de Besche as Head of Investor Relations & Financing
While Linda builds the internal foundation, Mia de Besche is taking the lead in expanding Sting’s external reach. As the new Head of Investor Relations & Financing, she brings hands-on experience from the startup world as a former founder and CEO who built and sold a company in the US, combined with a background in venture capital where she has invested in and worked closely with numerous startups.
Mia has previously worked closely with founders throughout the fundraising journey, from crafting financial strategies and setting milestone-driven budgets to building compelling investor narratives and managing negotiations.
Her mission at Sting is to support founders in building strong financing strategies and raising the right capital at the right time from investors who fit their vision.
“Sting already has an unmatched track record in helping startups raise capital,” says Mia. “I want to make it easier for founders to raise the capital they need and to make sure that great investors do not miss the opportunity to back the companies shaping the future.”
By combining strategic financing support with Sting’s strong network of angels and VCs, Mia strengthens one of our most powerful assets: the ability to turn bold ideas into real growth stories.
Looking ahead
Together, Linda and Mia represent two sides of the same coin: building Sting’s internal strength while expanding our external networks. Their arrival comes at a pivotal moment as Sting prepares to launch new initiatives, scale our programs, and support even more founders who are tackling the world’s most pressing challenges.
At Sting, we often say that startups can achieve success faster with the proper support. With Linda and Mia joining our team, we’re making sure that Sting itself is ready to do the same.
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