Meet Deina: Our new Investor with a builder’s mindset and a taste for chaos

We’re thrilled to welcome Deina to the byFounders team. With a background spanning softwareengineering, developer tools, GenAI strategy, community building, and even standup comedy, she brings a rare combination of technical depth, grit and inspiring energy to our team.

This announcement also marks the end of a long search for an investor with hands-on technical experience and a truly founder-first mindset. When we met Deina, we instantly knew she was the one.

“We had been trying for years to find a technical yet strategic person in Copenhagen whom we believe could be a good cultural match for byFounders, but it’s like finding a needle in a haystack. Luckily, we were able to hunt Deina down and convince her to leave her role at BCG advising governments and enterprises on AI strategy.” – Sara Rywe, Partner

We sat down with her to learn more about her journey, her values, and what she is excited to buildalongside early-stage founders.

A journey shaped by curiosity, chaos and a love for building

“I’m originally Albanian but grew up in Copenhagen, and I was raised to use the privilege of living in the Nordics to do something meaningful. I first thought I would become adoctor, but my brain is far too chaotic for hospitals.

After high school I joined a software company in a commercial role. Even though I wasn’t an engineer yet, I was exposed to tech and fell in love with the builder mentality. The idea that you can write something in your pajamas and ship it to millions was irresistible. That curiosity pushed me into computer science, where I focused on AI and algorithms, taught courses, and founded a mentorship nonprofit for young engineers.

Later, I worked at Microsoft and GitHub on developer experience and then moved into consulting at BCG, working on everything from GenAI tools for pharma to Denmark’s national AI strategy. Eventually, I knew it was time to get closer to startups again.”

Why byFounders and why now

“Well… the byFounders team is very convincing. Do they do this for a living?

Jokes aside, joining a startup or a VC fund felt like a natural next step. I wanted to be close totechnology again. From the first conversations, it was clear that I aligned deeply with both the people and the values here.”

How engineering, consulting and chaos prepare you for VC

“It helps to be an engineer when you are speaking with technical founders. Unless they are building rockets, then I am as clueless as everyone else. Consulting taught me speed, structure and execution. But nothing fully prepares you for early-stage chaos and that is part of what I love about it.”

The hardest part will be juggling a million things while trying not to be rude. I am terrible at email. So founders, if I am slow to respond, I am very sorry. <3”

What do you look for in founders

“I am drawn to people who have faced adversity and pushed through it. That could be moving constantly, personal struggles or even a failed company. Early-stage building requires being comfortable when things do not go your way. I love founders who can explain how their life story brought them to the moment they are trying to build something bold.”

Authenticity is also central to how she works.
“I do not want a work persona. Whether I am at home, at a party or at work, I want to show up as the same person. That means honesty, speaking up, and treating people with respect.”

What technologies and ideas excites you?

“I am drawn to companies using AI in novel and efficient ways. This could mean using proprietary data, improving inference or embedding deeply into customer workflows. These opportunities often appear in complex industries like healthcare or drug discovery, although I am not tied to any single sector.

I also get excited about teams challenging the status quo of social networks and online communities, even if that is not a common focus among investors.”

What keeps you busy outside the office?

“I thrive in chaos. I love festivals, music and performance. These days I am mixing music and even doing standup comedy, which surprisingly fits with the public-facing part of investing.

I am also getting back into building. Hacking together music tools for parties or experimenting with MCP servers keeps me grounded as a tech investor.”

A fun fact
“I am a nerd. I solved a Rubik’s cube in under 30 seconds and beat Throught he Fire and Flames on expert in Guitar Hero 3 with almost 100 percent completion. I have played tons of Starcraft, Half Life, CS, and League. Often with my husband, who I have been with for 11 years.”

Looking Ahead

“People probably expect me to say more investments. But what I am really looking forward to is meeting more founders. I will be proud if, a few years from now, I can point to companies where I made a real and trajectory changing impact.”

Welcome, Deina. We are thrilled to have you, your brain, your builder energy and your Guitar Hero skills on the team.

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