The Inner Foundation

Calling all Social Entrepreneurs & NGOs! 🗣 Are you working to improve the mental well-being of emerging adults? Do you have a proven solution and a clear plan for scaling? If so, we want to hear from you! What are we looking for? We welcome applications from organizations of all types—whether you’re a for-profit, non-profit, or hybrid model. You can be a social entrepreneur or an intrapreneur within an existing organization. What matters most to us is your ability to drive meaningful social change for emerging adults, alongside the character of your team. For this Open Call, we’re seeking changemakers who: - Focus on emerging adults (aged 18-30) - Operating within an Eastern European country - Have a proven solution and a roadmap to scale If you're ready to scale your impact, we’d love to learn more about your work and see if we make a good working match. How does the process work? Start with our Quick Scan. If we think we could make a good working match, we’ll invite you to submit a full application for further review. 📅 We’re processing applications on a rolling basis, with the final deadline at the end of October—so don’t wait to submit yours! Apply now and see if we’re the right fit to support your scaling journey: https://lnkd.in/dzGC6JKW 💭 Do you have questions about the application process or want to learn more about how we can work together? We're hosting an Ask Us Anything session on Zoom on October 7th from 11:00 to 12:00 (CEST). Register here: https://lnkd.in/dQ3CrJUS #SocialImpact #EmergingAdults #MentalWellbeing #DEIB #EasternEurope

Finishing up an amazing visit to Bhutan with Stockholm School of Economics ‘ Center for Wellness Wellfare and Happiness led by Professor Micael Dahlen . The Bhutanese concept of Gross National Happiness Product can really inspire and contribute to sustainable economic development in the rest of the world - as the world could contribute to the development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City project that is in the works. Truly grateful that I and Annika Sten Pärson representing The Inner Foundation had the opportunity to meet high level officials including the Department of Health to discuss inner health for emerging adults. The highlight of the trip was of course our meeting with His Majesty the King thanks to Xinhong Lim, Ph.D.

Have you considered applying for our Open Call for social enterprises and NGOs in Eastern Europe? Then now’s the time to get started before the application deadline on October 31st. ⏳ Our application process is simple and hassle-free: 1) Submit a Quick-Scan application—a quick first step to assess if our missions align and we share common goals. 2) If we think there’s a potential for a good fit, we’ll send you a link to our full application, and you’ll have two weeks to complete it. ✍️ It’s that easy! Get started now and find all the details here: https://lnkd.in/dzGC6JKW Still have questions about the scope, process, or The Inner Foundation? Join our Ask Anything session on October 28th—the perfect chance to clarify any last-minute questions before submitting your application. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/dc9tMn6H

✨ Reflections on Bridging Happiness & Prosperity: Experiences and Insights from Sweden. An insightful discussions about how we can bridge happiness and prosperity, drawing on lessons from Sweden with Micael Dahlen, Annika Sten Pärson, Pär-Jörgen Pärson, Christian Kinch and Stefan Krook, as a part of the Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies panel discussion. Here are some key reflections: 1. Welfare and Safety: Sweden’s welfare system provides economic, social, and physical security, while promoting individual freedom to craft one’s own path. 2. Community Trust: High trust and togetherness are essential for survival in small nations with tough conditions. Pooling resources and relying on each other builds resilience. 3. Education: Inclusive education and a focus on equality, equity & diversity ensures that everyone has the opportunity to contribute, fostering unity and diversity. 4. Well-Being Challenges: The rise of individualism, loneliness, and social media are contributing to a sense of disconnection among young adults. It’s crucial to create support systems that foster belonging and purpose. 5. Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Building a resilient future requires entrepreneurship, talent density, and capital. It’s about creating environments where even a few successful ventures can make a significant impact. 6. Gelephhu Mindfulness City: With the values that Gelephhu Mindfulness City represents, we have a unique opportunity to combine research, innovation, and community. It’s more than just a place—it’s about what the place promises to be, a beacon of inspiration rooted in it's values, agency and entrepreneurship. Bridging happiness and prosperity isn’t an either/or proposition—it’s about thriving together while enjoying progress. Let’s be inspired, innovate, and work toward creating resilient communities that embrace both well-being and prosperity. https://lnkd.in/e9AmAcv8 #Happiness #Prosperity #CommunityTrust #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Resilience #CityPlanning #WellBeing #Sustainability #GMC #RIGSS

🙏 Establish mental health as a norm and put it in the center of societal change 🙏 🚀 On World Mental Health Day one year ago we together The Inner Foundation and Tim Bergling Foundation launched our initiative #NextinMind, a collective impact approach supporting and empowering 20 social entrepreneurs with mental health innovations for Emerging Adults (18-29) in the Nordics. 📣 One thing that we are very proud of is our approach of putting Emerging Adults front and center, in everything we do. A big shout out to our fantastic Emerging Adults Advisory Board helping us make this possible! Matilda Holmberg Sabad Noah Vilma Rimpelä Anna R. Athiraga Arumugam Mathilde Ingemann Gylstorff Thor Svanholm Gustavfson Antti Ollikainen Mohammad Zia Ole Johannes Ferkingstad Jone Smørdal Venla Jusslin 💡 Today we want to take the opportunity to share their vision and key elements of what will form a well-functioning support system for emerging adults in the Nordics. Do you agree? Please comment with your reflections below.  🔍 We are right now in the middle of an extensive mapping of the Nordic mental health support system, and we look forward to sharing more concrete actions and insights on what we need to do in order to reach the ideal support system outlined by Emerging Adults.   Learn more on nextinmind.org #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthawareness #MentalHealthadvocate #EmergingAdults #MentalHealthMatters Perspetivo Braive Kinnevik The Kavli Foundation Illusian Founder Office Ashoka Nordic Bain & Company Northzone Impact StartUp Norge Lorensbergs RÅDET FOR PSYKISK HELSE DDC – Danish Design Center Eva Ahlström Foundation Ing Marie Wieselgrens Stiftelse

Amazing event with our ASN's! We had the pleasure of hosting the incredible Nordic Support Network Lunch yesterday. It was a truly inspiring afternoon with 15 attendees from various organizations in our Nordic ASN. The event, hosted by Annika Sten Pärson, from The Inner Foundation, provided a unique opportunity to exchange ideas with pioneering members of our ASN. Among the guests, Finland’s first Ashoka Fellow, Markus Raivio, shared his journey and the growth of the Kukonori organization, while Magnus Uggla spoke about the value of the Ashoka Support Network and the benefits of joining it. #changemakersunited #togetherforchange #ashokanetworksupport #socialInnovation #Ashokanordic #Ashokachangemakers #ashokayoungchangemakers #bettertogether #ashokanetworkevent

This World Mental Health Day, the World Federation for Mental Health is highlighting the link between the workplace and mental health. With over 60% of the global population in the workforce, the impact of work environments on mental well-being is undeniable. 🗣️ At The Inner Foundation, this focus aligns with one of our thematic investment areas as a hybrid investor — supporting changemakers with solutions that strengthen ‘Well-being in education and workplace entry’. Emerging adults face distinct challenges during the transition into higher education and workplace —managing financial independence, adapting to new professional dynamics—all within systems often lacking the proper support. These gaps affect not only individuals but also have broader societal and economic consequences. We are dedicated to investing in scalable, evidence-based solutions that strengthen well-being during these pivotal transitions across the globe, with the aim of broadening the access to support systems, ensuring underserved and vulnerable groups are effectively reached. We proudly support organizations like: MANUAL, Allbry, BlueCall, PeakPath, Spring Health, Shamiri Health and Braive who are paving the way to help emerging adults thrive as they navigate these life events. While emerging adults can seek out support, it’s employers who must take the lead in creating mentally healthy work environments. The future workforce depends on it, and the business case should be clear: investing in mental well-being drives engagement, productivity, and long-term success. 📈 We call on employers, founders, and changemakers to prioritize mental health in the workplace—because the investment is not only vital for individuals, but for the future of work itself. #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthAtWork #EmergingAdults #WellbeingInEducation #HybridInvesting

We’re proud to announce that our Founding Partner, Annika Sten Pärson, has been nominated for the #AngelPrize by Nordic Angels! 🗣️ Annika stands alongside an impressive roster in the International Representative category, featuring visionaries like Niklas Zennström, Fredrik Eklund, Emil Eifrem, and Johan Brenner. 💫 The Angel Prize honors those making significant contributions to shaping the future of the Nordic startup and scaleup ecosystem. Launched by Nordic Angels, founded by Ash Pournouri and Andreas Grape during the pandemic, it arose from the growing need for community and collaboration. Their mission to strengthen capital, expertise, and connections within local ecosystems aligns with our approach to addressing the global social crisis and that $200 billion mental health funding gap; through catalytic co-investments and fostering a more collaborative investment landscape. If you have a minute to spare - and support to extend, vote for Annika through this page: https://lnkd.in/di279zAt. Voting ends this Thursday at 23:59! And while you're there, take a moment to explore the stellar nominees, including Deqa Abukar, Indra Sharma, Elsa Hyland, Stefan Krook, Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, Krim Talia, Helene Barnekow, Monica Hedberg, Fredrik Hjelm, Mattias Weinhandl and many more! ⚡ #AngelPrize #NordicAngels #InternationalRepresentative #Nomination #MentalHealth

Join our Ask Anything session on October 7th! 🫵 The Inner Foundation is calling for social entrepreneurs and NGOs operating in Eastern Europe, those who work with solutions that set out to strengthen emerging adults' mental well-being. Are you who we’re looking for? Or are you trying to determine if we could make a good working match? Our Ask Anything session is designed to provide clarity on our process, support, selection criteria, and more. We’re here to answer all your questions! 📅  When: Monday October 7th, 11:00 - 12:00 (CEST) 💻  Where? Zoom.  📝  How? Register through this link: https://lnkd.in/dJxtEBqb and receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link. Know someone who might benefit from this session? Please help us spread the word! Learn more about our Open Call here: https://lnkd.in/dzGC6JKW #EmergingAdults #SocialEnterprises #NGOs #GrantFunding #OpenCall #MentalWellbeing Masawa, Reach for Change, Acumen, Mental Health Europe, Global Mental Health Peer Network, The Open Minds Foundation, Kokoro