Vertonet

What Vertonet does

Vertonet is an Icelandic non-profit association (samtök) headquartered in Reykjavík, founded in 2018, that serves approximately 1,000 women and non-binary individuals working in information technology in Iceland. The organization is governed by a six-member elected board and operates on a free membership model with no individual member fees. Its mission centers on visibility, advocacy, and community-building for its constituency within the Icelandic IT sector.

Vertonet's deliverables are programmatic rather than technological. Core offerings include the annual Hvatningardagur ("Motivational Day") conference, an ongoing events program, the Konur í tækni podcast, an annual role-model award (issued since 2019 with named recipients through 2024), the Átaksverkefni initiative launched circa 2022 with approximately 30 participating Icelandic technology employers, and the 2025-released Playbook Vertonet DEI guide. No proprietary technology platform, software product, or data infrastructure is described in available materials.

The business model is sponsorship- and grant-driven. Named corporate partners include Syndis, Origo, Símminn, Advania, Ský, and Gangverk, alongside ~30 additional firms in Átaksverkefni. Vertonet generates no membership revenue, no transaction revenue, and no software license revenue; all funding flows from corporate sponsorships and project grants. The organization is structurally a community/advocacy layer rather than a commercial entity, and its strategic posture is best read as influence and convening rather than revenue capture.

Name

Vertonet

Legal name

Vertonet samtök kvenna og kvára í UT

Website

https://vertonet.is

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vertonet is an Icelandic non-profit association, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Reykjavík, that supports roughly 1,000 women and non-binary professionals in information technology through community events, an annual conference, a podcast, and DEI programming funded by corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Membership is free. The organization states 'Það kostar ekkert að gerast meðlimur – en þú færð mikið til baka' (It costs nothing to become a member – but you get a lot in return). No membership fee is collected.
2. Sponsorship and project grants: Vertonet operates special initiatives (átaksverkefni) funded by grants and sponsorships from companies, industry associations, and government bodies. Approximately 30 companies, educational institutions, and organizations participate in the diversity initiative. The organization also receives sponsorship for events such as the annual Hvatningardagur from sponsors including Syndis, Síminn, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vertonet is a non-profit membership association that builds and serves a community of approximately 1,000 women and non-binary IT professionals in Iceland. Its core offerings are free membership access, the open-source Playbook Vertonet DEI guide for IT workplaces, the annual Hvatningardagur (Inspiration Day) conference, recurring networking events and workshops, the Konur í tækni podcast, and the Átaksverkefni multi-stakeholder diversity initiative coordinated with roughly 30 Icelandic companies, universities, and industry bodies.

Product overview

Vertonet operates as a community organization (samtök kvenna og kvára í upplýsingatækni - an association of women and non-binary people in IT) rather than a software product company. The organization's offerings consist of community-building programs including the Playbook Vertonet (a free DEI guide for IT workplaces), the annual Hvatningardagur (Inspiration Day) conference, regular networking events (company visits, speed dating, workshops), the 'Konur í tækni' podcast, and the Átaksverkefni (Special Initiative) to increase women's participation in tech. The portfolio centers on community, education, and advocacy rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Playbook Vertonet A free, open-source guide to diversity, equity, and inclusion for IT workplaces in Iceland, structured around the full employee journey from recruitment to retirement. Co-created with community input and intended for Icelandic IT companies and HR/DEI teams.
• Hvatningardagur (Inspiration Day) Annual flagship conference celebrating leadership, inclusion, and innovation in tech, featuring speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities for women and non-binary people in Iceland's IT sector.
• Events Program Recurring program of networking and educational events — including company visits (e.g., Tixly, Landsnet, Indó, Asana, Gangverk), speed-dating networking, Christmas cocktail gatherings, and workshops — designed to connect women and non-binary IT professionals with peers and employers.
• Konur í tækni (Women in Tech Podcast)

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 30 companies, educational institutions, and organizations have joined the átaksverkefni initiative to increase women's representation in IT
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SyndiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSyndis is a key sponsor and supporter of Vertonet's activities. At the 2025 Inspiration Day conference, Syndis Director Guðrún Valdís Jónsdóttir stated: 'Við hjá Syndis erum afar ánægð að geta stutt við hið frábæra starf Vertonet.' Syndis contributed as a bakhjarlar (backers/sponsors) of Hvatningardagur 2025.
• OrigocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrigo, a leading Icelandic IT company, hosts Vertonet's annual general meetings at its offices (Borgartún 37, Reykjavík) and provides catering. Origo's HR Managing Director Dröfn Guðmundsdóttir is a former recipient of Vertonet's Incentive Award and has been actively involved in the organization.
• SíminncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSíminn is a sponsor and supporter of Vertonet events. The 2025 Inspiration Day was co-sponsored by Síminn, and the company participated in the Playbook launch event held at Síminn's offices in April 2025.
• Companies and educational institutions in the átaksverkefni (~30 entities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApproximately 30 companies, educational institutions, and industry organizations have joined the Vertonet átaksverkefni (special initiative) launched in 2022 to increase women's representation in Iceland's IT sector. The initiative involves joint action planning, sharing of best practices, and implementation of DEI measures. Participants include major Icelandic IT companies and universities. The initiative was funded by a grant used for hiring a project manager and executing the action plan.
• Háskóli Íslands (University of Iceland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Iceland is a participant in the átaksverkefni initiative and contributes to efforts to increase women's participation in IT education and the workforce. Ada, the women's IT association at HÍ, is also affiliated with the network.
• Ský (The Icelandic Computer Society)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSký is the Icelandic Computer Society, led by CEO Arnheiður Guðmundsdóttir, a Vertonet Incentive Award winner. The two organizations share a collaborative relationship, with Ský's leadership actively supporting Vertonet's mission and UTmessan being a complementary initiative for women and non-binary people in tech.
• AdvaniacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvania is a major Icelandic IT company that hosts Vertonet events including speed-dating networking events. The company has been an active participant in the átaksverkefni initiative and has hosted several Vertonet events at its offices.
• GangverkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGangverk, an Icelandic software consultancy, hosts Vertonet company visits and has women employees who speak at Vertonet events. The company served as the venue for the 2026 Annual General Meeting.
• Samtök Iðnaðarins (Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise (SI) is a partner in the Playbook Vertonet publication launch event and supports the átaksverkefni initiative. SI has cited McKinsey research on the talent shortage and the importance of increasing women's participation in tech.
• UTmessanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUTmessan is an initiative founded by Ský to increase visibility of women and non-binary people in IT. It is closely aligned with Vertonet's mission and serves as a complementary platform for promoting diversity in Iceland's tech events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WITI (Women in Technology International): Long-running professional organization for women in technology with chapters, events, awards, and corporate programs. Comparable to Vertonet in providing a sustained platform for women-in-tech networking and recognition.
• Women Who Code: Global non-profit community for women in technology with local chapters, free membership, networking events, and content programs — the closest international analogue to Vertonet's community-led, event-driven model.
• Black Girls Code: Non-profit community building pathways for women of color into technology through events, workshops, and corporate partners. Comparable non-profit community-driven model with corporate sponsorship revenue.
• AnitaB.org: Global non-profit focused on women in computing, running conferences (Grace Hopper), communities, and advocacy. Comparable to Vertonet in mission, programming mix (events + community + resources), and corporate-partner engagement.
• Girls Who Code: Non-profit working to close the gender gap in tech through community programs, education, and corporate partnerships. Directly comparable mission and member/community-driven model, though with a stronger pipeline / education tilt.
• TechWomen: Mentorship and professional-development program for women in STEM with an events-and-community footprint. Comparable in being a structured platform for women's career advancement in technology rather than a software product.
• Women in Tech: Global non-profit with national chapters organizing events, awards, and mentorship for women in technology. Closely mirrors Vertonet's combination of an annual flagship event, national-chapter structure, and corporate sponsorships.

Others

• Samtök Iðnaðarins (Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise): Iceland's main employers' confederation and a core Vertonet partner for the Playbook launch and the átaksverkefni. Sister Icelandic membership body at the broader business-association level, relevant for benchmarking association-scale operations.
• Ský (Icelandic Computer Society): Iceland's national IT professional society, a Vertonet partner whose CEO is a past Vertonet Incentive Award winner. Sister organization in the same Icelandic market with overlapping audience but broader professional-society remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vertonet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vertonet
• Instagraminstagram.com/vertonet.is

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vertonet