Vaekstguiden – consolidate or innovate with public resources?

            There are so many offers of public help for startups and SMEs in Denmark that a specific site, Vaekstguiden, was created to simply list them.  If I remember right, there was talk of at over 150 programs when the site was launched. Here’s the blog entry I don’t have [...]

The money’s out there – Via Ventures closes new fund

Who says there’s no venture money in Denmark (and the Nordics)? Earlier this year Northzone closed a new fund worth 90 million EUR and today Via Ventures announced that it has raised 134 million (a nice and round 1 billion DKK).  Northzone is an investor in Spotify and Stepstone and Via Ventures’ portfolio includes Zoomio [...]

5 concrete suggestions to help (foreign) entrepreneurs in Denmark

I’ve been invited by Brian Mikkelsen, Danish Minister of Economic and Business Affairs, to join a one-day meeting called “Vækstdag” this Monday. The idea is to assemble people active in entrepreneurship and investing to pick their brains for a day. I don’t know how much real value you can get by locking people up in [...]

What happens when 100+ Startup Weekend organizers meet in one place?

The Startup Weekend and [Startup Digest] teams have put together an awesome event in Kansas City. 125 SW organizers and SD curators are gathering for 3 days of workshops and brainstorming sessions on how to take these two initiatives forward. There are over 20 countries represented including Japan, Australia, South Africa, Chile and of course [...]

What’s up, Danish startups?

Something’s weird here. -IBM Smartcamp is struggling to get enough applicants. Paris had over 150 teams apply! Sure it’s Paris, but this is Denmark! -The Nordic Venture Forum had to combine its two pre-academies (free training and feedback for startups) into one due to lack of sign ups. -Startupbootcamp, which I run, had a limited [...]

Business Angel status in Denmark

Vækstfonden recently published an overview of Business Angel activity in Denmark. The main take aways: Angel investments fell by 35% between 2008 and 2009 Danish Angels expect to make more investments and exits in 2010 On average Danish Angels plan to invest 1.1 mio. DKK and to make 1-2 investments in 2010 (doc in Danish)

Last minute – Silicon Valley worskshop

Silicon Valley Boot Camp – by the Silicon Valley Academy (Jeff Snider) has a few spots left open for a workshop running June 15th to 16th.  See details and how to register here: Silicon Valley Academy Boot Camp Intro vers 1.1 A4 SVA Workshop Agenda DK 15-16jun2010

Sources for a 20 year-old startup “beginner” – what am I missing?

A contact of mine asked me the following: “Alex, a young friend of mine, a ~20 yr old student, is fascinated with startups. Which events, fora and networks do you think he should follow, where a 20 year-old “beginner” will fit in?” Not easy – in Denmark.  Here’s what I replied, slightly edited (what am [...]

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Startupdenmark News May 2010 Tech Crunch Nordic is coming to town! …followed by Mini Seedcamp. The Aarhus Copenhagen Startup Weekend is approaching fast. Ticket sales have started, go here to sign up. See you on June 11th 2010 at Incuba Science Park.

March 2010

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March 2010