Venture Cup Connector by Venture Cup

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS IS ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

ABOUT VENTURE CUP Venture Cup Connector 3 4 great ideas to help you along the way 6 The quotes 8 The Jury 9 The Advisors 10 The Timeline 11

DISCOVERING NEW ENTREPRENEURS Winners of Startup Competition 13 Black Silicon Solar Cells 15 MedGreen 17 Oculeve 19 BioLab 21 Iconfinder 23 Winners of Idea Competition 27 Partners in crime 31

PREVIOUSLY DISCOVERED ENTREPRENEURS Lovefilm 35 Inagen 37 Proud of our Alumni 40

VENTURE CUP NETWORK The Statistics 41 Thank you 43 Universities & FFE-YE 45 Sponsors & Partners 46 Board of Directors 47 Contact 48

VENTURE CUP CONNECTOR

Since we were founded in 2000, Venture Cup has developed into much more than just a competition. Today Venture Cup helps innovative university students and researchers across Denmark connect with the business world and tap into the whole eco-system that supports entrepreneurship. Our competitions now serve as a platform to inspire and facilitate the development of our participants – thus enabling their research and ideas to reach its full potential of commercialization and help them on their path towards answering the global challenges that lie ahead.

This publication, Venture Cup CONNECTOR, will show you some of the brightest and most dedicated teams from the past year, tomorrow’s startup stars, as well as some from the years before. We will also use the pages to show you a bit more about Venture Cup and how you can tap in to our network. Lastly we want to thank every single one of the awesome people we are so fortunate to help, connect and collaborate with every day of the year. Your energy gives us energy. Keep on rocking.

By getting our participants in front of a tough crowd of experts, our goal is to offer them intense and valuable real life experiences. About a world where fast failure is an asset and where success in business is celebrated, not frowned upon.

From 22.000 students and researchers in year 2011, we inspired 1.300 of them to connect with our huge network – who gave feedback to all, plus training and funding to the most innovative and dedicated. 3

22.000 Students face to face

3.000 voluntary hours

500

190

450 400

Alumni companies

350 300 250

600m

200 150

yearly revenue

07/08

08/09

09/10

10/11

11/12

* Number of teams in our competitions.

26%

annual growth rate for the past 4 years

1.130 jobs created

4 GREAT IDEAS TO HELP YOU ALONG THE WAY 1 COMPETITIONS Venture Cup’s competitions are our most well known product. We run both an idea competition and a startup competition, and they are split into five industry specific categories: To market this, we collaborate with the universities, meeting more than 20.000 students face to face each year. Product & Technology People & Society Life Science & MedTech Mobile & Web Cleantech & Environment The Idea Competition runs in the autumn, where teams hand in executive summaries. The primarily goal of the idea competition is to generate interest in entrepreneurship. The Startup Competition runs in the spring and teams hand in full business plans. All ideas submitted to the competitions are evaluated and given feedback by our really cool jury of investors, business executives and serial entrepreneurs.

2 ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING We believe that practice makes perfect. Depending on the region we either refer to events by our partners in the eco-system, collaborate on events or arrange them ourselves throughout the semester. Our close to 50 finalist teams in the two competitions every year get a more intensive training programme before and after the final, to help develop practical skills in entrepreneurship, innovation and business management – to complement what they learn in school.

3 ADVISOR PROGRAMME Because even the best of entrepreneurs need advice, we have a team of advisors who assist the participating teams in turning their ideas into strong business cases. Serial entrepreneurs, who want to help the new generation, make up our advisor team. They all volunteer their time to help the participating teams in further developing their business ideas.

CUP 4 VENTURE ALUMNI CLUB Every single participant will get a membership to our Alumni Club and exclusive access to special events, resources and network. Apart from the above, the newsletter ‘Creator Alumni Club’ also gives updates on alumni companies and other competition deadlines. Three to four times a year, the most dedicated alumni companies will get the opportunity to meet our network in intensive closed training sessions. 6

THE UNIVERSITIES Roskilde Universitet

THE QUOTES Flemming Kobberøe Fink Deputy Director, AU Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Jens Nørgaard Oddershede Vice-chancellor SDU

Karina Rothoff Managing Director CSE

“Venture Cups competitions are a great supplement to the university teaching and training in entrepreneurship. For the students who participate, it is an educational experience – no matter if you win or lose.”

“Through Venture Cup our students are motivated to bring their ideas to life. They get a better understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship and a network beyond the university lines.”

“Venture Cup and CSE have a great cooperation promoting the interdisciplinarity among new entrepreneurs. Venture Cup reaches a lot of students and has an eye for teams that could benefit from some of the qualities we have at CSE.”

Anders Bjarklev President DTU

Niels Maarbjerg Olesen Faculty Director AAU

“It is very important that our students and employees participate in society and create new jobs. That is why we in every possible way encourage people to engage in entrepreneurship; in this context Venture Cup is one of the places that does a great job developing bright ideas.”

“Venture Cup is both a great meeting place for people, who want to support entrepreneurship – and a place that creates a healthy competition between universities.”

Christian Vintergaard Managing Director The Danish Foundation for Entrepreneurship - Young Enterprise

“We see Venture Cup as a communication channel to the university students. A key benefit for us is the direct contact that venture Cup has to the students and the value they can bring to many university lectures.”

THE 200+ JUDGES

are INVESTORS, AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE IT THEMSELVES - EITHER AS AN ENTREPRENEUR OR AS A SENIOR EXECUTIVE.

• Anders Heebøll Nielsen, Awapatent • Anders Pollas, PODIO • Anders Rørdam Michelsen, Kapacitet AS • Anders Sahl Hansen, InnovationLab • André Elm, CONNECT Denmark • Angelica Vargas, Everplaces • Ann Hansen, Concept+Competence • Ann Sofie Jespersen, MS Action Aid Denmark • Anna Porse, Manto • Anne Louise Oreby Pedersen, NASDAQ OMX GROUP INC • Anne Marie Regel Michelsen, Business Kolding • Anne Sophie Vinther Hansen, TomoLiquids • Anne-Marie Hall Henriksen, AmazingHall • Asger Clausen, Vordingborg Udviklingsselskab A/S • Benjamin Lundström, Sirius Advokater • Bent Benemann Bischoff, Erhverv.net • Bent Lundsager, Zacco • Bente Bendix, Esbjerg Kommune • Bjørn Ruwald, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. • Bo Koch Christensen, Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship • Brian Gjerstrup, StartupSteps.dk • Carl-Erik Jørgensen, NOVI Innovation • Carsten Borch, Carsten Borch ApS • Carsten Fricke, Etnisk Erhvervsfremme • Carsten Snedker, Innoption IMEA • Casper Jusslin Andersen, Syddanske Medier • Casper Struve, Zacco • Cathal J. Mahon, CAT Science Park • Charlotte R. J. Nielsen, Deloitte • Charlotte Sørensen, Juriqa • Charlotte Tryg, House of Innovation / Business Kolding • Christian Hvashøj, DONG Energy • Christian Jølck, Coloplast • Christoffer Dupont, Dupont LightStone • Claus Villumsen, BullGuard • Dan Hestbæk, Hestbaek Group • David Gram, LEGO • David Stray Jørgensen, Innovatoriet • Dennis Nørgaard, It-afdelingen A/S

• Dennis Westergaard, Mayday Invest • Ditte Rude Moncur, Vækstfonden • Ed Farrington, Inspicos A/S • Esben Danielsen, Roskilde Festival • Frank A. Mathiasen, Center for Ledelse • Gitte Fredborg, TDC Installation • Gyda Bay, Agro Business Park A/S • Hanne Arildsen, • Hans Hasselby-Andersen, Merus Audio • Hans Møller, Incuba Science Park • Hans Peter Bech, TBK Consult • Helle Fuglevig, Market Select • Henrik Brorsen, CONNECT Denmark • Henrik Egesborg, MedDevCon • Henrik Fløe Mikkelsen, Siemens Wind Power A/S • Henrik Gedde Moos, Danfoss IXA • Henrik Mariendal Andersen, Væksthus Midtjylland • Huyen Pham, Zealand Business Connection • Inga Marie Wollny, Zacco • Jacob Bratting Pedersen, Secunia • Jacob Christoffer Kunstmann, Danske Bank Group • Jacob Fink Ferdinand, Climate Leadership Action • Jakob Boman, Wemind • Jakob de Lemos, Wilke • Jan Christensen, LEGO • Jannik Hansen, Innovationshuset • Jens Christian Foged, CONNECT Denmark • Jesper Dalsgaard, VKR Holding A/S • Jesper Holkenberg, Holkenberg Gardiner • John Agerholm, Vestas Wind Systems • John F. Dascher, Energi Horsens • Johnny Schäffer , InternetService A/S • Jon Ingi Benediktsson, SEED Capital • Jonas Åradsson, Boliga • Jørgen Bek Weiss Hansen, Lassen Ricard • Jørgen Gransøe, Norventum Capital • Jørgen Scheuer-Larsen, Skagen Designs • Julie Serritslev, LEO Pharma • Kasper Hulthin, PODIO • Kasper Vardrup, Rainmaking • Kasper Viebke, Børns Vilkår • Kenneth Larsen, Keystones

• Kenneth Svenningsen, Rocket Internet • Kim Bleshøy Nielsen, INTERTISEMENT • Kim G. Hansen, Integra Law • Kim Kjølhede, Østjysk Innovation • Kim Plesner-Jacobsen, Vertic • Kim Valbum, Danish Refrigeration Enterprises Association • Klaus Lorentzen, Velux • Kristoffer Gandrup, Novozymes • Lars Henrik Rothaus Juel , DONG Energy Renewables • Lars Jagd, Stirling • Lars Nordholm, Novo Nordisk • Lars Schilling Jacobsen, Susema A/S, Jacobsen Publications A/S • Lasse Jensen, CONNECT Denmark • Leif Helth Jensen, CAT Science Park • Lene Vognsen, Arla Foods • Line Fossing, Væksthus Sjælland • Line Holten Reimer, SEED Capital • Lisa Almén , Sunstone Capital • Liz Sørensen, Bang & Olufsen • Lucia Velasco, Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship • Mads Lacoppidan, Coloplast • Mads Prebensen, Grundfos • Maria Andersson, Middagsfred.dk • Maria Flyvbjerg Bo, Shooples.com • Marianne Buus, Karlbak • Martin B. Justesen*, Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship • Martin Erichsen, Martin Erichsen • Martin Schorling Overgård, SPUTNiK|5 • Martin Speiermann, PowerSense • Max Damgaard, Væksthus Hovedstadsregionen • Mette Brunemark, Musikhuzet Bornholm & Egen tandklinik • Mette Fersum, Coachkompagniet • Michael Flarup, Robocat • Michael H. J. Petersen, Ncouraged • Mikael Tipsmark, CONNECT Denmark • Miki Foo, Shooples.com • Mikkel Bender, Chas. Hude A/S • Mikkel Bülow Skovborg, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education • Mirja Bang Hansen, CONNECT Denmark • Morten Bro Nielsen, FOSS Analytical A/S

• Morten Mølgaard, COBIS • Morten Stærdahl Andersen, Syddansk Teknologisk Innovation • Nadeem-Asim Mohammad, Zacco • Nicholas Hawtin, CONNECT Denmark • Nicholas Lerche-Gredal, Hannes Snellman • Nicolas Holkenberg, Danmar • Niels Grønning, Ferring Pharmaceuticals • Niels Vejrup Carlsen, SEED Capital • Nikolaj Deichmann, 3Shape A/S • Nils Thorup, Grundfos • Nynne Christiansen, StartupSteps.dk • Ole Bitsch-Jensen, SEED Capital • Ole Trudslev, A/S Schouw & Co. • Ole Vilster, BetterMonday.dk • Orla Mayland, AiroConsult • Otto Vinther Christensen, FIH Erhvervsbank A/S • Per Höhle Hjulskov , Linak A/S • Per Sondrup, Anybody Technology A/S • Pernille Holmstrøm, LeadingChange • Peter A. Villadsen, Leo Pharma • Peter Damsbo, Damsbo • Peter Elsner, Patrade A/S • Peter Faaborg Andersen, Novozymes • Peter Madsen, Syddanske Forskerparker • Peter Rømer Hansen , Wonderful Copenhagen • Peter Schwensen, FOSS Analytical A/S • Peter Tøttrup, Tøttrup ApS • Ragnar Heldt Nielsen, Godkent Teknologisk Service • Rasmus Bjerngaard, SEED Capital • Rasmus Wellendorph, Hi3G Denmark • Rasmus Wiinstedt Tscherning, Center for Culture & Experience Economy • Rebecca Scheel, Independent Consultant • René Hormand, esoft systems a/s • Ricco Zuschlag, Boliga • Rune Theill, Rockstart Accelerator • Sharon Akler, Delta • Sidsel Hauge, Awapatent • Signe Damgaard Jepsen, Aarhus Stifttidende • Simon Lyngsø, The Copenhagen Metro • Simon Nielsen, Q2Con • Sophie Catherina Løhr, Klestrup partners

• Søren Berg, Væksthus Sjælland • Søren Femmer Jensen, Co Creative • Søren Friis Larsen, Dansk Erhverv • Søren J. Nielsen, NorthCap Partners • Søren Klingemann, Lederne • Søren Nipper, Østjysk Innovation • Steen Palle, NOVI Innovation • Steffen Gabriel Brandenhoff, DONG Energy • Steffen Hansen, KPMG • Steffen Vestergaard, CONNECT Denmark • Stephan Christgau, NOVO Seeds • Stephan Skare Nielsen, Copenhagen Capacity • Stine Helles, Stinehelles.dk • Sune Borregaard, Post Danmark • Sune Højfeldt, ST Ericsson

• Susanne Høiberg, Høiberg A/S • Sussi Bianco, Good Business Matters • Svend Mikael Hansen, BullGuard • Tanveer Sharif, Vopium • Tejn Vanting Nielsen, e-conomic • Terje Mose Pedersen, NetPeople • Thomas Andersen, KPMG • Thomas Bering, Google • Thomas Kledal, Inagen • Thomas Steen, ComputerFriend • Thomas Thomsen, Konxion • Thorbjørn Machholm, Grundfos • Tim Barnes, UCL Advances • Tim Herbst, Health Group A/S • Tine Thygesen, Everplaces • Tom Weidner, CAT Science Park • Tommy Horn, Bevola • Tonni Rasmussen, Logicmedia

• Torben Falholt, Asseco Denmark • Tore Jeppesen, SEED Capital • Torsten Kolind, YouNoodle • Trine-Maria Kristensen, Socialsquare • Troels Balmer Christensen, FOSS Analytical A/S • Uffe Bundgaard-Jørgensen, InvestorNet - Gate2Growth / Mermaid Venture • Uffe Koch, Huge Lawn Software ApS • Ulf M. Gaardsted, Holdgaard // Gaardsted • Ulrik Uhrskov, Schrøder Partners A/S • Umar Akram, Mobile Weaver • Valdemar Siesbye, LAXO • Verena Simpson, Guardian IP Consulting I/S

THE 50+ ADVISORS

are SERIAL ENTREPRENEURS AND PEOPLE WITH STRONG EXPERIENCE FROM THEIR INDUSTRY. • Alex Farcet, StartupBootcamp • Alexander Wulff, ABEO • Allan Silfverberg, GfK Retail and Technology • Anders Brørup, SmartShare Systems • Anne Sofie Josephsen , Mobiletech • Berit Mikkelsen, Novo Seeds - Novo A/S • Christian Schmock, TTO A/S • Christian Drachmann, DNB Nord ASA • Christian Mehlbye, Re:Aps • Christian Risom, Founders House, Shape ApS & Bronco Systems • Erik Larsen, Higher-NRG • Flemming Toft, Incento A/S • Frank Bergmann, Bergmann Associates • Gus Murray, LBI • Jan Dombernowsky, Intellex Technology • Jan Hansen, Accelerace Spin-off

• Jens Reimer Olesen, Graduateland • Jesper Hvid Kongaa, IEC A/S • Jesper Ravn Lorenzen, Grundfos • John Norden, Væksthus Sjælland • Jonas Ørts Holm, Væksthus Sjælland • Julie Serritslev, LEO Pharma • Karolina Rask, Thrombologic ApS • Kasper Lage, Intomics • Lars Høg-Iversen, QVadis Holding ApS & Dynaton • Mads Brinks, Lao Soft Drink Company • Maria Eriksen Larsen, Secunia • Martin G. Pedersen, RequirementOne • Max Anderson, Technical Writer & Manager • Michael Christiansen, Frederiksminde • Michael Kjøller-Petersen, Computershare A/S • Michael Reeslev , Unisense FertiliTech A/S • Mikkel Kinnerup, Tangerine District

• Mogens Thomsen, Væksthus Midtjylland • Morten Brørup , SmartShare Systems • Morten Rinder Stengaard, Secunia • Natasha Friis Saxberg, Gignal • Nikolaj Brandt, NRB Consulting A/S • Nikolaj Opstrup, Peytz & Co • Nikolaj Hendriksen , N. Hendriksen Holding & Fifth Dimension Studios • Peter Holten Mühlmann, Trustpilot • Rasmus Davidsen, Black Silicon Solar • Thomas Eskebæk, Bain & Company • Thomas Gudman , Microsoft • Thomas Kledal, INAGEN • Thomas Rex Frederiksen, Preseed & SpeakersClub • Tine Thygesen, Everplaces • Tommy Pedersen, Startup City • Troels Lindgård, AppliCon Solutions • Troels Valeur, WasteAuction • Zahid Abdullah, TEO

OUR JUDGES AND ADVISORS PROVIDE THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE TO VENTURE CUP’S PARTICIPANTS ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS. Together they spend more than 3000 hours each year helping the • Zoran Gojkovic, Carlsberg Group participants! VENTURE CUP WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT. 10

THE TIMELINE

EACH YEAR OUR PROGRAMME IS BUILD TO DISCOVER, TRAIN AND CELEBRATE THE NEW STARTUP STARS. AND OUR ALUMNI CLUB MAKES SURE THEY ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN.

Each autumn and spring Venture Cup seeks out students in class room presentations, marketing the competition at hand as well as events by our partners. Each year we reach more than 20.000 students and researchers.

aug

sep

Just before each deadline we run an intense marketing campaign at the universities as well as hands on how-to-write-a-business-plan workshops. Almost 400 teams uploaded ideas to the Idea Competition in Nov 2011.

oct

After the deadline our 200+ jury members assess and give feedback to ALL participants, eventually selecting the teams to move on to the next step

nov

dec

The top teams are nominated for the final event in each of our five categories and are given an intense training program, pitch experience and a personal advisor.

jan

feb

In each of the five categories we find a winner of 25.000DKK and the Peoples Choice Award. A jury panel at the day decides after Q&As who takes home the main prize.

mar

Throughout the year we host 3-4 invite only events exclusively for our Venture Cup Alumni Club members as well as our close network. Here we focus solely on training and development of the most dedicated teams.

apr

The Startup Competition marks the ending of each season. Full business plans are handed in and first prize is 250.000DKK awarded on stage at the big final in Copenhagen. In spring 2011 over 125 teams competed and 15 finalists were taken through 2 full training days and a hardcore judging process.

may

jun

P U T R A T S

O M O T F O

S R A T PS

W O R R O re as to Ventu nd their ide se h le it p o w e ls p idua 1300 ey are indiv h T r. a e n y o ti ry ina . Cup eve e and determ v ri d s, m a dre hopes and

king. We rs in the ma u e n re p e tr the top They are en ce some of u d o tr in to tions. are proud ent competi c re e th m urs fro entreprene

BLACK SILICON SOLAR Winner of Venture Cup Startup Competition 2011 - Cleantech & First Prize

Rasmus Schmidt Davidsen THE BUSINESS IDEA The main prize in the 2011 Venture Cup was awarded to the team behind Black Silicon Solar. The idea is an unique nanostructured silicon cell coating that improves the absorption of sunlight and thereby the efficiency of the solar cell. Black Silicon Solar also won the Cleantech category. The prestigious first prize also gives the two founders 250,000DKK. Rasmus Davidsen developed the new type of coating with his advisors at the Technical University of Denmark. The coating makes the solar cell black, which means increased absorption of sunlight and thereby increased efficiency. As the coating is cheaper than the type used by the industry today, and gives just as good solar cells, they can sell the coating to the large photovoltaic power stations. They make the solar cells cost effective. Rasmus Davidsen says that the idea occurred when his advisor used nanostructures for the detection of explosives. They discussed that it was black and made of silicon, which solar cells are also made out of, so he decided to look into this a little more and see 14 15

if these two could be combined for a black silicon solar cell. THE VENTURE CUP EXPERIENCE Venture Cup has been a fantastic experience for us, says Rasmus Davidsen. At the final you got a pat on the back by a lot of competent and experienced investors, business experts and people from the cleantech industry, which has meant that the project and innovation has since been taken very seriously - also from a commercial viewpoint, he says. He adds that after Venture Cup, they have had a lot of approaches and the project has developed at the speed of light. He also says that it was a huge personal experience and a very educational process where his pitching and business writing techniques and abilities have improved many times. It is recommendable for everyone to take part in Venture Cup, he concludes. THE FUTURE Rasmus Davidsen has started his master thesis at the Technical University of Denmark, and says that he is also working on further

developing the nanotech technology in several aspects. He hopes to be able to conduct a commercial test of the coating, which would be of vital importance for the business. His Swedish business partner Hjalmar Nilsonne and himself are taking part in numerous international conferences and meeting with interested parties, and in November they also won DM in Cleantech. Their plan is to get strong results and a strong patent, so they have the possibility of selling the technology to the right customers in the solar cell industry and thereby build up a successful business.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;...the idea occurred when his advisor used nanostructures for the detection of explosives.â&#x20AC;?

MED GREEN Winner of Venture Cup Startup Competition 2011 - Applied Technology

Ole Bjarlin Jensen & André Müller THE BUSINESS IDEA A team from the Technical University of Denmark won the Applied Technology category and the 50,000DKK prize. The winning concept was a green laser for use in e.g. medical equipment, which is cheaper, better and more compact than existing technology. The jury believed the product has a large business potential and that, mixed with a team very dedicated to realizing the project as a company, is a cocktail for success. Ole Bjarlin Jensen and André Müller are the proud inventors and founders. Ole Bjarlin Jensen tells us that the laser is cheaper because it uses significantly fewer components and also because they do not have the same demands for the placement of the components. This means that they can make an automatized production as opposed to competing technology, which still uses handmade products, which naturally means higher costs. The technology is just as good as the competition on many points, and on several points it is even better, they claim. Amongst other advantages the energy usage is lower as well as the efficiency is higher. THE VENTURE CUP EXPERIENCE Being nominated for and winning Venture Cup has given the project a lot of positive coverage, the duo says. They add that winning Venture 17

Cup has also given them access and contact to potential investors and that they have actually taken it a step further with one, who is currently doing due diligence on the project. They say that the process with Venture Cup has been very positive, even if it has been a demanding one in terms of time. Ole Bjarlin Jensen believes it has made them consider aspects of the project that they would not otherwise have considered. THE FUTURE MedGreen is in dialogue with a potential investor, who sees great possibility in the project. There is continued growth in the project and the two founders believe that it is realistic that they will have established a company, which has its first product ready in 2012, with client agreements to follow shortly thereafter. The plan is most certainly to move this on to a commercial basis.

“Winning Venture Cup has also given them access and contact to potential investors and that they have actually taken it a step further with one...”

OCULEVE

Winner of Venture Cup Startup Competition 2011 - Life Science & MedTech

Adam Bohr THE BUSINESS IDEA Oculeve, a team of students from the University of Copenhagen and Stanford University, won the Life Science category and DKK 50.000 prize. The concept of Oculeve is a treatment, which can recreate natural tear production with severe dry eye disease. Adam Bohr, from the University of Copenhagen, worked with Garrett Smith from Stanford University’s Biodesign Programme as the key duo on the project. As opposed to competitors on the market, their product shows a dramatic rise in tear production compared to current treatment standards. The team explains that they identified the need based on two months of spending time in an ophthalmology clinic. There were no effective treatment options and billions of Euros spent on so-called treatments that failed to meet the real needs of the patients. Oculeve hopes that their treatment will allow those suffering to return to their everyday life. THE VENTURE CUP EXPERIENCE At the competition the jury stated that Oculeve was a real winner project, based on a clinical need and with the ambition of improving the quality of life for millions of patients. Oculeve intends to utilize their new incredible network and resources, and explain that they are very 19

pleased with Venture Cup for connecting them with the right mix of people to help their business grow. “Participating in Venture Cup helped us develop our overall strategic plan in Europe,” Garrett Smith says. THE FUTURE Oculeve is moving forward developing their technology and planning the clinical trials. The team has furthermore met with patients in Denmark with severe dry eye disease to gain a better understanding of the market opportunity, as well as the social impact.

“...billions of euros ARE spent on socalled treatments that fail to meet the real needs of the patients.”

Quote

BIOLAB

Winner of Venture Cup Startup Competition 2011 - Services

Mads Tvillinggaa rd Bonde & Tobias Aabye Dam THE BUSINESS IDEA BioLab is a virtual lab for educational purposes, developed by biotech student Mads Tvillinggaard Bonde and design and innovation student Tobias Aabye Dam. The team developed BioLab in cooperation with students from the Biotech Academy at the Technical University of Denmark and with the award were also given 50,000DKK. The concept is a virtual lab to teach biotechnology, the first versions of which are especially targeted at students in primary, middle and high school. The software offers the target group the possibility to work with biotechnical matters, which would otherwise have been inaccessible due to economic and safety related issues as well as time restraints. Tobias Aabye Dam says that the concept was developed out of a smaller project about stem cells, which Mads Bonde got the idea for. The project was tested and became popular in a Danish high school and it soon became clear, that there would be significant educational gains in developing a whole virtual lab. THE VENTURE CUP EXPERIENCE It has meant a lot for BioLab to have been part of Venture Cup, says Tobias Aabye Dam, not least of all because they won the Services category. He adds that the business plan and the business development they made from March until the 21

final pitch in June in the Copenhagen City Hall, has functioned as a guiding line for the team in every step of the way. Venture Cup has also opened doors to many of the contacts they have today - advisors, councilors, and lawyers he says. THE FUTURE BioLab is moving forwards with full steam ahead, having launched a product to Danish high school students autumn 2011. Biolab is also in dialog with investors, who see great potential in the concept. Tobias Aabye Dam says that they are eager to enter the English speaking markets, but that for now there is a fair bit of work in testing and fine tuning BioLab in its closest market, namely Denmark. Venture Cup is not the only one to have spotted the potential of BioLab. The Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Novo Nordisk and Novozymes, are some of those who have been involved in bringing the first version of the lab to all Danish high school students. Furthermore Biolab has plans of introducing students of Ivy League universities in the US to their product.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Biolab has plans of introducing students of Ivy League universities in the US to their product.â&#x20AC;?

ICONFINDER Winner of Venture Cup Startup Competition 2011 - Software

Martin Leblanc & Steffen Thilsted THE BUSINESS IDEA The team of Copenhagen Business School students behind Iconfinder won the first prize in the Software category and 50,000DKK after developing a search machine for icons. Their website is already now one of the top 1,000 most visited websites in the world, with over 1.7 million visitors a month. Iconfinder provides icons for web designers and developers in an easy and efficient way. The site launched a couple of years ago as the first search engine focused on icons, and users can search over 150,000 icon files, used also for smartphones. Developer Martin LeBlanc Eigtved has worked on the concept since the beginning as part of his studies and when he met Steffen Thilsted, an experienced Venture Cup contender, the business plan was formulated and the road to the final of the Software category and the first prize was set. THE VENTURE CUP EXPERIENCE They decided to take part in the Venture Cup competition at quite a late stage, tells Martin LeBlanc Eigtved. The company consisted only of him and he worked full time, so there was little time for the concept. Steffen Thilsted, though, had some spare time and had previously taken part in Venture Cup, so he sat down and started building the business plan. The business plan was written over the course of one intense weekend and sent off at the very last minute. The duo says the experience was good right 23

from the early stages, where they learnt some great skills. The whole experience including the final turned out to be an adrenalin ride, they say. THE FUTURE The duo have already started planning how the prize money can be used to further growth of the company, and plans include hiring another system developer to enable the site to increase in speed and build tracktion, but also for legal advice for further development. The experience has resulted in many valuable contacts already, says Martin LeBlanc Eigtved, and the win adding as proof that they are worth listening too. They already have a lot of meetings with investors and now just having to decide which to go with. The innovative duo now also uses the winning pitch from Venture Cup in a slightly improved version, recorded with an American accent, to send out with emails and for presentations in the US and other international markets. Venture Cup has been a stepping stone for us, they tell, and since the win Steffen has joined as fulltime employee and co-owner.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Their website is already now one of the top 1,000 most visited websites in the world, with over 1.7 million visitors a month.â&#x20AC;?

VENTURE CUP IDEA COMPETITION

VENTURE CUP COMPETITIONS AWARD THE BEST IDEAS WHITHIN FIVE CATEGORIES.

PRODUCT & TECHNOLOGY Senseye

PEOPLE & SOCIETY BioLab

FIRST PRIZE WINNER

In the Product & Technology final in Roskilde, the team Senseye had eye-catching news for the jury. The four team-members, Martin Tall and Javier San Agustin, Henrik Skovsgaard and Sune Alstrup Johansen, created a device that makes it possible to activate and operate a mobile device just by looking at it.

In the People & Society final at SDU the team BioLab made it clear to the jury that they want to revolutionize science education. The two bright minds, Mads Bonde and Tobias Aaby Dam, created an online laboratory where students can make tests that aren’t possible in school surroundings.

ZymeCoat Solutions

Active:Copenhagen

MEET THE WINNERS OF IDEA COMPETITION 2012.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER

In this final the audience cheered for the team Zymecoat Solutions. The team from KU, Torben Grotkjær, Mads Dahl and Christian Lundgaard, created a transparent enzymebased coating for algae proofing aquariums and aquarium accessories, a solution that will make any suckermouth catfish jealous.

In this category the team Active:Copenhagen got the audience excited, and won the People’s Choice Award. Active:Copenhagen develop physical training and events that promotes general health, and is founded by the three students, Niels Feddersen, Christian Dam and Esben Herborg Henriksen, from the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences at KU. Their vision is to motivate and make companies more effective.

LIFE SCIENCE & MEDTECH Navinac FIRST PRIZE WINNER

In the Life Science & MedTech final at DTU the 25-year old medical student Mads Terndrup with the idea NAVINAC received the jury-price and the 25.000 Danish kroner. With help from 3-D technology Mads wants to help blind people in their everyday life. His idea is a navigational system allowing accurate internal visualization of obstacles in the immediate environment, enabling users to navigate freely.

RiboSelect

MOBILE & WEB Read It Loud

CLEANTECH & ENVIRONMENT CoolStep

FIRST PRIZE WINNER

In the Mobile & Web final in Aalborg it was the team Read It Loud, who impressed the jury. Read It Loud has created a Smartphone app that can read aloud everything from parking lot signs to posters. In this way they want to give people with reading problems a better everyday life. The team consists of Asger Lund Pedersen, Kathrine Høyberg, Jan Krog Henningsen and Thomas Lindvig.

CoolStep wants to reduce the amount of CO2 and make future cars drive on fuel cells. The team won the 25.000 kroner in the Cleantech & Environment final in Aarhus for their ultra-high efficiency converter for fuel cell applications. The team CoolStep consists of Kristian Lindberg-Poulsen, Kasper Kläning, Ziwei Ouyang and Gökhan Sen.

Cast.li

Re-charged

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER

In the same category the team RiboSelect combined the best from the three universities KU, CBS and DTU and won the People’s Choice Award. RiboSelect wants to provide pharma companies with novel enzymes in a faster, cheaper and better way than the competitors. RiboSelect consists of the students Matias Munck Mortensen, Hans Jasper Genée, Sabrina Karwowski, Stephen Lutsch and Ulrich Kudahl.

In the Mobile & Web category the energetic team Cast.li from AU amazed the audience with a web-tool that allows you to highlight a specific part of an article and share it with your friends and followers. Cast.li has four members: Nils Kähler, David Andersen, Jesper Weltz, Lasse Chor and Tom Quast. Their vision is to customize the Internet for the users.

In the Cleantech & Environment final the team Re-charged wiped the audience off their feet, and won the People’s Choice Award. The team, consisting of the students Jacob Mac Rygaard, Jesper Madsen, Kasper Damkjær and Christian Elgård Nielsen, created a self-charging AA battery.

VENTURE CUP CATEGORIES VENTURE CUP COMPETITIONS AWARD THE BEST IDEAS WHITHIN FIVE CATEGORIES. MEET THE RECENT FINALISTS OF OUR COMPETITIONS.

PRODUCT & TECHNOLOGY STARTUP COMPETITION

STARTUP COMPETITION

DobreTech is a intelligent motor protection for industrial facilities that can reduce the problem of unscheduled breakdowns.

wasteauctions.biz is a online marketplace for business-tobusiness trade with waste.

ZymeCoat Solution is producing a transparant enzyme based coating for algie proofing aquariums

WavesOut is the first Danish music service, which offers you electronic and indie music - free and legal.

IDEA COMPETITION

3D-OCT targets the market for ophthalmology with an enabling technology for real-time 3D optical coherence tomography, which will make it easier for the physician to correctly diagnose age-related eye diseases.

Gratis Papkasser offers free cardboard boxes, produced and delivered to all trades in a broad amount of sizes financed by commercials on the side of the boxes.

CogniCor has created an automated complaint management service. They want to make complaint resolution timeefficient and cost-effective. Kanda makes 3D visualisation models for building projects. It is a bit like Google earth â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just predicting the image of future projects. Rapid Food Analyser can instantly determine if food is still edible or not. Thermopot is creating a technology for an insulated cookware, so people can make better food easier, reduce the environmental impact of cooking and reduce their energy bill.

PEOPLE & SOCIETY

Tag2Go Team has used wireless technology to create a device so people can find what they have lost.

iAspire.dk is designed to help young people find out, what they really want career wise. CSR Business wants to create sustainable trade- and touristic partnerships between Europe and Peru. Shasim wants to make communication possible for developing countries by creating a platform for communication, which makes it possible for people who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t read or write to communicate online. The Water Factory enables children to use their kinetic energy to influence their experiences while playing. This is my Story takes advantage of the growing possibilities in media and technology and teaches people how to create short documentaries about their own lives, engaging people in their local community and improving their self-esteem.

LIFE SCIENCE & MEDTECH

MOBILE & WEB

CLEANTECH & ENVIRONMENT

STARTUP COMPETITION

BUCKY’o’ZUN is the first technology in the world to protect 99,99 % against all UV-radiation, making it able to prevent skin cancer and extend the lifespan of various materials.

Mobileleaks develops smart-phone application that monitors the use of the mobile and assigns the best subscription plan.

PinoLED is a innovative and energy saving LED lightning solution for display cases.

Mobile Social Games develop freemium mobile social games utilizing smart-phone technology, such as GPS and camera.

U-Ground is processing the tree roots making the transportation to heating plants easier and cheaper.

IDEA COMPETITION

BON APP’etit wants to say goodbye to the physical receipt, by exchanging the receipts and printer with a monitor with a QR code.

Cali Microalgae grows the microalgae Spirulina on flue gas, and uses it as a protein source to feed pigs.

Phospho-tag protein purification is a one step purification technology for recombinant protien drugs. IDEA COMPETITION Cartigen Pro is a superstructure - a nano-porous scaffold focused on treating severe articular cartilage injuries in the knee. It is the defining step from cartilage restoration towards cartilage regeneration. DNA2POR is a revolutionary product that predicts the facial appearance of a person based on a DNA sample. Bojesen and Petersen Biotech Aps are detecting dormant streptococci for improved fertility RG-COAT is presenting a biological coating for medical devices that prevent inflammation and cell adhesion Vspoc has created a point-of-care device for rapid analysis for virus strains. FIDA’s idea is an improved method for diagnosing through quantification of analytes in liquids.

1Up helps victims of an emergency situation get fast life saving assistance from people just ‘round the corner. Rebiosis wants to give waste new life by creating a platform for companies to find partners for bilateral waste exchange contracts. The Innovator’s Web Toolkit creates programming tools that make coders and business people understand each other WavesOut is the first Danish music service, which offers you electronic and indie music - free and legal. WeRoute is an easy-to-use web-based routing solution, which aims to improve the entire snow clearing process, from the planning and management to the actual snow clearing, resulting in a smoother and more efficient overall process.

Connex Investments is an innovative fund designed to reduce the barriers to implementing energy efficient technology NEES Anammox Consulting Group is saving energy on removing ammonium from wastewater. Turkom has developed an innovative solution to generating compressed gases for its customers. Through the use of a compressor in the nacelle of a wind turbine, Turkom solutions provide its customers with sustainable compressed air. WayBiond is reinventing biodiesel transforming waste products into fuels.

production,

Standby Terminator has created a simple portable product system to eliminate standby consumption.

OUR PARTNERS IN CRIME..

WE ARE PROUD TO COLLABORATE WITH EVERYONE IN THE UNIQUE ECO-SYSTEM SUPPORTING THE DANISH STARTUP SCENE!

OUR PREVIOUSLY

DISCOVE

ENTREPREN We love to keep in touch with our previous participants as they start and grow their ventures.

We are proud to be part of the entrepreneurial journey of more than 190 companies and we would like to share some of their stories.

ERED

NEURS

LOVEFILM Venture Cup Alumni

American Josh Mortensen and Dutch Ari Wegter developed in 2002 what was later to become Lovefilm., a film subscription service, which in early 2011 was taken over by Amazon. A true success and innovation story.

Lovefilm did 100 million euro revenue in 2010. Amazon bought Lovefilm for 312 million dollars in 2011. Today Lovefilm has more than 2 million paying users in six countries.

Inspiration from across the pond Lovefilm started out as a firm called Digitarian, based on a business idea from the US called Netflix. Josh Mortensen and Ari Wegter both happened to be in Denmark at the same time and based on an article they saw in Time Magazine about US film subscription service Netflix, they decided to put together a business plan for a similar firm on the Danish market. The two founders decided that with the reliable and safe Scandinavian postal system as well as the fact that the Scandinavian market was the highest video rental market after the US and the UK, a similar model would indeed work well here. “The firm is based on a simple business idea. Although at the time it was still a relatively unknown one. Customers choose the film they want on the website and we sent the film to them. It is subscription based, not per rental and everyone gets a free trial,” Josh Mortensen explains. Structure and mentoring In 2002 the duo wrote a business plan and entered the Venture Cup competition. “We needed structure, mentoring and deadlines and we used this to develop a good business plan, a business plan which we actually used for many years at the company,” Josh Mortensen explains. The strong business plan paved the way for a huge success on the Danish market, where it became highly influential and as Josh Mortensen says: With a solid plan and no money, they really had to follow the business plan very stringently.

UK based Lovefilm. As part of the deal, the duo remained working in the firm. In 2009 Amazon bought half of the firm and then in January 2011 Amazon acquired the remaining shares and Josh Mortensen and Ari Wegter exited the firm. The two are already involved in a new online advertising company, Glib Hippo. A global success Today Lovefilm has the largest offer of rental films on DVD, Blu-ray and games on the Danish market, some 13,000 titles in total. The business has since spread to across Europe, having the largest film rating databases in Europe, with over 80 million film ratings and over 843.000 member reviews and film blogs. The business is active across Denmark, Norway and Sweden, as well as the UK and Germany. “It was a long process, but a huge success. Venture Cup was a great experience; we learnt so much about creating a business and most of all it opened so many doors for us and helped us to get connected,” Josh Mortensen explains.

ABOUT • Developed in 2002, founders Ari Wegter and Josh Mortensen sold their shares in the firm to Amazon in early 2011. • Ari Wegter worked as MD of the company, leading the roll out of the business on the German market, prior to its merger with Amazon. • Josh Mortensen was MD of the Danish unit and following the merger with Lovefilm, Nordic Product Manager at Lovefilm International. • The duo has now founded their next project, the online advertising agency Glib Hippo. THE PRODUCT • A film subscription service, where customers choose the film they want on the website, the film is sent to them, and when they have watched it, it is returned. The service is subscription based and there is a free trial for all new customers.

They ran Digitarian from 2003-2006, after which time they orchestrated a merger into Scandinavian, after which it was absorbed by 36

INAGEN Venture Cup Alumni

It has been seven years since Thomas Kledal won Venture Cup with the idea Inagen, a new method of developing new forms of therapies against viral diseases. Dr. Thomas Kledal fills us in on what has happened since for the ambitious startup.

INAGEN has received approximately DKK 20 million in funding from NOVO A/S and CAT SCIENCE Park. Ernst & Young nominated INAGEN Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010. INAGEN was featured as the ‘Emerging Company Profile’ in the January 17, 2011 edition of BioCentury 37

A novel idea Inagen was developed by biotechnology industry scientist Thomas Kledal, who created a technology, which builds on the development of novel types of immunotoxins targeting virus-infected cells. The technology exploits the virus’ own defense mechanism facilitating a specific, efficient and highly potent attack on the virus-infected cell. The platform technology can be developed for numerous infectious diseases. Today, the company still works on the basis of the then developed technology, focusing on unmet needs in viral treatment. The first drug candidate, INA115E is capable of inhibiting Cytomegalovirus (CMV) more than one million fold with a potency, which is over ten thousand fold higher than the current marketed drugs. The CMV infection hits many transplant recipients globally and causes transplant rejection, serious illness and can even cause death if left untreated. The technology carries a market potential of 500m USD annually in the US alone. Getting idea to paper Thomas Kledal and Inagen won the Venture Cup in 2003-2004, an experience, which he recalls as being much more than a fun experience: “It is what enabled me to establish the company and get structure on my ideas. Without Venture Cup, Inagen would still be an idea lying at the bottom of the drawer,” he explains. The future is bright Thomas Kledal recounts that it actually took four years for the business to take shape. Right after winning the competition, they searched for more capital, but this was difficult at the

time. As a result Thomas Kledal took on new roles at Hvidovre hospital and later Risø, which occupied a significant part of his time. In early 2007 things picked up again and they started talking to investors and raised capital from CAT Science Park. Funds, which allowed the company to be established in 2008. It had taken some time, but it was still the exact same concept and idea that were presented at Venture Cup.

ABOUT

Thomas Keldal now works full time in the company and the past few years have also seen the business raise a second round of funding. This time CAT Science Park was joined by Novo Seeds. The funds have carried the company the past three years, where pace has picked up considerably. New staff has been hired and Thomas Kledal proudly explains that the concept is now proved; it works much better than what is currently on the market, and right now they are about to enter the next chapter of the business, namely development.

• The company has raised funds from CAT Science Park and Novo Seeds and now seeks to raise further funds for the development of the products, mainly from the international market.

The development phase, which will see the development of the products with a producer, is still a difficult and expensive phase, but Thomas Kledal is positive and excited for the future of Inagen. New investors are still needed to fund further progress and these are also being sought for internationally.

THE PRODUCT

Today Inagen collaborates with leading academic groups within the field, providing it with an exclusive position for novel inventions. Alongside this, Inagen is actively searching for new and stronger elements, which can be integrated into future products and strengthen IPR. Inagen states that all the tests it is currently conducting will serve as the foundation for partnering opportunities and clinical testing.

• Inagen is a biotech company, which creates novel biopharmaceuticals for better antiviral treatments. • Thomas Kledal was previously senior scientist at the Danish Technical University and holds a PhD in molecular pharmacology.

• The board of directors includes Peter Samuel Wulff, CEO of Malaysian vaccine firm Sentinext Therapetics and cofounder, president and CEO of Bavarian Nordic.

• A technology building on the development of novel types of immunotoxins targeting virus-infected cells. The technology exploits the virus’ own defense mechanism facilitating a specific, efficient and highly potent attack on the virus-infected cell and is currently focused on treatment for CMV infection.

WE PROUDLY PRESENT... ...THE COMPANIES

WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH VENTURE CUP AS PART OF THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY

• 1Calendar • 2cent Interactive • 2FRESH 2FOLLOW • 3Shape • 42Tools • Abeo • Active:Copenhagen • Advalight • AlCo Company • Amuse Us • ArtCompaz • Axon7 • Baisikeli • Bakoba • Banqu Fashion GmbH • Basechat • BioFunds Solutions • BioLab • biomologic • Bitlings • Black Silicon Solar Cells • BlindSight • Blue ApS • BoCollect • Bojesen and Petersen Biotech Aps • BrainReader • BT-Scientific • BUCKY’o’ZUN ApS • ByPilot • CallCap • Cartopol • Cast.li • Centiverse • Cepa Mobility • Changing the Game • Chellux Hybrid illumination Systems • Computerfriend.dk ApS • Cykelven • D-FRAC

• DampTech • DanishSmarthouse • DD11 • Deep Pockets Worldwide • DIA - the Danish Integration Agency • digroli • Discover Russia • DobreTech • Doceo I/S • Dormicor • Downlapp • Dragon Talent Network • Dupont LightStone • Dynaton • EIR Sciences • EMP Group • Enferm • EpiLabs • epVisor • EuroMedicin • Evertale ApS • Evolving Technologies • Exit Strategy Entertainment GmbH • FlexAcoustics • Floderus & Nyrup Environment Partner • Frame for life • FreePhoneNames • Freeprint • Fridrix • Frontcoat Technologies • Fundr • FutureMatch • Ge.tt • Gi Den Gas Palads • GM Business Development Consult Limited • GP Medical Devices Aps

• Graduateland • GreenTicket • Grøn Stue • Hardcore Processing • Harri Consulting Inc. • Headbox • Health Equipment Denmark • Hermes Traffic Intelligence • HertArt • Hoist Now • Holtech Medical • HøreService • I like locals • iAspire • Iconfinder • ICU-Lite • Identitas • Immeasure • Immutell • iMotions • Implevent • Inagen • InfluAds Aps • InMold Biosystems • Innogie • Intertisement.com • Invacc • InVitroQ • IO Lite • IOLA • Ivoteshopping.com • JobMagneten • Jungle Business • Kafkaf • Kanda • Karolina Fund • Knowing People • Kono Business • Kontraframe • Kuneco

• lemon boutique • Lovefilm • MAIK • MakeBelieve • MalariTect • Mangospot • Medichanical Engineering • Medineering • MESH Technologies • MicroChemix • Miinero • MinReklame • Mobile Weaver • Mobileaks • MPSOFTWARE • Mybanker.dk • Nabby Babyalarm • Nestay • Netamia • NIL Technology • Octave’s Biking Espoirs • Oculeve • Oddlabs • Optimov ApS • OptionDirect • Orphazyme ApS • PocketOffer • Podio • Postflat • Pot8oz • Quality Entertainment • Quantumwise • Radical Innovation Consulting • Read it loud • Regnskabskompagniet • RequirementOne • Retap ApS • RSP Systems • SafeVote • Sapio Systems

• Scape Technologies • Senseye • SHAPE ApS • Shavesafe • Signatures Solutions • SmartShare Systems • SMX • Sonderborg Student Foundation • Spanish Olive Oil • SponsOne • Steady sustainable energy • student2business.dk • studieudstyr.dk • Sund på Job • Sutwell • TEO • Teori og Praksis • The Antibody Project • The Kono Business • The showroom • This is my story • Thought Beans • Tomo Liquid • TrolleyTech • Ugly Duckli • Under Ground Energy ApS • Unity Technology • ViroGates • Vistachild • Wasteauction.biz • WavesOut ApS • WiMED I/S • Wölwa Group • Yellowman • ZGene • Zyntac 40

THE STATISTICS ALUMNI COMPANIES SOURCES OF CAPITAL The different sources of capital has become much more aligned in numbers (previously, innovation incubators and venture capitalists dominated). We see now an increase in the percentage of ‘self financed’ projects since 2008.

33 28

ALUMNI COMPANIES GOING INTERNATIONAL? The majority of the alumni companies export to international markets

Nordic

Rest of the world

ALUMNI COMPANIES ANNUAL REVENUE Alumni companies generated from 2010 over 600 million DKK in direct economic activity both within Denmark and internationally

ALUMNI COMPANIES AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT Alumni companies have raised over 300 million DKK in investment capital

TO ALL THAT SUPPORT VENTURE CUP

THANK YOU

THE BIG GUYS LIKE US! Sidsel Hauge Partner, European Patent Attorney Awapatent

Carsten Collin EOY Country Leader Ernst & Young

Mads Prebensen Group Senior VP Grundfos New Business A/S

“For us it is about demystifying patents. For many new entrepreneurs patent is something expensive and tiresome. Through Venture Cup we can break down these barriers, and let them know that patent isn’t dangerous but a necessary good – and often quite important when you’re looking for investors.”

“By supporting Venture Cup, we take part in driving student entrepreneurship. It is important that what students learn at the universities isn’t just theory for the sake of theory. Through Venture Cup, theory is put into practice when students transform their experience and ideas into new businesses.”

“Denmark needs to support entrepreneurship from an early stage, so that students can develop to their full potential. That is why Venture Cup is important for our society.”

Stephan Christgau Investment Director Novo Seeds

Henrik Brorsen Director CONNECT Denmark

Kim G. Hansen Co-founder, Attorney-at-Law Integra Law Firm

“I see Venture Cup as a catalyst that brings innovative people together. Through Venture Cup we get connected to more than 20.000 students with potential bright ideas. This gives us a better understanding of the new entrepreneurs and ideas.”

“Entrepreneurship is an important quality for everybody - not just for the ones who want to start a business, it is also for the ones who want a career in the corporate or in the public sector. It is what Denmark need, and Venture Cup has a great way of promoting this.”

“Venture Cup enlightens young bright people and shows them a way to independence.”

THE ORGANIZERS

Roskilde Universitet

Education and entrepreneurship goes hand in hand The Danish Foundation for Entrepreneurship - Young Enterprise wants to ensure that more students get familiar with entrepreneurship, while they are studying.

This is why the foundation, since its establishment in 2010, has been sponsoring Venture Cups nationwide presence and training of new entrepreneurs.

For them entrepreneurship is not a gift for the few – but something that can be taught.

Christian Vintergaard, managing director, explains: “Venture Cup has a great way of getting in contact with students. By supporting them we see that more university students makes entrepreneurship a part of their education. We know that this creates growth companies in Denmark – and this is essential for the future.”

A focus on entrepreneurship encourages students to evolve their own ideas into businesses or new business opportunities within existing companies, and through education and activities within the field they also become more aware of the importance of innovation. This is a factor that can help generate growth.

OUR SPONSORS THE EUROPEAN UNION The European Social Fund

Investing in your future

OUR PARTNERS

Sponsors of the finals: Roskilde Gymnasium, Zealand Business Connection, Royal Beer, Udvind VĂŚkst, NOVI, Brains & Business Ictnorcom.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman Mette Mønsted Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship Copenhagen Business School.

Sune Kaspar Testrup-Friis Head of Section RUC Innovation Roskilde University.

Christian Vintergaard Managing Director Fonden for Entreprenørskab - Young Enterprise.

Niels Maarbjerg Olesen Head of Secretariat Aalborg University.

Merete Reuss Head of Education Technical University of Denmark.

Stephan Christgau Investment Director Novo Seeds.

Helle Schroll Head of Career Centre University of Southern Denmark.

Tanveer Sharif CEO & Founder Vopium.

Anna Haldrup Director of Research & Innovation University of Copenhagen.

Tine Thygesen CEO & Founder Everplaces.

Flemming Kobberøe Fink Director ICEI University of Aarhus.

WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK

Alex Farcet, Startup Bootcamp Anders Hoffman, ERST André Elm, CONNECT Denmark Anne Yding Lind, Ernst & Young Brian Gjerstrup, Startup Steps Carsten Collin, Ernst & Young Carsten Snedker, Innoption IMEA Dan Nielsen, Gate To Create Daniel Daugaard, Edufy Drew Houston, Dropbox Frederik Speierman, Apple Gus Murray, LBi Hanne Leth-Andersen, Prorektor RUC Henrik Brorsen, CONNECT Denmark Jakob Boman, Wemind John Dascher, Energi Horsens

John Heebøll, DTU Management Jytte Prieem Balle, Awapatent Kasper Hulthin, Podio Kenneth Svenningsen, Rocket Internet Kim Lundshøj, Zealand Business Connection Leif Helth Jensen, CAT Science Park Line Fossing, Væksthus Sjælland Martin B. Justesen, CSE Martin Speiermann, Powersense Mikkel Klougart, EBST Mikkel Trym, CIEL Monica Pyndt Grønning, FFE-YE Monika Luniewska, DTU Fotonik Morten Mølgaard Jensen, COBIS Nana Christiansen, Accelerace Niels Christian Sidenius, INCUBA Science Park

Nynne Christiansen, Startup Steps Orla Mayland, AlroConsult Peter Damgaard Kristensen, AU Peter Tøttrup, Tøttrup APS Rasmus Bjerngaard, SEED Capital Sine Zambach, ZamCom Steffen Tiedemann Christensen, 23 video Stephan Christgau, NOVO Seeds Søren Boutrup, ERST Søren Toft, Toft Kommunikation Thorbjørn Machholm, Grundfos Tine Thygesen, Everplaces Tom Weidner, CAT Science Park Tommy Horn, Bevola Torsten Kolind, YouNoodle

THE VENTURE CUP STAFF NATIONAL OFFICE

ROSKILDE OFFICE

+45 3815 3377

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Leoné M. Nowell

Sille Holkenberg

COO

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Regional Manager

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Keld Andersen

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Louise Kruchov

Marketing Coordinator

Jesper E. Hansen IT Project Manager

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AALBORG OFFICE

Press Officer

venturecup.dk

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Maiken H. Nors Regional Manager

Ida M. Winge

WWW

Morten H. Henriksen

Venture Cup Group

Regional Coordinator

@venturecup

ODENSE OFFICE

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Morten U. Andersen Project Manager

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COPENHAGEN OFFICE +45 3815 3377

Mikkel Sørensen Regional Manager

Søren J. Jespersen Regional Marketing Manager

Kenneth M. Nielsen Regional Communication Manager

Amanda B. Pedersen Project Coordinator

Julie Rank Project Coordinator