Building on a successful matchmaking pilot in Denmark, this project acknowledges the issue of attracting relevant talent on market terms for startups. Lack of talents means lack of funds needed for growth, and there is a need to improve startups’ access to the competence of experienced business leaders. The challenge is to make them willing to collaborate with startups on alternative terms, and providing them with economic incentives to work as business accelerators.
This project wants to establish a network of Nordic business leaders, from which willing experienced managers can be matched with the right startups. This gives entrepreneurs the capability for internationalisation, since the business leaders can connect them with potential partners, clients and business angels in their home market. The business leaders, on the other hand, will engage actively in the management of the startup, and will be compensated with performance-based incentives. It has already proven successful in Denmark, and now the project wants to scale it to the rest of the Nordic region.
Project status
As of May 2015, the Nordic Startup Managers project has launched its website and created LinkedIn groups in all five countries. It has also incorporated 515 managers and screened 215 startups for its network – achieving 30 matches so far.
Project partners
Denmark:
Central Denmark Region (Project Manager), Keystones ApS, Væksthus Central Denmark
Sweden:
Connect Väst
Norway:
Movation
Finland:
Turku Science Park
Iceland:
Accelerace Business