New Chairman of Innofounder Committee role
I’ve had the honor to be offered the role as Chairman of the Innofunder panel by Innovationsfonden and have gladly accepted.
The innofounder program give grants to new/young entrepreneurs that pay them a fixed salary equivalent for one year, giving them time to learn how to start and grow a business. It’s the program I would have killed for back when I was a young entrepreneur just starting out.
The grants are a national investment into people who demonstrate particular talent, tenacity and motivation for entrepreneurship. The role of the panel is to select the most promising entrepreneurial talents among the many applicants and ensure we support a diverse group in terms of gender, geography and industry.
I have always prioritised assisting causes that promote opportunities for new and young entrepreneurs. Since my days at Venture Cup, I been part of Markedsmodningsfonden, HackFwd, Magazin Du Nord Fashion Prize, Oslo Innovation Award, Webby Awards, Lovie Awards, EU programs, Atomico Angel and a whole host of investment committees. It takes up a fair amount of time, but prioritise the time to do it aside my day job because it’s in the early days when entrepreneurs need the support the most, and - from a personal point of view - it’s the time when it’s most rewarding and energising to spot fresh new talent.
Innofounder will be offering the first found of grants already in January 2021, and I can’t wait to offer this outstanding opportunity to a group of hopeful young entrepreneurs. The grants are offered to Danish citizens.
Recently at the Magazin Du Nord Fashion Prize jury day where Cecilie Bahnsen was awarded 200k DKK as the most promising up-and-coming sustainable designer.
Back when I was starting Everplaces, my second compay, we were lucky (and hard-working) enough to win a range of awards and prizes. That meant the world to us in terms of borrowed credibility and capital. I’m pleased to sit on several boards today that offer similar opportunities to new entrepreneurs.