The Danish Startup Ecosystem Guide - Magasin - Side 67
Big business in startups?
Before becoming the industry giants they are today, Novo Nordisk, Lego and Mærsk also
started out as small businesses. Even though their white collars and multi billion dollars
revenues are far from the startup life, established corporations play an increasingly
important and active role in the Danish startup ecosystem.
A
s large, established companies with significant resources
and market share, corporates
can provide a range of benefits to startups. While some establish
startup-specific offerings - e.g. their
products and services at a reduced price
- others engage more deeply including
access to funding, expertise, office space, and networks.
Strategic funding from a potential client
Many corporates use innovation programs, accelerators and special in-house startup units to initiate their engagement with startups and the ecosystem.
These programs are designed to bring
startups in contact with corporates and
provide them with resources and support to help them develop their businesses. Through these programs, startups
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may be able to access mentorship, training, and resources to help them grow
and scale their businesses.
Corporates looking to get more
deeply involved in the ecosystem
often do so through corporate venture
capital (CVC) funds. These funds are
established by corporates to invest in
startups that are working on innovative technologies or business models
that are relevant to the corporate’s
strategic goals. By investing in startups, corporates can gain access to
new technologies and business models
that can help them stay competitive in
their markets. In return, the startups
gain access to resources they could
only dream of otherwise.
In addition to providing funding, corporates can also provide startups with
access to their expertise and networks.
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