The Danish Startup Ecosystem Guide 2024 - Magazine - Page 28
CO-WORKING SPACES + SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & DEV. PARKS
Sponsored: This article is published in collaboration with BioInnovation Institute
BII is creating a new generation
of resilient entrepreneurs
Mental health can be a challenge on the entrepreneurial journey. That
is why BioInnovation Institute has created ‘Founder Halos’, where
founders can come together around what they typically face alone.
E
ntrepreneurship is often associated with a lonely and mentally
draining journey. But it does not
have to be that way.
At least not according to the accelerator and incubator BioInnovation
Institute, which works every day to
make the Danish life science ecosystem
world-leading and catalyze the commercialization of new solutions from
research into startups and spinouts.
A key element of BII’s acceleration
program, Venture Lab, is ‘Founder Halos’
- an initiative that helps researchers and
founders deal with the often tough mental and personal challenges associated
with the entrepreneurial journey.
“There are so many new things you
suddenly have to deal with when you
go from being a researcher to being an
entrepreneur. The journey requires personal development, and we must bring
founders together and get them to share
something they don’t share with many
others,” says Jens Nielsen, CEO of BII.
Entrepreneurs who join BII’s Venture
Lab program must participate in nine
halos where founders can con昀椀dentially
share the ups and downs of building a
life science company with other founders from their industry.
Going from researcher to founder re-
28
quires a signi昀椀cant personal transition,
explains Jens Nielsen, who has experienced both 昀椀rst-hand as a top researcher
and serial entrepreneur.
“We believe strongly in educating
researchers to become entrepreneurs. But
there is a mental transition. The vast majority of researchers are passionate about
their research. So, when the leap can be
dif昀椀cult, it’s often related to the uncertainty of not knowing the next step. It creates
stress. That’s why it’s important to have a
peer group in which to mirror yourself.”
A safe space for entrepreneurs
The Halos are facilitated by an experienced coach or psychologist, where
approximately 昀椀ve founders at the
BioInnovation Institute
•
BioInnovation Institute (BII) was
originally established by the Novo
Nordisk Foundation, but today, it is an
independent commercial foundation
with commitments of up to DKK 3.5
billion over ten years.
•
The ambition is to unleash Danish
world-leading research and help
researchers mature products and
ideas, develop a business plan,
establish networks, and raise capital.
The Guide
