The Danish Startup Ecosystem Guide - Magasin - Side 57
Sponsored: This article is published in collaboration with The Danish Maritime Fund
Maritime fund intensifies
hunt for future entrepreneurs
The Danish Maritime Fund funded 17 Danish startups 2022. Now, they are on the lookout for more projects.
If Denmark is to maintain its leading
position in the global maritime sector
more entrepreneurs are needed. This is
the view of The Danish Maritime Fund
which has earmarked DKK 30 million
for funding startups that are looking
to digitize sea transportation and
maritime industry.
Denmark has been amongst the biggest
maritime nation for centuries. Despite
our modest size the leading position
is built on generations of ingenuity,
creativity, and a tireless ability to think
innovatively.
But global competition is intensifying
Lotte G. Lundberg
CEO, The Danish
Maritime Fund
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each day. And if Denmark is to remain a
leading player it requires innovation and
development of solutions. This is why
more entrepreneurs and startups are
needed in developing the massive potential in the maritime sector, according to
The Danish Maritime Fund, which works
to support growth and innovation in the
Danish maritime sector.
“Danish ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit are high. But entrepreneurs
and startups in other sectors need to be
aware that good ideas could probably
also be angled in a maritime direction.
If we don’t keep innovating we will fall
behind in the global competition,” says
Lotte G. Lundberg, Man. Dir. of the Danish Maritime Fund.
In 2022, the fund launched a two-year
campaign with DKK 30 million earmarked seed-funding of Danish maritime
startups. It was a great success in the first
year and the fund received more applications and supported far more startups
with seed funding than expected.
“We are ready with a helping hand and
risk capital. We are a high-risk fund and
our success with seed funding is reflected in this. We welcome all good ideas
and brave entrepreneurs in the maritime
sector,” says Lotte G. Lundberg.
In total, 17 Danish startups were
funded in 2022, particularly in areas of
digitalization, automation, and green
transition – amongst which are an autonomous sailing offshore wind turbine,
a certified circular economy for ship
recycling and a floating offshore power
generator vessel based on wave energy.
But the The Danish Maritime Fund is
ready for more.
“We are risk-averse and ready to help
Danish projects that do not yet have a
market-ready product or service in place.
We would much rather cater to one pitch
too many than too few, says Lotte G.
Lundberg.
Only requirement is that the startup
should be a Danish based and registered
company.
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