The Danish Startup Ecosystem Guide 2024 - Magazine - Page 61
S
urfers prepare the board. Practice their balance. Put on their
wetsuit and jump into the cold
water. That is the only way they
can be ready to catch the perfect wave
when the ocean sends it their way.
Unridden Ventures has not only found
its brand identity in the sur昀椀ng community, but is looking for brave entrepreneurs
who dare to jump on the unridden waves.
”I’m an old surfer who loves to kitesurf
- and I still do,” says Søren Alminde, CEO
of Unridden Ventures, and continues:
”Entrepreneurs should dare to take the
chance to create their own business - just
like you should take the chance to catch
the unridden wave.”
Go 昀椀nd your unridden is the foundation’s mantra. This means jumping on
new business opportunities - but it is also
a special mindset for the people behind
the companies.
”It’s a principle of personal development. You have to be patient, believe in
the idea and seek out opportunities - and
you have to be ready to jump on the wave
once it hits. Others surf the wave, but
Looking for new unridden adventures.
you can surf it too if you dare to take the
chance,” says Alminde.
Democratization and community
at the centre
Unridden Ventures is a new venture
fund, but Søren Alminde is an experienced man who was among the very
early internet pioneers in Denmark. In
the 90s, he co-founded Euroinvester,
which went public before it was 昀椀nally
sold to Berglingske Media, and he is
also behind Boliga, which was built on
much of the same DNA.
”We wanted to democratize access to
information. At the same time, we built
it around the community idea. It was
important that the private investors could
talk to each other so that they could build a
knowledge base together. And we did that
long before social media,” says Alminde.
This combination also plays a key
role in Unridden Ventures. Wayer, Capsule and Swop Fashion, the fund’s 昀椀rst
three investments, all have a community element. In addition to providing
growth capital, the fund can contribu-
te a lot of experience and knowledge
within this speci昀椀c 昀椀eld.
”As an entrepreneur, I think I’ve been
through all the phases you can: From starting at home, following the evolution of the
internet, the IT bubble burst, IPO and sale.”
Physical community on the way
As a venture fund driven by community, it seems like a logical next step
when Unridden Ventures opens its
physical community, Unridden Studio,
in Copenhagen in September.
There will be 60 workplaces, and the
ambition is to mix portfolio companies
with skilled freelancers.
The foundation wants to support
spontaneous idea creation by adding
a physical community that can also
include events and discussions.
”We need to get back to better and healthier communities where people form
more genuine relationships. A community where you feel like you’re making
a difference and changing the world for
the other people in it. It leaves room for
impulsiveness, and that’s where the good
ideas that you haven’t thought of yourself
can arise,” says Alminde.
Søren Alminde
CEO of Unridden
Ventures
4 values emphasized by
Unridden Ventures
Democratization: Bridging information
gaps between individuals and larger
corporate entities to ensure fairer prices
and higher trust in online communities.
Individual Data Control: Advocating for
individual control over personal data to
build a democratic data-driven society.
Mental Health and Well-being: Prioritizing
technology designed to enhance mental
health and well-being, with a focus on
addressing the negative impacts of current
social media practices.
Putting People at the Center:
Emphasizing the importance of technology
adapting to human needs rather than the
other way around, particularly in the realm
of social media and online communities.
Unridden Studio opening at Gammel Mønt 3.
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