Seminar series: Get set to involve yourself in the next big startup

Photo: Bjarke MacCarthy

Entrepreneurship and the creation of new and active businesses are of great importance to Danish industry. It contributes to the renewal of production processes and product innovation as well as changing competition patterns and dynamics within the individual sectors and geographical areas where new firms emerge. In addition, new businesses contribute to job creation in Danish society. Entrepreneurs can change the way we live and work. If successful, their innovations may improve our standard of living.

If you are interested in entrepreneurship, you can decide to found your own company, but there are also other ways of engaging with the entrepreneurial community, and thereby finding out if you are an entrepreneur or would rather like to get involved based on e.g. your expertise.

Experience and network are valuable
During this seminar series, we introduce you to how you may immerse yourself into the startup scene by involving yourself in a startup as either an investor or mentor. There is great value in people with know-how and experience, which is why one of the most powerful connections identified at Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship (CSE) is mentoring relationships. Investors' willingness to invest less capital than venture capital funds and corporations – typically from DKK 50,000 and upwards – makes investors, also called business angels or angel investors, particularly valuable to companies in early growth stages and startups. In addition, the social and professional networking that business angels and mentors contribute is key to the advancement of new business ventures.

The seminar series will offer CBS alumni an immersion into entrepreneurship helping them to familiarize themselves with investor and mentor experiences and best practices for investment and mentoring. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to participate in a pitch-event.

Investors and or mentors in startups can be anyone from executives, entrepreneurs or business men and women – active or retired – representatives of family offices, investment companies or other businesses and institutions. Whatever their background, investors and mentors share the following key characteristics: an entrepreneurial spirit, the ability to contribute capital and experience to the project in which they invest and to participate actively in the launch of a company.

Advantages from participating in the seminar series:

• Introduction to the entrepreneurial environment and how to get involved in a startup as an investor or mentor
• Access to pre-selected startups with high growth potential and the opportunity to work up close with new, innovative talent
• The opportunity to share your expertise with startups while gaining new experiences
• The opportunity to exchange ideas, collaborate and possibly co-invest with other alumni who share an interest in entrepreneurship
• Ongoing learning and updating of skills personally and professionally relevant to the investment and mentor process

Preliminary dates for seminars and pitch event:
23 February 2016: How to invest in a startup
10 March 2016: Finding the right startup – from the beginning
30 March 2016: CSE Investor Day - see live pitches
7 April 2016: Invest your time and talent in a startup
11 May 2016: Reading the fine print once the startup is identified

Registering for the seminar series
The seminar series is directed towards CBS alumni with work experience.

Registration for the individual seminars will be possible as soon as the detailed programmes are made public.

All the seminars already took place.

Sign up for more information about the following three seminars when they open for registration

In order to participate, you need to register with CBS Alumni. Register for free with CBS Alumni if you are not registered already. CBS Alumni is a network for former students who have earned a degree from CBS as well as for exchange students who have completed at least one semester at CBS.

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact Dorthea Haldrup Nielsen, CSE or Mikala Gyllinge, CBS Alumni.