NORDIC STARTUP AWARDS FACT SHEET NORDIC STARTUP AWARDS A LETTER FROM THE CEO Dear Friends, We live in a time where entrepreneurship has an important role to play. You can say that we live in a startup era where new companies will impact society and legislation faster than ever before. The Nordic region with its tradition of high level innovation, creativity as well as a strong entrepreneurial spirit can and should play an important part in this new era. Collaboration has never been more important! We firmly believe that in the Nordic Startup scene, nationality is not important. But the ex- change of talent and technology is crucial. We want the Nordic startup- scene to be compa- rable to the scenes in London and Berlin, and we believe the best way to do this, is by closer co-operation between the Nordic countries. The awards stand to represent the entire startup ecosystem - from the startups themselves to the people behind them, and the organisations that work alongside to make the great “We firmly believe that in the things possible. Nordic Startup scene, nationality is not important. But the exchange of Kim Balle CEO and Co-Founder talent and technology is crucial.” KIM BALLE, CEO 2 NORDIC STARTUP AWARDS CONNECTING staKEHOLDERS IN THE NORDIC startup ECOSYstEM The aim is to inspire, stimulate and recognize entrepreneurship throughout the Nordic region, whilst connecting a community of startup enthusiasts, serial entrepreneurs and mentors from diverse and complementing backgrounds. 3 NORDIC STARTUP AWARDS 3 PARTICIPANT COUNTRIES EXECUTIVE Sweden SUMMARY Norway Iceland The Nordic Startup Awards is a unique series of events in the Nordic countries. Since 2012 we have gathered the best of the best from the Nordic startup community, with the ambition to recognise and Finland celebrate all the great achievement of this region. Denmark AWARDS REACH EVENTS Every Nordic country holds a National event for the The Nordic Startup Awards features 14 2015 marked the break of a new record for Nordic National finals gathering around 1800 attendees in categories representing startups, individuals Startup Awards: nearly 15000 votes and a staggering all. Key persons and influencers from the startup and ecosystem supporters. We have star-studded 550 nominations across all categories. In 2016 we scene. The Grand Final is held in prestigious venues, jury members ranging from top entrepreneurs to expect these numbers to be even higher. relocating every year. The Grand Final has gathered investors and ecosystem supporters. All this leads around 650 attendees and finalists from all the Nordic to 70 national winners and eventually the very best countries. 14 startup companies and individuals in the Nordic countries. 4 NORDIC STARTUP AWARDS Nordic Startup Awards connects the entire startup ecosystem - from successful and promising startups, investors and journalists to founders and developers. 5 NORDIC STARTUP AWARDS PARTICIPANT COUNTRIES Iceland Vadsz ísafördur Population: 329,100 Tromsø Finland Regional winners: 2* Saudharkrokur AkureyrAkureyrii Borgarnes Population: 5,483,533 Keflavik ReykjaviReykjavikk Selfoss Egilsstadir Regional winners: 5* BoBoddø RovaniemRovaniemii LulLuleeå Oulu Steinkjer UmUmeeå Trondheirondheimm FINLAND Östersund Molde Härnösand SWEDEN MikkelMikkelii Norway NORWAY HermansverHermansverkk LillehammeLillehammerr HamaHamarr Gävle Turku Helsinki Bergen Population: 5,165,800 Falun MariehamMariehamnn Oslo UppsalUppsalaa DrammeDrammenn Sweden Regional winners: 4* Västesterràs Tønsberg Moss Karlstad Örebrrebroo SkieSkienn StockholStockholmm Stavanger NyNykköping Arendal Population: 9,801,616 Linköpingen Kristiansand Regional winners: 9* Visby Göteborteborgg Jönköpingen Denmark AalborAalborgg Växjö Kalmar Halmstad Viboriborgg Population: 5,678,348 Karlskrona DENMARK Vejle København (Copenhagen) Regional winners: 9* MalMalmmö 6 *Winners of Grand Finale from 2012-2015 NORDIC STARTUP AWARDS COMPETITION NUMBERS online nominations in 2015 national winners 550 70 per year yearly attendees in all regional winners 1800 for national final 14 per year attendees jury members 600 at grand finale 22 in 2016 online votes in 2015 Ambassadors 15.000 30+ in 2016 national finalists Advisory board members 350 per year 20+ in 2016 7 NORDIC STARTUP AWARDS TIMELINE Nominations open Nominations close National finalists are published Public voting opens National level Public voting closes National finals (x5) Public voting opens Public voting closes R egional level Grand Finale 8 NORDIC STARTUP AWARDS AWARD CateGORIES The categories are carefully designed and adjusted each year to secure highly qualified participants reflecting trends and development in the Nordic startup scene. Startup of product and/or services, with Founder Startup Media Best Accelerator based on research from no funding. Nordic universities. the Year of the Year of the Year Program Startup that has shown Best Investment An individual that has shown An individual or company The accelerator program Best IoT Startup the greatest development notable achievements that has displayed passion that has created the best Startup that has shown the over the last year based on Company over the last year. Notable for the startup scene by environment for growth and greatest development based growth, impact, sales, prod- achievements could be providing insightful and innovation and fostered the An investment company on a technology that focuses uct and/or services. fund raising, great customer impacting coverage as either startups with the best finan- that has displayed the best on the interaction between growth, good financials, a blogger or a journalist. It cial results. investment acumen over IT, data and society. Best Newcomer the last year. This could be great leadership. could be based on stories defined as an exit, early shared with impact, original/ Best Social Tech Startup with up to 2 years of investment of a notable CTO Hero creative angles, persever- Best Exponential age that has shown a prom- startup or realisation of an ance interest in the topic. Startup ising track based on growth, earlier investment. of the Year Startup Startup with a product or ser- impact, sales, product and/or Startup that has shown Best Office vice within the field of social services. An individual that has shown the greatest development Best Business entrepreneurship that have notable achievements with Space over the last year by either created the most impact and a big impact over the last adapting, developing and/ Best Angel An office space that de- or growth. year. Notable achievements or implementing a disruptive serves the recognition for An individual investor that could be accomplishments technological innovation. Bootstrapped has displayed the best in- in product development, its help & services to the startup ecosystem, and for Best Student Startup that has shown vestment acumen in startups fund raising, great customer creating an environment that the greatest development over the last year, based on growth, good financials, and Startup fosters innovation. over the last year based seed stage investments. great leadership. Best student startup idea 9 on growth, impact, sales, NORDIC STARTUP AWARDS WINNERS 2015 Startup Media of the Year Best Professional Investor The Copenhagen Nokia Bridge Neil Murray - ‘The Nordic Web’ Lifeline Ventures (FI) Incubator (DK) Best Accelerator Program (DK) Startup Reykjavik (IS) Startup of the Year Best Startup Journalist Startup of the Year Plain Vanilla (IS) Anders Kanberg - ‘De Seks Hatte’ Best Bootstrapped Falcon Social (DK) (DK) Dirtybit (NO) 2012 Best Student Startup Best Newcomer 2014 Drinkster (DK) Unacast (DK) Best Bootstrapped Founder of the Year LikenShare AS (NO) Designer of the Year Best Office Space Carl Waldekranz (SE) Rasmus Nielsen & Nicolas Mesh (NO) Best Funded Startup Thomsen, SHAPE (DK) Best Service Provider Wrapp (SE) Best Professional Investor FundedbyMe (SE) Developer Hero Creandum (SE) Best International Startup Peter Sunde (SE) Journalist of the Year Zendesk (DK) Best Social Tech Startup Greg Anderson (FI) Founder of the Year Be my Eyes (DK) Best Newcomer Hjalmer Winbladh (SE) Developer Hero Indoor Atlas (FI) Developer Hero Jonas Bruun Nielsen (NO) Startup of the Year Martina Elm (SE) Best Professional Investor Supercell (FI) Best Newcomer Creandum (SE) Founder of the Year Jumpstarter (SE) Kristo Ovaska (FI) Best Service Provider 10 NORDIC STARTUP AWARDS “There are some incredible startups blossoming across the Nordic countries, and the awards are a chance to celebrate what is being achieved, as well as to help put Nordic startups on the map of international business.” - ULRIK BO LARSEN, CEO, FAlcon SOCIAL Falcon Social Ulrik Bo Larsen, CEO and Founder, Falcon Social Startup of the Year 2015 “Winning Nordic Startup of the Year in 2015 solidified Falcon Social offers a platform for social media Falcon Social as a disruptive force in the tech world. management, helping clients to explore the full We’ve since gone onto grow our headcount by 54%, potential of social media marketing and instill a and added new offices in Berlin and Budapest to our social-first thought process in their employees. existing bases in Copenhagen and New York. It’s The company was founded 2010 in Copenhagen been an amazing year for us, and we’ll be changing and employs over 200 staff working in offices in the game even more 2016. New York City and Copenhagen. We love the Nordic Startup Awards because they highlight the Investors: Northcap Partners, Target Partners & Nordic