Grow from a Founder to a Global Entrepreneur
In 2020 we developed our own “Impact Business Modeling” methodology. We added it to our accelerator success formula and conducted our first Sustainability Accelerator in spring 2021. Now we really know how to do it – how to coach early-stage teams with a purpose to solve the largest challenges of our time – and how to align their sustainable solution with the core of their business.
Accelerating Sustainability
Program Dates
Wise Guys Sustainability accelerator in Copenhagen is a hybrid program that includes both online and offline modules.
Awesome Mentors
We have a deep network of 350+ mentors who are experts in their fields or founders of startups themselves. Here are some of our top Sustainability, EdTech, Supply chain, and other mentors you will get the chance to meet and learn from at Wise Guys Sustainability acceleration program.
Jørgen Bo Larsen
Scott Dodson
Mateusz Kozłowski
Partner at Techni Ventures and President at Niepubliczne Technikum Programistyczne Techni Schools
Katrin Kiviselg
B2B Sales coach, Partner in Northstar Consulting Group
Pedro Lima
Board Member & CEO at GLSMED, Centralized Logistics company of Luz Saúde (Portugal)
Calum Cameron
Ginny Radmall
Niko Lindholm
Team
Running an accelerator is a bit like running a sports camp! This is the kick-ass team that will keep you on track with KPIs, give constructive feedback and make your stay in Copenhagen a life-changing experience!
Attila Hudecz
Program Managing Director
Richard Georg Engström
Entrepreneur in Residence
Michael Honoré
Entrepreneur in Residence
Maxime Bauchau
Entrepreneur in Residence
Start your Sustainability journey with Startup Wise Guys
For 10 years Startup Wise Guys have coached over 500 founders, and built and invested in 300+ companies for the global digital marketplace. Today we are acknowledged as an international leader in startup acceleration – especially for B2B in underserved markets. Our network spans close to five hundred business people and investors mentoring and investing in our startup portfolio. We help very early stage teams to transform from a strong concept (PoC) to successfully operate in the global marketplace (PoB).
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FAQ
We believe that entrepreneurship will play a crucial role in reaching a net-zero CO2 world. We have already run the first entirely Sustainability focused program and also are implementing Sustainability principles in the batches that are focused on other verticals. We want to support sustainability-focused founders to make a difference!
The entire supply chain “from farm to fork” accounts for approx. 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions thus we see the biggest positive impact of supporting founders and solutions specifically in this area.
The program is relying on various global frameworks and reports including the Project Drawdown, IPCC reports, and UN reports. Regarding the specific 17 Sustainable Development Goals, our program directly concerns the goals 12, 13, 14, and 15. But we strongly believe that each solution coming to the program has the potential to indirectly influence all 17 goals through ripple effects.
Throughout the program, there are five main focus areas on which we are working to help you build and grow your startup: Company building, Sales and marketing, Fundraising and Pitching, Product building, and Impact Business modeling.
Work in these areas happens through intensive collaboration with almost 100 mentors at workshops, one-on-one sessions, and sprint weeks, as well as through a dedicated implementation time throughout the program.
Up to EUR 80.000 investment plus program for up to 9% equity (up to EUR 50.000 in cash + EUR 30.000 for the program). And then up to potentially EUR 250.000 follow on investment after the program.
Our programs are meant for B2B startups. We do sometimes work with B2B2C companies, but we do not work with B2C startups.
To be eligible for the full-time acceleration program you need to have
- at least a working MVP;
- at least 2 co-founders/team members;
- initial customer traction, ideally MRR or revenues, LOIs (Letter of Intent), and Pilots are also good.
For the Sustainability program – we are also looking deeply into the impact aspect of the business:
- Definition of impact (problem understanding and theory of change).
- Evidence of impact (metrics design and measurement format).
- Is the impact operational (and aligned with the business model).
- Systemic impact (is there a probability that the solution can disrupt and transform the entire marketplace).
- After the submission of the application to the Dealum, the Scouting team evaluates the application for eligibility. It can take up to 2 weeks for us to get back to you after we have received your application.
- If the application fits our criteria we might ask you additional questions and invite you to take part in the pitch day to present the business to SWG General partners and team members.
- Pitch day is an internal event to evaluate the business idea and meet founders face to face, after the pitches SWG team decides how to proceed with the application. Decisions are: move forward with Due Diligence, offer Wise Guys Pre-accelerator program, reject or stay in touch until later.
- Due diligence process includes: the Tech call, Managing Director call, Partner/ expert call, and the Deal call.
- After the startup has successfully gone through the due diligence process they are invited to the Selection Bootcamp.
- Selection Bootcamps happen every 6 weeks within the scouting process and the best 10 startups pitch in front of the General Partners and SWG team.
- TOP 10-12 teams are selected to participate in the acceleration program.
We select and attract mentors based on the selected teams’ needs. You will have a mix of workshops and a lot of 1:1 individual mentoring. You will be working deeply on Impact Business Model-methodology (incl. problem understanding, systemic solutions design, theory of change, impact measurements) and specific insights into your area of the solution.
Yes. We have a network of 100+ Nordic, Baltic and Global investors interested in these kinds of solutions.
No. But as the 6 weeks, on-site part of the program will run in Copenhagen, we’ll be requiring your physical presence during that time. The rest being online, you’re free to work from your home country with your team. Also, we’ll be running the program in the CET time zone, so you may have to adapt your schedule should you be located in different time zones.
The Wise Guys Sustainability Copenhagen acceleration program runs for 22 weeks, from January 17 till June 2022. It’s a flexible onsite-online program with 7-8 weeks onsite in Copenhagen and 14-15 weeks online.
You have to relocate only when the program runs on-site. The program starts with a 6-week full-time schedule and ends with an on-site Demo week in Copenhagen where we’ll require your physical presence (if COVID restrictions permit that). The rest of the program runs online during which you’re free to work from your home country with your team.