Nordic Innovators Helps Startups Find Free Money

Nordic Innovators Helps Startups Find Free Money 

Innovative startups have great opportunities to fund their development through soft funding. Nordic Innovators helps navigate the jungle of public funds and application forms.

Developing new technologies and bringing groundbreaking business models to market are an expensive task. That is why there are numerous Danish and European funding schemes that foster innovation without requiring equity in return; so-called soft funding. However, finding the right funding programmes can be challenging and time-consuming, particularly for startups with limited time and financial resources.

“All startups should look into soft funding. While it might not be equally beneficial for everyone and often requires a certain level of innovation, it is definitely worth exploring the options,” says Kristoffer Riis.

And he knows the opportunities well. Kristoffer Riis is a partner and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Nordic Innovators, a consultancy specialising in helping startups and companies secure funding from Danish and European funding programmes.

3 Companies Supported by Nordic Innovators

• Tada Medical: DKK 50 million in EU funding (Eurostars & EIC Accelerator)
• IO Interactive: DKK 1.2 million (Innobooster, Danish Programme)
• Airflight: Approx. DKK 5 million (Innobooster Programme)

A Long-Term Funding Opportunity

With 10 years of experience, Nordic Innovators has a comprehensive overview of the many funding opportunities in Scandinavia and EU. They use this expertise as a foundation for strategic discussions with startups to align their development plans with potential soft funding opportunities. 

“What does the roadmap look like, and what are the future goals? We aim to look further ahead because if you need money now, soft funding is not the right solution. It’s not quick money; it is about planning a year or two ahead and aligning development plans with the application process,” says Kristoffer Riis.

Once the plan is in place, Nordic Innovators leverages its experience to translate strategies into concrete applications, maximising the likelihood of securing funding.

“Our clients are experts in their fields, and our job is to translate their expertise into a successful application. It is a writing process, and sometimes pitch training is also necessary. In both cases, we help ensure the quality of the application to maximise the chances of success,” says Kristoffer Riis, Partner & CCO at Nordic Innovators.

This article is part of the magazine “The Guide – A Comprehensive Overview of the Danish Startup Ecosystem”, published by Heyfunding and TechSavvy.media.