OPINION! Christopher Plantener, entrepreneur & mentor at the Startupbootcamp: “Founding a startup takes 30 minutes!”

In Copenhagen, a start-up program wants Startups help you get going: the winners will receive one for three months Office in Copenhagen, Money for a living, a lot of advice and in the end maybe an investor. Included: A look beyond the horizon into the Danish start-up scene.

Christopher Plantener is originally from Germany and after long experience in the Internet and advertising industry founded 12 startups in Germany, Canada, Belgium and Denmark in the last 5 years and worked in others. Today he runs his own online advertising agency Zielgut in Copenhagen and is an active mentor for Startupbootcamp. His specialty is advising Scandinavian startups and Companys at their market entry and online Marketing in Deutschland.

Mr Plantener, Startupbootcamp - sounds good, but what exactly is that?

Startupbootcamp is a Copenhagen-based startup program. The Idea is to help startups go from idea to product within 3 months. Startups and people with ideas from all over Europe can apply until June 30th http://www.startupbootcamp.dk formless application. 10 startups are then selected from all applicants.

And what is the starting point for the founders?

The winners will receive an office in Copenhagen for three months to finance some money for each team member (primarily to finance their own livelihood) and will be accompanied by a pool of 3 experienced entrepreneurs and mentors over the 100 months. On the last day, the so-called Investor Day, the start-ups have the opportunity to present your company more than 100 to European funders to get venture capital. The most successful two companies of the program may then http://www.techstars.org accompany you on your US investor tour. Because that Concept originally comes from the USA (www.ycombinator.com and http://www.techstars.org) and is there very successfully. TechStars has 600+ teams applying each year, with 8 out of 10 graduating from the three-month program on “Investor Day” with an average of $500.000. Many of these companies are now successful worldwide.

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Where does the idea come from the USA - to what extent are the Americans involved in Startupbootcamp?

Only insofar as Startupbootcamp has officially been TechStars' first non-European partner since May 2010. This means that TechStars has recognized the program after a critical quality check as the first European partner program. That makes a lot of things easier, because now at least the best startups have a direct route to the USA and to the US Capital and mentors open.

Startupbootcamp itself, however, 2009 was founded by Rainmaking and Alex Farcet, a Danish-living Frenchman and expert in the Danish start-up scene. Rainmaking is a Danish incubator who has successfully launched 5 companies in Germany since 12 years.

Apart from the idea providers: Who are the sponsors for this Projects and what interests do they pursue with their support?

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Startupbootcamp is not a classic investor itself and sees itself more as a team member, but of course such a program needs financial resources. This is funded by Rainmaking and a group of Angle investors (mostly Startupbootcamp mentors). For the Financing of the program and up to €12.000 per Team Startupbootcamp gets between 5-10% of the new company.

In most cases, the continued financing of the start-ups is then to be guaranteed by external investors - which is why the Investor Day is held on the last day of the program. However, some VCs are already working as mentors in the program. However, participation in Startupbootcamp is not linked to any other conditions. If you don't need an investor or want to find one yourself, you can do that.

Sounds good, so many founders will say, and want to apply immediately. What are the requirements?

All teams across Europe (theoretically even worldwide) can apply for a good idea. The ideas often come from the internet, but that's not a requirement. But it should be ideas that can be realized within 3 months at least rudimentarily (eg no biotech ideas).

A team ideally consists of 2-3 people with the Competencies IT, Sales and marketing. If a competence is missing in the team, Startupbootcamp will help to find it beforehand. In addition to a good idea, Startupbootcamp pays particular attention to the right attitude and Personality of Founders – without which people in Scandinavia do not believe in success.

What about companies that have existed for some time

? Even companies that have already been founded can still apply - but the process should not be too advanced.

What dates and deadlines must be considered?

The Application runs until 30. June under http://www.startupbootcamp.dk, The camp will then be from August 30. October 2010 in Copenhagen. Of course, the selected teams must be in Copenhagen from the beginning of August to the end of October and be ready to continue the new company founded - this does not have to be in Denmark, by the way!

And how exactly does the program work?

After submitting the application, there will be a telephone interview and, if possible, a personal meeting. If you choose, it starts in August in Copenhagen. When looking for accommodation etc. Startupbootcamp will help.

After that, the product will be worked on 3/24 for 7 months. Roughly, the first month is about them Strategy, the second is about the realization and the third is about to be sold. In the first week there is the opportunity to get to know all mentors personally and to choose the best mentor team to accompany you over the 3 months. who specific Ask has or needs help can turn to the mentors at any time.

At the end there is a big closing presentation for investors, mentors, friends and other members of the Scandinavian startup scene. After that, 2 startups will go on tour to the US and hopefully the others will have enough capital, partners, customers and friends gathered to really get started.

What does all this bring to German startups?

I think just for German startups is the view over the rim to Scandinavia very interesting. Those who base their business in Germany have primarily the German market in mind. Anyone who is based in Scandinavia always has an immediate eye on the whole EU market as the home markets are much too small. Many Danish start-ups go straight to the German market but also have other markets in view and are mostly international much better networked.

Do you see fundamental differences between the founding cultures in Germany and Scandinavia?

Yes, however, there is much to learn, from the corporate culture and values ​​over drastic bureaucracy, and the startup must not take more than 30 minutes. Moreover, it is not first and foremost a question of optimizing cash flow, not only but also the human and social side.

Best example of this are the guys from Rainmaking: These are all self-made Entrepreuneurs, who wanted to do something else - and I find that you can also feel strongly in all their startups. Not only to say, but also to live is very Scandinavian and I think many German startups would be exciting.

What are your personal experiences with Startupbootcamp?

When I met the founders of Startupbootcamp, I was hooked on the concept, the people, the big ones right from the start Energy and the Network enthusiastic - that's exactly what I've always been looking for myself. 4 weeks ago I took part in a startup weekend in Copenhagen (same concept and organizer, the whole thing only compressed into 3 days): 10 teams of 10+ people set up a company in 56 hours.

What I experienced there myself was unbelievable: in 2,5 days we set up a social media platform, a film and Presentation built, the first users had received inquiries from 3 investors on Sunday evening, and 2 weeks later we were at GoogleVentures in California - and all that after 56 hours of work.

Why do you think the startupbootcamp is so important for founders?

Our video was seen on Youtube for only a few hours and was seen in the time of several thousand people just because we could tap into the startupweekend community. I have already founded 5 startups, but this is probably the most overwhelming result I have ever experienced! And exactly that, now 10 can experience other startups in Copenhagen in three months - I would do it again immediately!

Because I know founder problems in different countries from my own experience, I believe that such a concept is an incredible help for people with good ideas but not so much experience! That's why I wish that this concept is known - especially in Germany.

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