The University of Copenhagen secures investments in students’ start-ups
Students at universities want to start companies that make a difference in society. Now the Copenhagen Science City-partner, University of Copenhagen is launching the “Lighthouse Launch” investment programme to support its student entrepreneurs from Bachelor to PhD level. The purpose of the programme is to increase the students’ opportunity to create growth- and impact-companies. The programme has been developed together with the Symbion Foundation, which funds it and will start with an investment of DKK 500,000 in 2024. The funds will be distributed through the Symbion-owned Accelerace, which is one of Europe’s leading investors in early entrepreneurial companies.
30,000 to develop busines idea
The University of Copenhagen has just over 36.000 students spread over six faculties, 36 institutes and over 200 research centres. Academically, they range from anthropology to quantum science and from molecular biomedicine to astrophysics. All of them are skilled talents with the courage to think new things. If accepted into the new Lighthouse Launch programme, the students’ companies receive an initial investment of DKK 30,000 which they can use to develop their business ideas.
The University of Copenhagen has adopted a new strategy to benefit more people and open the university to the outside world. We have long offered support and advice to those of our students who have had the courage to start a business. Now the Symbion Foundation helps us to invest in the best ideas among our 36,000 students, so that more of them can create a successful company”: David Dreyer Lassen, Chair of Copenhagen Science City Development Council and vice-chancellor for research and innovation, University of Copenhagen.
Highly experienced advisors
Accelerace is owned by Symbion Foundation. They will be responsible for distributing the investments. In addition to this, they will also provide support and advice from mentors who have built successful start-ups themselves. Over the past decade, Accelerace has advised over 1,000 Danish companies, which together have raised some 60 billion DKK in risk capital. Thanks to this track record, Acellerace has a network of highly experienced entrepreneurs who can help the students.
We see more and more interesting startups from the Danish universities started by talented students. This gives Denmark a strong pool of potential growth companies if we manage to develop more of the good ideas. At Accelerace, we look forward to using our experience and skilled mentors to develop more of the students’ good ideas”: Peter Torstensen, CEO, Accelerace & Symbion.
Money, offices and damn good coffee
The investment programme is a crucial piece added to a structured development course, which should help the students uncover and develop potential business ideas. Apart from the course and the 30,000 dkk investment, student entrepreneurs also get access to the University of Copenhagen innovation centre Lighthouse, which is placed in the heart of the innovation district Copenhagen Science City. Here they are offered free-of-charge office space, meeting rooms and great coffee.
Any student start-up could be the next big Danish corporation, so of course we are proud to support them all with everything they need. A student start-up could also end up failing, so the most important thing we can do for the student founders is to teach them skills that are useful whether they start their own business or not. Entrepreneurship skills are welcomed in any kind of job, for the rest of their career”: Marius Sylvestersen, Head of UCPH Lighthouse, University of Copenhagen.
About the program
The target group for the program is University of Copenhagen students from Bachelor to PhD level. In 2024, Lighthouse Launch will admit up to 10 projects. On top of the 30,000 dkk investment, founders get access to a series of workshops and to sparring with experienced mentors. The course runs from April to November and during the Lighthouse Launch-programme, students go through the considerations necessary to clarify how their idea can be translated into a business that can enter the market and become a success.
About Accelerace
Accelerace was created in 2008 by the Copenhagen Science City-partner start-up community Symbion, which provides office space for innovative startups and companies. Since then, Accelerace has helped more than 1,000 companies grow and raise more than 60 billion DKK in capital since 2008. Their network of mentors and business advisors also act as investors. The University of Copenhagen is a co-owner of Symbion. Read more at www.accelerace.io.
About Copenhagen Science City
Join us in Copenhagen Science City – a world-class innovation district where you can transform your bright ideas into growth, jobs, and global solutions.
- Co-locate with University of Copenhagen, University Hospital Rigshospitalet, University College Copenhagen and 500 innovative companies.
- Co-create with 40,000 researchers, staff and students.
- Collaborate to develop new solutions to societal challenges.
- Find a job with leading academic institutions and deep-tech companies.
