Pre-Accelerator Drivhuset Malmö: “Our Focus Is On The Individual, Not The Idea”

How would you describe Drivhuset Malmö in a few words?

We help changemakers ignite their ideas. Basically, we are experts in the first steps of the entrepreneurial journey. In contrast to an incubator which looks at the potential of the idea, we don’t give a damn about it because a person with a lousy idea can, in the process of working with us, end up with a game-changing project. We are interested in the person – in the entrepreneur in their dreams, motivations and we are constantly looking for that spark that’s going to make them catch fire and really go for their dreams.

What is your role at Drivhuset Malmö and how did you get involved?

I have recently started my assignment as the CEO, a great quote from Brené Brown in her book Daring Greatly summarises my task (and the task of the organization) very well: “A leader is anyone who holds her- or himself accountable for finding potential in people and processes”.

I initially got started with Drivhuset in 2015 after being an entrepreneur myself. I see myself less as a manager and more as someone who’s working to start a revolution. This time not against a government but against the assumption that one has to be employed to sustain oneself.

You help people develop their entrepreneurial drive. In what ways do you achieve that?

Drive and motivation are inherent in every human being, what is usually the problem is the circumstances smother us. The rigidity of mass learning in school kills creativity, curiosity, and ownership of one’s choices. Our work is to reverse engineer the years of indoctrination that has left people incapable of taking their own action. We tear down illusory barriers that as a student you are inferior to some authority. We make people see that their customers, even if it is a big corporation, ultimately is a human being with no higher or lower value than themselves. Tear down the barriers, the beliefs that you can’t or you shouldn’t and what emerges is a pure human drive, and it’s beautiful to see.

You’ve come up your own method for business development, Loopa. What can you tell us about it?

Loopa is a method developed by Drivhuset and the Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship. It’s a practical method that basically teaches entrepreneurs how to develop a product that someone really wants to buy. Instead of guesswork and long development cycles, Loopa works hands-on to show how you already can start to test your on the market from your first day of coming up with it – even if you have nothing but a pen and paper, the great the importance is to understand people’s problems and needs.

You describe yourself as a pre-accelerator. How “pre” are we talking about and for how long do you support aspiring entrepreneurs?

From the time you sit at a school desk, worrying about your future with no idea at all of where to go until the time you have a product ready to sell or to scale. If you are curious, we will help you to form your own path instead of someone else’s. From the idea to the testing of your product, finding financing, building your team until you are ready and have a product that you can sell and is ready to either just start your business or to go further to an incubator or accelerator that initial path is where we help our entrepreneurs.

What are the technologies and projects you focus on?

Since we are working closely with the Malmö University we help all educations within the field of studies. Everyone from freelancers to social entrepreneurs and tech-preneurs. In 2018, we will have additional programs targeting entrepreneurs and changemakers within social innovation, tech, fempreneurs and scalable ideas. But as always our focus is on the individual and not the idea.

What can you tell us about current projects you’re supporting?

Firstly, social innovation and sharing cities – we want to show that it’s not just big monetary ideas that matter but that everyone can develop ideas that build a better society and a more sustainable future. This project will be spearheaded by a great fempreneur, Kim Goeseko.

Secondly, fempreneurs. We are supporting and mitigating the movement of fempreneurs that is starting in Malmö, I hope that the problem of too few female founders is soon an artifact of the past.

Thirdly, tech and scalable ideas. We will have targeted programs that will support people in creating scalable ideas and ideas that can have a big impact.

As Drivhuset is based in Malmö, how would you describe the local startup community and what can other European countries learn from it?

Malmö is probably the best place in Europe at the moment to start a company. It has a very well developed innovation ecosystem with hubs that are for free, help that you can get for free and a great number of successful entrepreneurs.

I think another part is the culture of sharing. Instead of everyone being secretive and competitive the environment in Malmö is permeated by sharing and giving others the help you once received as a new entrepreneur.

What advice would you give entrepreneurs for their startup?

Read the book Rework. If you don’t like books read it anyway it is just so to the point and filled with great wisdom for starting your business.

Find an environment that is idea-pro. Family, friends, and people, in general, think it’s too difficult to start a business and that everyone fails – this can easily kill your motivation especially as things get tough. Find places like Drivhuset Malmö or Minc Malmö where you can be with like-minded people.

Lastly, take time to rest and disconnect. Too many entrepreneurs pride themselves in overworking but more hours don’t translate into more impact. Many of our best insights come when we are resting, so turn off the computer and social media and create a space where you just focus on resting in the moment.

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