Olivier Corradi, France

"Since we’ve been a global startup since the beginning, we were aware of the challenges of developing our product in Denmark early on. While Copenhagen is on its way to become attractive for tech talent, it's not the same as Paris or London. Even so, there are many aspects of the Danish culture that have helped us along the way – particularly our collaborations with academics at the Technical University of Denmark that have resulted in robust prototypes and research and development. We’ve also benefitted from the Danish work ethic and culture of building consensus by pairing people who can interpret data with people who know a lot about carbon emissions." 

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Investors are looking for startups that can solve climate issues

"Given the public’s awareness of environmental issues and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, it’s not surprising that Denmark has welcomed green tech initiatives. More than that, consumers have demanded more targeted climate actions; companies have responded by putting it on their agendas, and Tomorrow has been engaged in discussing solutions that not only make companies more sustainable but also showcase their initiatives. In turn, this has resulted in greater numbers of investors approaching start-ups to resolve climate issues."

The most innovative ideas often come out of the blue

"Prior to returning to Denmark, I worked in Paris’ startup scene. I’d say the most noticeable difference is how the work day is structured. Because the workday starts and ends later in Paris, it’s very difficult to have a life outside of work. Of course, it’s possible to see friends and go to restaurants, but finding time for hobbies (e.g., anything more than recreational sports) is difficult. Alternatively, Denmark thrives when it comes to work-life balance and family. Whereas in France it might be misinterpreted as a lack of engagement to leave work early to pick up the kids, it’s accepted in Denmark."

"Over the past years, I’ve come to learn that innovation doesn't happen by just throwing more hours at a project. It happens when you start taking more breaks and engage in activities that are not directly related to the problem you're trying to solve. At some point, you start connecting the dots, gain a fresh perspective, and attack the problem from a completely different angle. France may have a strong engineering scene, but Denmark excels at building innovative and intuitive products, as can be seen from their world-renowned designs."