I want to open a branch

Good to know before you apply

he Startup Denmark program is for innovative and scalable businesses with a clear potential for growth and entrepreneurs who and have a desire to begin their business adventure in Denmark.  

Read more about who is eligible to apply here 

To get your application approved you need to fill out the application form, describe your business plan in detail and attach a video pitch.  

It's not a requirement but we always recommend that you attach a pitch deck where you elaborate on your business plan.  

The applications are assessed by members of an independent expert panel.

Assessments are based on four evaluation criteria.

The evaluation criteria are defined as follows:  

1. How innovative is the business model?  
2. How attractive is the market?  
3. How scalable is the business model?  
4. What competencies and resources does the team possess?  

Read more about the four criterias in the FAQ 

Each judge gives four grades from 1 to 5 based on each criterion. To receive an approval, you need at least 3.5 in average score for all four criteria.

Usually, applications are evaluated within three weeks of submission. The processing time will be longer during holiday periods. You receive the outcome of the evaluation from the Startup Denmark Secretariat. 

The application  

When applying, you need to fill out an online form, in which you describe the branch you intend to open in Denmark. To determine whether your the branch is suitable for Startup Denmark, we need to know what branch you intend to launch. Provide a brief presentation of your business as well as some general information. Keep it short, clear, and precise. Why will the branch be successful in Denmark?  

Product or service presentation  

We need to know product or service you intend sell in Denmark, whether it is a service, an app, a robotic arm or something completely different. 

Resources and competences in the business

Not only do you need to come up with a great business plan, but you must also be capable of running a successful branch in practice. It is therefore important that you show that you have the skills, competences and experiences needed to turn your branch into a viable venture. When applying, you will need to tell us about the people behind your business. Why can you or your team launch a successful branch in Denmark? It would also be relevant to describe the revenue/accounting of the parent company so that the expert panel can see whether it is a healthy company or not. 

Market analysis and a sales or go-to-market strategy

In your application you need to show us your market analysis and describe your sales or go-to-market strategy. Overall, it may contain:  

• Market definition: Which markets will be targeted to sell the product or service?   
• Competitors: Who are the competitors in the market?  
• Customers: Who is the target audience within these markets?  
• Distribution model: How will the product or service be delivered to the customer?  
• Price: How much should the product or service cost for each customer group?  
• Marketing: How will you reach your target customers and create demand? 

Why Denmark?  

You must describe why you want to launch branch in Denmark. It may be specific opportunities that Denmark can create for your business, that you have business relations in Denmark or something else that makes Denmark the right country for you.

Activities in the start-up phase

You must describe what activities you plan to carry out to establish the branch in Denmark.  

It is recommended that you also insert an overall budget for your initial activities.  

Video pitch  

You must attach a video of a maximum of 5 minutes. 

The video pitch should not be a product presentation, a sales video or similar. 

It must be a video in which you go into: 

How innovative is the business model? Tell us what makes your product or service unique. 

How scalable is the business model? Describe how you can scale up your business so that it can grow. 

How attractive is the market? Explain the commercial potential.

What competencies and resources does the team possess? Tell us what makes you capable of running the business. 

Think of it as a short pitch. We do not expect you to have in-depth explanations. 

The video must be in English. If you do not attach a video your application will not be evaluated. 

Documentation

If you have documentation of patents, funding, written declaration of partnership(s) or other documentation relevant for your application, please include them in the pitch deck.  

Submit your applicaton