This post is also available in: Danish
How do you keep up friendships with old friends when you move to a new city to study? A group of friends from Kolding found a somewhat alternative solution: they started playing golf together. Although golf comes with its own challenges when you’re a student.
“I was the only one with a car – a small, red Fiat Punto – and we quickly realized that there wasn’t much room for golf equipment in it. One day, when three of us were going out to play, it ended up that two had to sit in the passenger seat. And 100 meters from the golf club, we were stopped by the police – and ended up with a fine for not wearing a seatbelt,” says Carl Emil Sestoft Jensen with a laugh.
An overcrowded Fiat Punto was not a viable solution. Luckily, two of the friends were engineering students, so they set out to solve the problem by converting a bicycle trailer so they could attach their golf equipment to the trailer hitch. And it turned out to be such a good idea that it has now become the company Caddy Cruiser, which is in the finals of the Fynske Bank Startup Lab competition on Friday.
New network and 100,000 DKK
The friends’ home-built golf trailer didn’t just solve their own transportation problem. They also got attention for it from other golfers who wanted to buy it. So they started designing the golf trailer from scratch, founded the company Caddy Cruiser and launched their product for sale at the beginning of the year.
“We were created to make transporting golf equipment easier for all golfers – in all sizes of cars. After all the feedback we received, we developed a new model from scratch – which is the golf bag trailer we sell today with space for 2 and 4 bags,” explains Carl Emil Sestoft Jensen, who is now co-founder of Caddy Cruiser.
As the next step in their entrepreneurial journey, they qualified for the Fynske Bank Startup Lab through the initial pitch rounds, where 38 startups participated. Through workshops, they have learned about B2B sales and how to use all the customer feedback they receive. But just as importantly, the program has opened up a network of other ambitious entrepreneurs on their way forward.
“We are many different companies in the program, at different stages of the journey and in different industries. But we have a common drive – we’re here for a reason. So we can learn a lot from each other,” says Samuel Maagaard Vesterlund, co-founder of Caddy Cruiser.
With DKK 100,000 up for grabs in the final on Friday, there is of course an element of competition between the new network. But that’s not what’s most important.
“After we heard the other people practicing pitches on Sunday, we can tell that we’re in for a fight. So there’s a competitive atmosphere because there’s a lot of money up for grabs, but we still help each other. We give each other advice and encourage each other so that we can all get the best pitch,” he says and adds:
“In many cases, a good network is worth more than 100,000.”
About Fynske Bank Startup Lab:
- The acceleratorAn accelerator is an intensive program that provides startups with mentorship, education, resources, and sometimes funding to accelerate their growth. More program is for exciting business ideas and start-ups.
- The 12 participants were found through regional pitch sessions in Aarhus, Kolding, Odense and Svendborg in early October.
- After a series of workshops and a bootcamp, the final will be held at Koldinghus on Friday, where the 12 startups will compete for DKK 100,000. For more information, please contact Leendert Bjerg at leebj@businesskolding.dk.
- Fynske Bank Startup Lab is a collaboration between Fynske Bank and Business Kolding. The program is funded by the Foundation for Fynske Bank.
Heading abroad
So far, Caddy Cruiser only has Danish customers, but both the ambitions and the market are large and international. That’s why the company is currently making agreements with distributors in Ireland, Belgium and France. And it will be a great help if they can secure DKK 100,000 in the pitch competition on Friday.
“It will enable us to scale our business. The distribution agreements require start-up capital because we need to buy the products in large quantities if we want them to be produced at a good price. That requires money – and we’re just getting started,” says Carl Emil Sestoft Jensen.
The final will be decided at Koldinghus on Friday, where a jury consisting of Jesper Buch, Tina Søgaard, Brian Mikkelsen, Morten Skov and Morten Bjørn Hansen will decide the winner of DKK 100,000 and a second place winner of DKK 50,000.
Finalists: Fynske Bank Startup Lab 2024
Caddy Cruiser, Aarhus
A unique and practical solution for golfers – a specially designed golf bag trailer that makes it easy and safe to transport up to four golf bags on one car. And solves the common problem of lack of space and the hassle of transporting golf equipment, which for most golfers takes up a lot of space – especially if you drive several together.
Connecting Grounds, Aarhus
Connecting Grounds upcycles used coffee grounds (SCG) into Coffee Base, a multifunctional baking ingredient for more nutritious (high fiber, protein source, sugar-free), greener (upcycled and no use of farmland) and tastier (flavor enhancing properties) baking and confectionery products.
CustomiseMe, Odense
Converting used cooking oils (UCO) into eco-friendly soaps to meet the growing demand for sustainable and circular beauty products. Their initiative addresses environmental challenges and offers a specific solution using advanced technologies such as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE).
The Drone Expert, Kolding
Drone Eksperten carries out drone inspections in confined spaces, i.e. areas that are normally dangerous for humans to enter or very difficult to access.
G1GT, Kolding
Developing a user-friendly platform in collaboration with arthritis patients. Combining the latest knowledge and technology, patients get access to: – Symptom and pain monitoring – Medication tracking and reminders – Personalized treatment suggestions – Online community and knowledge sharing
Keep Ukraine Going, Kolding
Vision “Keep Ukraine Going” begins with a vision to create a positive impact in a country undergoing significant trials. Keep Ukraine Going is dedicated people with a special love for ecology and sustainability. The company’s goal is to strengthen Ukraine by promoting trade while helping its local organic producers and communities in Ukraine.
Krydr, Aarhus
Krydr makes spice blends that make it easy to make homemade food. The products are divided into two categories, meal solutions and accessories. Try Love for Dhal, where you only need to add lentils, chopped tomatoes and water. Or spice up your fries with French fry seasoning.
LiveEquipe, Odense
LiveEquipe develops an innovative digital riding trainer that, using an advanced sensor system and associated app, allows riders to get live feedback on their position and impact on the horse while riding. The ability to make quick corrections promotes more efficient muscular and neurological development in both horse and rider, while reducing misunderstandings and unintentional punishment of the horse.
Lumant, Aarhus
All-in-one course platform that makes it easy to create, market and sell online products such as online courses, e-books, audio files etc. Lumant offers a subscription model with monthly and annual payments + upgrade options to increase earning potential. An associated marketplace that acts as a directory for learners and provides an overview of the range of courses available. Benefit for course providers: They find it easier to find new students/customers. Benefit for learners: It’s easier for them to find the knowledge they are looking for and learn new skills + all their knowledge is in one place.
Nordic Phantoms, Odense
Nordic Phantoms simulates internal bleeding in anatomical models, called phantoms. This makes it possible to create a realistic emergency patient situation without using animal organs or cadavers. The company can develop bleeding anywhere in the body and has started in the upper gastrointestinal tract with the phantom: UpperGI Bleed Phantom. The phantom has two bleeds in the esophagus, one in the stomach and one in the duodenum.
OCULARE, Aarhus
OCULARE is working to automate rescue operations around water. The company is developing an acoustic detection system to help emergency services detect distressed people who involuntarily fall into the water around harbor areas. Their ambition is to create a solution consisting of both our detection system and an associated drone that can act as a first-responder or independently perform rescue operations.
SheRidez, Copenhagen
Develop a mobile app for women riders and then develop the business into a franchise with a broad portfolio of services and concepts – with riding schools run by women for women, motorcycle mechanic workshops by women for other women, motorcycle travel agencies by women for other women, a recycled clothing brand for women riders by women
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