Ready to invest
In Rainmaking, we are now ready to increase our investments in new projects.
Our business politic is that we want to spread the risk by investing smaller amounts in several projects. We have a margin of expenditure of 1 mill. Dkr. for projects that we start up from scratch ourselves; and a margin of 500.000 Dkr. when we engage in others’ projects.
We cultivate our network of investors, and feel that it is healthy to have to convince professional investors to see the sense in our project. Previously, we have raised 25 million. Dkr. to the development of our existing companies, and we will continue this line of fund-raising.
Now, we are furthermore considering creating a "scholarship"/pre seed arrangement, by which we invest e.g. 100.000 Dkr. in totally new and untested projects. In the States, a guy by the name, Paul Graham, has started a company called Y Combinator by which he makes these kinds of micro-investments; as of today, he has ownership-shares in 145 start ups. We are somewhat tempted to start a similar arrangement in Denmark. In addition to money, we will – just as Paul Graham does – contribute with sparring, networking and ad hoc assistance in regards to e.g. fund-raising, larger contracts, and exit plans.
Do you think that talented entrepreneurs in Denmark will be interested in such an arrangement?
Networking in the Kindergarten
For the second year in a row, the Christmas party in the kindergarten showed valuable. Last year I met Oscar’s dad, Henrik Bindslev, who is the CEO of Risø and this led to a number of interesting meetings with their department of innovations as well as a few R&D laboratories. One project for 2008 had our particular interest, but in the end, Risø chose to take it on alone. In 2009 we will try to find a project together, e.g. with Rainmaking in charge of launching a Risø product in the market.
This year I was introduced to Isabella’s dad, Paul, who has a great deal of experience in financing. He has now been invited onboard to help us in financing current and future projects. Maybe this will develop into a continuous partnership!
How great it is to meet such competent and sympathetic people in the kindergarten. Thank you to my daughter, Amalie, for facilitating these contacts:-)