Slides from Nicolaj Højer Nielsen on international scaling for startups.

1. Preparing for
international scaling

2. Nicolaj Højer Nielsen

3. Today’s topic:
How and when to scale
internationally

4. 1: Nicolaj Højer (09.15-09.30)
Serial entrepreneur, investor and External Lecturer
at Copenhagen Business School
Introduction: The WHY, WHEN
WHERE and HOW of scaling

5. 2: Anders Kjær (09.15-09.30)
Investment Director @ PreSeed Ventures
Investor perspective:
Investor perspective on
international scaling

6. 3: Matias Møl Dalsgaard (09.30-
09.45) CEO and Co-founder of GoMore
Founder perspective:
Insights on the international
scaling of GoMore

7. 4: Live Q & A session (09.45-10.00)
How to scale your startup?
• Anders Kjær, Investment Director at
Preseed Ventures
• Matias Møl Dalsgaard, CEO and Co-
founder of GoMore
• Nicolaj Højer Nielsen, serial
entrepreneur, investor and external
lecturer at CBS

8. Q and A (and upvote!)

9. The 10-minute introduction to
international scaling
- Nicolaj Højer Nielsen

10. In the good old days!
Focus on your
home market for
DECADES– then
MAYBE go
international

11. Not a single one is focusing on DK only...
Why?

12. Scaleable => Winner takes all markets
There are in most cases space for specialized
players, but not necessarily local ones!

13. In other words: Globalize and/or specialize…or
”die”

14. And yes, that might even go for physical
products
Who are Nemlig.com’s
most dangerous
competitor(s)?
Is Nemlig.com a
grocery company or
an IT company?

15. So it’s often a question of WHEN
Idea/ Concept Local dominanceLocal proof of concept
Cons:
- Why not start in your
home market first ?
- Hard to get significant
funding without local
proof
Cons:
- Are you too late to
win the international
markets?
Tradeoff

16. What is the best country/place to
start your business?
- How to you prove that your
business is worth pursuing ?
- How to get initial
traction/commitment
- “Always” easier where you have
existing contacts and know-how
(your home market)
- Hint: Also read the Effectuation
Theory that explains how successful
entrepreneurs are getting started

17. Two cases of relatively early
internationalization (local POC)

18. And one that has decided to do it
later
• Different products
(more local
implementation
needed)
• Different funding
strategies

19. And then comes the WHERE TO ?
Theory: Internal
resources vs. external
market landscape
(customer needs vs.
competition)
Real life:+ opportunistic
behavior…

20. And finally the HOW – the tradeoff
Small investments
Low degree of control
Huge investments
High degree of control
Internationalization via
distributors or other
external partners
Internationalization via
sales subsidiaries, sales
teams etc.

21. The world is full of startups that died because
their ”partners” did not perform!

22. 2: Anders Kjær (09.15-09.30)
Investment Director @ PreSeed Ventures
Investor perspective:
Investor perspective on
international scaling

23. 3: Matias Møl Dalsgaard (09.30-
09.45) CEO and Co-founder of GoMore
Founder perspective:
Insights on the international
scaling of GoMore

24. 4: Live Q & A session (09.45-10.00)
How to scale your startup?
• Anders Kjær, Investment Director at
Preseed Ventures
• Matias Møl Dalsgaard, CEO and Co-
founder of GoMore
• Nicolaj Højer Nielsen, serial
entrepreneur, investor and external
lecturer at CBS

25. Outro
- Nicolaj Højer Nielsen

26. Open door: November 4th
- Apply at www.preseedacademy.dk

27. Next startup talk on privacy
Sign up at
www.preseedacademy.dk