The students started their course with a visit to Billund Erhverv's entrepreneurial branch GROW Startup in October 2023, where the 8 teams each presented their business ideas to our business developers, who gave them constructive feedback.
Subsequently, Billund Erhverv visited the students in mid-January, where they had made a good start with their products and had the prototypes ready. Teacher Martin Finderup Andersen explains how the process is put together: “The initial rounds of the Company Programme are held in January, where students pitch their business idea to a panel of judges, and some of the teams may then advance to a regional championship. After the regional championship, a Danish championship is held, and then a European championship.” says Martin and continues with a smile: “To make it clear, we actually had a team from this school that won the Danish Championship – so the students have something to live up to.".
Good with professional sparring
Martin Finderup Andersen would also like to explain why it is good for students to participate in the competition: “The good thing about this is that the students are allowed to take responsibility for something they have to develop themselves, and they will have to be accountable for it at some point.” He continues: “What can be difficult is that they have to be responsible for all the planning and execution themselves. Of course, I hold their hand a little to start with, but otherwise they are completely self-driven, and that's why it's really great that we can come to, for example, Billund Erhverv to get some sparring.. "
"What is really important for students is the certainty that their business ideas are not unrealistic and are worth working on.” explains Martin Finderup Andersen and adds: “The good thing about coming to Billund Business and also standing in front of the judges is that you never meet anyone with a no-hat on, there is always a positive response – and I think that helps to promote the desire to develop something yourself. And then the students are told that if they ever jump into being entrepreneurs and want to start something themselves, they can always contact us and get help and sparring, and I think that can do something.".
One of the teams that is in full swing with their product when we visit consists of Emma, Maj, Ditte and Johanne, and their business idea is based on their own environment, Emma explains: “I think it's exciting to help develop something that's about our pains – that is, something that concerns us, and that we can then help do something about.” May adds: “And it will be great for the competition to see if it is actually a really good idea and if it has potential.".
Neither Emma, Maj, Ditte nor Johanne had initially thought that they would be entrepreneurs right away, but if their idea is viable, that could change.If we could find a partner, it would make a big difference,” explains Ditte and concludes: “It would be important that we could find someone with experience that we can lean on – we are only in 3rd grade, so there is still a lot we don’t know.”".
Teacher Martin Finderup Andersen
From left: Emma, Maj, Ditte and Johanne
4 teams advanced
Before the initial round of the Company Programme, which took place on 25 January, the students pitched their business ideas to the business developers Paul-Erik Hensgen and Lars Gadgaard from Billund Erhverv – they were both pleasantly surprised by the rather high level. "There are some really good ideas among them and the students have also got a handle on their pitch, and have become sharp at both presenting and answering questions - I easily believe that there are some of them who can go on to the regional championship." said Paul-Erik Hensgen after the students had pitched, and he was right - as many as 4 out of the 8 teams went on to the regional championships, which will be held on 14 March in Odense.
If you want to know more about becoming an entrepreneur or how to pitch, you can contact business developer Paul-Erik Hensgen on 9215 0109 and peh@billunderhverv.dk.
