ENGLISH
Business Description
IQUBE is one of the Nordic region’s leading centre for entrepreneurship and early-stage growth companies. IQUBE adds value by giving support to entrepreneurs. We cut their costs, accelerate their strategic business processes and free up time for the entrepreneur by taking over administrative chores and costs. We have experienced business developers within strategic fields such as sales, marketing, PR, recruitment, financing, events etc. With structural capital (process and method), extensive networks, mentorship and documentation, the portfolio companies are prepared for external financing.
IQUBE is one of the Nordic region’s leading centre for entrepreneurship and early-stage growth companies. IQUBE adds value by giving support to entrepreneurs. We cut their costs, accelerate their strategic business processes and free up time for the entrepreneur by taking over administrative chores and costs. We have experienced business developers within strategic fields such as sales, marketing, PR, recruitment, financing, events etc. With structural capital (process and method), extensive networks, mentorship and documentation, the portfolio companies are prepared for external financing.
IQUBE’s vision is to be the place where growth companies reach their full international potential most effectively, most easily and most rapidly, with the least risk for entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.
Our process
The portfolio companies go through a 12–18 month process, where the entrepreneurs, with the support of IQUBE, build value and create a foundation for further growth and international expansion.
IQUBE has a general model for this process which consists of ten steps:
1. Financial and Legal Ground
2. Market Analysis, Benchmark and Strategy
3. Business Plan, Strategic Plan and Marketing Plan
4. Delivery
5. The Board
6. Team Building
7. Partners and Strategic Alliances
8. Sales
9. PR and marketing
10. Financing
Differences
| Incubators: | IQUBE: |
| Concept-driven (R&D) | Individual-focused (however would like to take on more R&D projects) |
| Consultant- driven | Infrastructure and support functions |
| Process-orientated with infrastructure | Sales driven by developed infrastructure |
| Nisched industry | Diverse industries |
| Small | Volume-based (large) |
Individual focus
There is generally a big focus on the concept and the innovation, which are nearly always connected to R&D at the large universities. Our experience is that the biggest and best ideas come not from research but from normal people. Often the innovator and entrepreneur is not the same person and we believe that entrepreneurship should circle around the entrepreneur not the innovator.
Infrastructure and support
Incubators are always driven by consultants who will help to build the company. We believe that the entrepreneur is the one who should build the company. Our focus is to provide him/her with infrastructure and support functions.
Sales driven by developed infrastructure
In that traditional incubators are steered and managed by consultants, they are always process-orientated. That is to say: ISO certified, ?balance score card?, time reporting systems, etc. We believe that it is often too early in the introductory stage to focus on processes. The processes can be added when it is shown to be needed.
Diverse industries
Incubators are niched and connected to the universities or faculties. Ten entrepreneurs within the same industry will compete for the same personnel, customers and venture capitalists, which leads to competition instead of synergies. We fundamentally believe in diversity.
Volume-based (large)
Incubators are small because consultants can not build more than 6–7 companies at a time. We believe that it is impossible to build more than one at a time; therefore we do not build companies; that is done by the entrepreneurs themselves. We focus on building the entrepreneurs and provide them with information, resources and networks.
IQUBE TODAY
Founded in 2004 by Johan Staël von Holstein
Current investors include Johan Staël von
Holstein, Sjätte AP-fonden, OMX AB, Boninvest AB, Arvid Svensson AB, Backahill AB
400 applicants per year
80 portfolio companies
Average share ownership 8,72%
Offices in 2 cities (Stockholm and Gothenburg)
15 employees
Official collaberating partners: Sjätte AP-fonden, Manpower, Investor, Länsförsäkringar, Advokatfirman Lindahl, Telenor and Fabege.