Business in Island’s Brygge: A guide to the Innovation + Entrepreneurship Practicum

In choosing between Copenhagen and other opportunities in other countries abroad, it was my admittance to the Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Europe class and practicum that truly solidified my decision to come to Denmark.

The course, which runs in the Labs, Research, & Practicum Session (spanning Sessions 1 and 2), works as an entirely hands-on learning experience split into two parts. Firstly, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship course runs like a mock startup; as small teams are assembled to solve a problem, they see an opportunity to help solve it. The course requires engagement at every stage, where you will plan everything from business model canvases to conducting interviews to test your product and continuously revisiting and revising your idea until pitches are presented to a panel of real entrepreneurs from across Copenhagen. 
 

Alongside the Innovation and Entrepreneurship course, you’ll also be part of the business practicum. At the beginning of the program, we were all matched with a local startup, personal clients, and with a DIS faculty member. In our case, we have Kristian, an entrepreneur who also teaches at Copenhagen Business School.

Before the course began, we completed a survey which asked about our professional strengths, academic background, and personal preferences to ensure an excellent fit with our startup for the six weeks. This aspect of the course is particularly valuable, as it not only provides academic experience in the field, but also real work experience. You’ll earn course credits while gaining practical skills, all supported by guidance and mentorship from the professors. 

Now, here’s the most important note: There are absolutely no prerequisites. According to my teacher Mikael, who is also actively a part of the Copenhagen business industry, this is very intentional, as entrepreneurship has no background or set pathway.

I am not a business student and have had absolutely zero experience in business settings, academic or otherwise. Because of this, I expected to feel somewhat alienated from the course and have to spend a little extra time understanding its contents. This has not been the case. Because the course is so hands-on, work in the course doesn’t revolve around analyzing business graphs or case studies. Instead, the work revolves around speaking to people, developing a close relationship with your team, and creating a unique solution to a problem you care about.

Mikael even goes so far as to ban all business buzzwords from class. This philosophy, that entrepreneurship should be understandable, relatable, and rely on the success of the team rather than the individual, marks it as an extremely special experience, even more valuable to students like me who have no prior experience in business.

My group of five is currently working on a startup focused on curbing childhood screen addiction, a problem more and more resonant as technology becomes integrated into childhood experience. We spend the majority of our class time working together as a group, where our ideas have been revised and specialized a hundred times. The real joy of the course comes in how much time we spend together outside of it. The group has become a cornerstone of my social life here in Copenhagen, where we frequently stay together after class, venture out on weekends, plan excursions to rock climb, or visit museums across the city.

In my practicum, I have felt extremely lucky as well. Having Copenhagen as the backdrop for one of my first real internship experiences has brought several advantages. The main one is the work-life balance in the city. There is no formal set of expectations, no climbing corporate culture, or even a dress code to follow in your work here. This general cultural difference creates an experience that still allows for enjoyment, a laid-back perspective on work that recognizes the importance of existing in such a unique city.

Whereas my peers from my computer science and business background are in internships that match their skillsets in tech or consulting, I have been able to use my skill set to work as a creative content intern for Orlo Watches, an affordable luxury brand based in Copenhagen. Every startup comes from our mentor Kristian’s personal client network, which means he has trust and faith towards us as interns. In this way, the opportunity feels even more critical.

Still, Kristian never fails to remind us that he is here for guidance, mentorship, and help navigating the working environment of Copenhagen. Orlo is actually a startup with Kristian as its CEO. To know he not only has entrusted us to help his clients but furthermore trusts us to help him in his ventures is a massive leap of faith. Using my creative skillset to help plan and execute photoshoots and reimagine the brand identity and its presentation has been overwhelmingly impactful and has motivated me to put together a creative portfolio across my mediums of interest.