500 Nordics and Almi Invest Bring Silicon Valley Style Growth Marketing to Stockholm

An intensive 10 week program to take place in May at leading startup hub SUP46

500 Nordics teams up with Sweden´s most active early stage investor Almi Invest and moves into SUP46 for their upcoming Stockholm Distro Dojo program. Almi Invest comes onboard as a strategic partner for the accelerator, giving their portfolio companies a unique opportunity to be fast tracked in the application process and a chance for seats in the Dojo. Together we are all bringing Silicon Valley style growth marketing training to the Nordics and several promising Swedish startups.

- We are excited to work with Almi Invest and SUP46 on this” say 500 Nordics General Partner Sean Percival. “They are both hyper active players in the ecosystem, working with many companies while defining the early stage startup landscape of Sweden.

- We love to support 500Startups coming to Sweden and see great value in their work with startups. To make swedish startups even more globally prepared, we need a international accelerator that brings the Silicon Valley mentality, practises and leading growth marketers experts to Sweden. We also see opportunities to co-invest with their Venture Fund, says Maria Kessling, Head of Communications at Almi Invest.

The 10 week Distro Dojo program consists of four weeks in-residence at SUP46, where founders will be given access to resources aimed at strengthening the growth marketing initiatives at their companies. Followed by 6 weeks of virtual support from dedicated growth marketers. Unlike 500’s other accelerators, the Distro Dojo is focused on companies that are post seed already in growth mode. We then help them advance faster and get prepared for their Series A fundraising.

- We look forward to welcoming the 500 Startups brand to Stockholm and are very excited that they have chosen SUP46 as their venue for the Distro Dojo program. The focus on post-seed startups wanting to quickly scale their businesses fits well with our community and we hope to see some interesting exchanges and synergies in between the entrepreneurs during the time they are here, says Jessica Stark, CEO and Co-Founder of SUP46.

The program is being headed up by 500 Startups Partners Mathew Gustav Johnson, Sean Percival and Program Director Stina Liland Nysæther. Additionally, leading growth marketers from Silicon Valley and around the globe will be flown in to support the companies. It’s a unique opportunity for startups to get access to high quality mentors and hands-on support.

What is the Distro Dojo?

Originating back in samurai days, a dojo was a training school where serious students went to study the martial arts under a master sensei. And while the Nordics are more accustomed to the Viking warrior’s history there’s something to be learned from the focus and deadly precision of the Samurai as well. Put them both together and you have everything the modern founder needs to survive the startup battlefield.

Today more than ever it’s critical that startups have a solid and sustainable plan with regard to growth marketing. That’s where the Distro Dojo comes in by providing training to optimize existing growth channels and develop new ones. This ensures companies are ready for their next stage or growth and fundraising needs.

Why Stockholm?

Stockholm is the most mature startup ecosystem in the Nordics with many seed stage companies ready for such a program. As 500 Nordics develops our programs we try to find the best match for the current stage of the local ecosystem. So there is great opportunity for everyone to benefit from this program as Stockholm continues to crank out more high growth companies.

About 500 Nordics:

500 Nordics is bringing Silicon Valley best practices to the Nordics. Our main focus is helping Nordic companies expand beyond the region through marketing and distribution. We do this with accelerator programs and by leveraging our 200+ strong global mentor network.

In addition to our accelerator programs 500 Nordics operates a $15M USD venture fund focused on early stage startups in the region. We are part of the global network of 500 Startups regional funds. The fund is led by Sean Percival as General Partner, a serial entrepreneur, former Vice President of Myspace and investor in over 100 early stage startups.

About Almi Invest

Almi Invest is Sweden’s most active early stage investor and has invested in over 600 startups. The portfolio consists of about 400 growth companies.We invest in about 60-70 new companies per year, mainly within IoT, internet, mobile,gaming, media, cleantech, industry, materials and life sciences. We operate in 15 locations around Sweden and invest through 8 regional venture capital funds with a managed capital of 3 billion SEK.

www.almiinvest.se

About SUP46 (Startup People of Sweden)

Startup hub SUP46 was founded in 2013 to gather the startup community. Through the world class ecosystem of investors, advisors and mentors members are offered a competitive advantage. Located in the heart of Stockholm, it is home to more than 50 startups and a natural meeting place for the startup community. Only the most exciting and innovative companies, mainly within Internet, mobile, media, gaming and IoT, are accepted as members.

www.sup46.com