Give First: The Power of Mentorship and the Story of Iceland’s Startup Renaissance

Brad Feld’s upcoming book, Give First – The Power of Mentorship, is now available for pre-order on Amazon. It couldn’t come at a better time. It captures a philosophy that has shaped my journey. This belief has also influenced the very fabric of Iceland’s startup ecosystem. Mentorship, grounded in generosity and compassion, is the foundation of every thriving entrepreneurial community.

This belief took root in Iceland in 2012, when we launched the first Startup Iceland conference. Back then, Iceland was still reeling from a financial collapse. Few believed that a vibrant startup community can be built here. But I believed that if we created a platform where people came together, we change that narrative. It would not be for transactions, but for connection, learning, and mutual support.

One of the first people to support this vision was Brad Feld himself. He flew to Iceland in 2012 to serve as a keynote speaker at the inaugural Startup Iceland conference. More than just a speaker, Brad exemplified the Give First ethos in action. He didn’t just come to talk. He came to mentor me and anyone who engaged with him in Iceland. He met with local founders, participated in one-on-one sessions, and shared his insights with humility and generosity. That moment sent a powerful signal to the ecosystem: mentorship matters, and Iceland is worth investing in.

The mentorship didn’t stop at the conference. Brad also engaged with Startup Reykjavik, Iceland’s first mentorship-driven accelerator, which launched that same year. I was proud to be the first mentor to sign up. I saw firsthand the transformational power of consistent, compassionate mentorship. Brad’s presence and participation lent credibility, energy, and belief to a model that was still unfamiliar to many here.

Back then, we had to painstakingly convince founders to attend their one-on-one mentoring sessions. Many were unsure. Some didn’t see the value. But we knew those conversations would be the heart of the experience. And over time, the culture began to shift. Founders opened up. Mentors leaned in. Trust was built. Give First was no longer just a phrase—it was a lived practice.

Since then, I’ve taken that philosophy even further—by embedding it into the DNA of every investment fund I manage. Our approach is simple: capital is only one part of the equation. What truly moves the needle is consistent, high-quality mentoring. I assign one hour every week to every team we invest in. That time is non-negotiable. It’s where strategy gets refined, where challenges are worked through, and where relationships are deepened.

This weekly mentoring model is one of the most transformational elements of our investment practice. It has been instrumental in the success of the companies we back. Founders know they’re not alone. They know we’re in it with them—not just as investors, but as partners.

Because at its core, Give First is not about getting ahead. It’s about lifting others up. It’s a gesture of generosity and compassion, rooted in the belief that when we help others succeed, we all rise.

Today, Iceland has a growing startup community. We’ve seen acquisitions, scale-ups, and international recognition. But none of this would have happened without the foundational culture of giving, mentoring, and showing up.

Startup Iceland was built on that spirit. It wasn’t about celebrity speakers or polished pitches—it was about building a movement. A movement powered by people like Brad Feld, who believed before others did. A movement that said: we give first, because that’s how we build the future.

Brad’s new book will no doubt inspire the next generation of mentors and founders. I encourage everyone to pre-order Give First – The Power of Mentorship, and more importantly—to live its message. Show up. Listen. Share. And give—before you’re asked.

That’s how Startup Iceland started. That’s how we’ve grown. And that’s how we’ll keep moving ahead and building the future —together.

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