Inspiration

Transforming Iceland’s Fishing Industry: A Startup’s Guide

As Iceland’s marine industries face mounting financial and environmental pressures, the need for innovation has never been greater. Startups are uniquely positioned to revitalize the Blue Economy—bringing fresh ideas, agile technologies, and sustainable models to an industry in transition. From rural job creation and emissions reduction to smarter data systems and global competitiveness, these ventures will not only support resilience—they will define the future of ocean-based prosperity.

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

When we launched Startup Iceland in 2012, few believed a startup ecosystem could take root in Iceland. But with the support of early believers like Brad Feld—who not only keynoted our first conference but also mentored founders in person—we planted the seeds of a Give First culture. Since then, mentorship has become the foundation of everything I do, from Startup Reykjavik to the investment funds I manage. I dedicate one hour every week to each founder we back—because generosity and compassion aren’t just values, they’re strategies for long-term success. Brad’s upcoming book, Give First – The Power of Mentorship, captures this beautifully. It’s not just a philosophy—it’s how we build the future.

Reimagining Education: The Holistic Approach of Prometheus School

India’s Education Renaissance: The Opportunity Ahead
India stands on the cusp of a dynamic shift in education—one that breaks free from rote memorization and embraces creativity, collaboration, and leadership from an early age. My visit to Prometheus School highlighted how a carefully designed environment, world-class facilities, and a student-led administrative framework can transform the way young minds learn and grow. This is more than just a school—it’s a blueprint for the future of India’s education system. By adopting forward-thinking methods that encourage innovation and real-world experiences, Indian schools can empower an entire generation to lead confidently on the global stage. And I truly believe that, with this kind of reimagined learning, the coming decades will undeniably be India’s decades to shine.

A New Year’s Honor: Receiving the Order of the Falcon from the President of Iceland

On January 1, 2025, I was deeply honored to receive the Order of the Falcon from the President of Iceland. This recognition celebrates not only my journey in building a vibrant startup community but also the collective efforts of countless entrepreneurs, mentors, and visionaries who have fueled Iceland’s rise as a hub for innovation. Together, we’ve transformed potential into success, proving that with trust, collaboration, and bold dreams, anything is possible. This award is a testament to what we’ve built—and the limitless opportunities ahead.

Circular Economy in Action in Iceland – #FutureCast Episode 11

There is a circular economy in action in Iceland. We produced a 4 part FutureCast episode on that. The first part is our conversation with HS Orka and Blue Lagoon. Startup Iceland 2022’s theme this year is Circular Economy and Sustainability.

FutureCast Episode 4 – David Gunnarsson, CEO of Dohop

The 4th Episode of FutureCast is a conversation with David Gunnarsson the CEO of Dohop the Flight Meta Search company which just closed a $12m round of funding. A Christmas miracle where a travel company raises funding during a pandemic.

Flights, lipstick and question marks

I picked up the wrong year to move countries.
In this long pilgrimage, full of cancelled flights, rescheduled flights, delayed flights, change of plans, change of airports, change of companies, masks, regulations, emotional roller coasters, joy and concern…I have been considering where brands are and what is branding adding to people’s lives in a moment in which we are all reviewing our priorities.

Human Machine Interface – what is wrong with it and how to fix it

Human Machine interface is broken, amputees cannot use a smart phone or any of the devices that now use. 6Degrees has solved this problem and we invested in Miri and Aryeh to build the next human-machine interface device.

The future of Air Travel

The future of air travel is not what we experience today. There are alternatives and one company is working to solve this problem and it looks like they will be successful. Boom is bringing supersonic travel back by building a new aircraft with technological advances from other fields like computing, materials and engineering. Exciting times ahead for air travel