Investing

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.

Investing in Immigrants

Immigration is a hot topic all over the world. I have been an immigrant and I know the challenges of being an immigrant founder. My wife and I are setting up a fund to invest in immigrant founders who want to start in Iceland. We founded Startup Iceland with a vision to build a vibrant startup ecosystem and Founders are at the core of this vision. We know that only diversity of ideas and people can lead to a better world and future.

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.