This piece discusses Iceland’s economic challenges and the importance of maintaining monetary sovereignty. It argues that technology can drive competitiveness and absorb inflation pressures, offering a buffer for high-margin businesses. The author emphasizes the need for structural reforms to deepen domestic capital markets to retain successful companies and build a resilient economy.
The seventh piece of a series on Iceland’s economy discusses how full inflation indexation prevents anyone from bearing the cost of inflation, ultimately eroding national competitiveness. As Icelandic prices rise compared to global alternatives, many Icelanders perceive Europe as a cheaper option. The solution proposed is dismantling the indexation system to restore balance.
This is a different kind of piece from the ones before it. Those were about economics — the cost of …
This is the fifth piece in a series on Iceland’s economy and the August 29 referendum on reopening EU accession …
This analysis critiques Iceland’s Prime Minister’s arguments for EU membership regarding monetary sovereignty. It emphasizes that historical examples show joining the euro could lead to lower initial interest rates but also hidden risks, mispricing, and inflation issues. The author advocates for domestic reforms instead of abandoning currency sovereignty.
This is the third piece in a series. The first three argued that Iceland’s high cost of capital is mostly …
For decades, building software required a special type of person. You had to enjoy computers deeply. It involved spending years …
I spend most of my professional life thinking about trust. As an early-stage investor, I’m constantly reminded that capital is …
The crisis of free speech is not about what people are allowed to say, but about what systems choose to amplify—and what governments choose to punish.
What It Really Means to Be Aligned with Founders Every VC on LinkedIn says the same thing: “We couldn’t have …
The Balancing Power of India: From Civilization to Startups to Global Leadership Every time I return to India, I’m reminded …
The Dissonance Between the Digital and the Real
We live in a world where everything online looks finished — startups, ideas, even people — while reality remains imperfect, slow, and deeply human. This essay explores how the digital world distorts our sense of progress and truth, how that distortion has been hijacked to spread anxiety, and why thinking for oneself has become a radical act in the age of digital illusion.
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.
The talk in Ljubliana, Slovenia focused on Circular and Green Innovation, emphasizing the importance of small, mission-driven groups in shaping the future. The speaker highlighted the need to challenge negative narratives and shared examples of innovative sustainability solutions, promoting optimism and proactive action. The event showcased inspiring initiatives, encouraging positive change.
I once went to a speed dating event. I met someone there, the type of person I was looking for. …
Reboot: Leadership and the art of growing up is a book written by Jerry Colonna, my friend, mentor and coach. He has condensed decades of wisdom of working with founders and also being an investor. I recommend this book for everyone, as everyone is a leader.
The most important things in life are singular. Time and decision making are singular and follow a power law, and some moments matter far more than others. However, you can’t trust a world that denies the power law to accurately frame your decisions for you, so what’s more important is rarely obvious. It might even be a secret. But in a power law world, you can’t afford not to think hard about where your actions will fall on the curve. Decision to attend Startup Iceland is one of those moments.
How we as humans behave is defined by a number of things. The book by Robert M. Sapolsky articulates this in plain english and also enable us to go beyond that.
Homo Deus is a book about the future. If you think the challenges of the future are way out there think again. Startups are a way to build the future.
Socratic method can help startups learn more about the assumption of the startup. Pushback by others should force entrepreneurs to refine the business model