Signs of a new economy and the dawn of a new paradigm is emerging in Denmark: “The Sharing and Collaborative Economy” are still just new definitions for many people, but the transition in the ways that we interact, trade, live and get around is alive and in process. This piece highlights just a few but important moves in the Danish landscape that could point to rising opportunities for the development of The Sharing and Collaborative Economy. We need cooperative platforms, we need to build bridges between local sharing and collaborative communities and conventional business, and we need to set the initiative free supported by new social financing opportunities. New initiatives by Danish retail giants and new opportunities for entrepreneurship Some of the popular Sharing and Collaborative pioneer examples that have appeared in most Danish media during the past few years are international Airbnb, Danish peer to peer car rental MinbilDinbil, the clothing swapper Resecond and not least the growing number of food sharing communities with a green profile like Københavns Fødevarefællesskab (KBHFF). And they are all important examples as they are representatives of different organizational and commercial levels besides from segments, and common to them are that they are passionate pioneers with a heart beating for the Sharing and Collaborative Economy. Whether inspired by these pioneers or other factors, new initiatives by Danish retail giants could indicate that Denmark is going into a transition phase. This is seen in the shifts in value chain within these companies with a changing focus from global to local supply chains, which at the same time means new opportunities for entrepreneurs and SME’s and hopefully by time sharing concepts. At the same time, we see a development within opportunities for entrepreneurship and alternative financing like equity crowdfunding. Denmark may well be entering a new era where local self-sufficient systems can work and scale on shared cooperative platforms at the same time as micro-entrepreneurship will grow and become a key to these systems. Shifts in value chain: Retail supermarket giants going local Denmark (together with the rest of Scandinavia) has a long tradition of cooperative business. Coop Amba (former FDB) is one Danish cooperative for consumers that has existed since 1896. Coop Amba is divided in three segments: Coop Danmark (including 6 supermarket chains), Coop Invest and Coop Bank (start up 2013). Start 2014 Coop Amba is a cooperative with 1, 4 million members who at the same time are shareholders of the cooperative. During 2013 Coop Danmark started expanding cooperations with local suppliers mostly on the food area. This means that you can find food produced in a local area maybe just available in one local shop within a supermarket chain. The response from the consumers is clear: They like to know the path of origin of the products, and they like the fact that they are produced in the local area. The key word is trust and add to that the social value in local collaborations and job creation. March 2014 Coop Danmark confirmed that it will intensify focus on local products, and more or less at the same time, the hypermarket chain, Bilka, which is part of leading retail giant, Dansk Supermarked has started cooperating with local suppliers on local food products. To begin with, Bilka runs it as test in just one of its hypermarkets.
The transition in business and value chain that we are seeing here at Coop Danmark and Bilka are good examples of the platforms and bridges that we need to build to make the Sharing and Collaborative economy grow, merge with conventional business and consolidate. A next step could perfectly be leasing and access services at local levels. Equity Crowdfunding: a new form of financing for entrepreneurs and SME’s Alternative and particularly social finance systems like equity crowdfunding are important to support the new business structures characteristic for the Sharing and Collaborative Economy. Particularly entrepreneurs and minor trading communities end up stuck in transition when they are not behaving like conventional businesses and maybe don’t have potential nor aims of going big scale. There is an increased need for diversification and flexibility in business systems and financing opportunities to support the growth of the new communities and business units shaping the Sharing and Collaborative Economy. In Denmark The Financial Supervisory Authority recognizes the relevance of crowdfunding but strict laws including requirements as to capital at the level of brokers, still prevent the development of equity crowdfunding. Danish Crowdfunding Association decided to do something about this situation. Danish Crowdfunding Association is an initiative by the founders of the leading crowdfunding platform in Denmark, Booomerang. Danish Crowdfunding Association defines itself as a new cooperative movement engaging in influencing the financing landscape in Denmark and motivating the needed legislative changes . Danish Crowdfunding Association promotes equity crowdfunding as a solution to financing growth, a social finance option for entrepreneurs and companies. And now doors seem to be opening. In March 2014 the Danish Minister of Business and Growth, Henrik Sass Larsen announced that the Danish legislative frames on the area will get a check. As he says, he will look at: “Whether the Danish rules can become more "appropriate" to benefit in a responsible way from the new opportunities for venture capital for new and small businesses.” On April 9 2014 Legislative Proposal B 107 is a fact, and we are waiting to know the outcome for the “Proposal for a parliamentary resolution on the introduction of a new form of financing (crowdfunding) for entrepreneurs and SME’s.” Guest post written by Susanne Mathiasen.
My approach to trendspotting and business development are fast paced methods with focus on matching a fast moving world. I work from a theory, which I call: The conscious & curious elasticity.