Behind the Scenes of X2 Labs’ Pilot Program “Smart Cities”
In only 4 short weeks, X2 Labs created 19 new jobs and established 4 new companies, with 3 more concepts under development.
“Less than 3 months ago we were an idea on a napkin. Now we’ve successfully completed our first 4 week start-up program on the theme of Smart Cities, and are launching our second, Digital Tourism, next Monday,” says Christian Rangen, CEO and co-founder of X2 Labs.
From over 200 applicants - many of them international – X2 Labs chose 61 start-up heroes who devoted 4 weeks and over 1400 hours to working closely with corporates, organizations, mentors and facilitators to develop a portfolio of Smart City companies. The result is 19 new jobs and the establishment and funding of 4 new companies, with 3 more concepts under development.
With nine more 4-week programs like Smart City planned for 2017, X2 Labs has high-reaching goals for co-founding companies with international growth ambitions. A key difference in X2 Labs’ programs is that from day one, the participants are working closely with corporates and organizations to understand the real-life challenges affecting them. “This means that the solutions developed are aligned with market needs from the offset,” explains X2 Labs Program Director, Linn Skundberg Jensen.
“X2 Labs is able to solve problems and grasp challenges that we don’t have the capacity to handle alone. Their speed and energy is contagious,” says Gunnar Edwin Crawford of Lyse.
Feedback from participants – also known as Start-Up Heroes – emphasized the unique ability X2 Labs has for facilitating fast-paced access to everything from market contacts to expertise throughout the Smart City pilot program. “It’s just fantastic of you to facilitate us in the way you do to make it possible for us to create our own work and create value in society,” says Alexander Olafsrud, Smart Cities participant and co-founder of MultiD, about X2 Labs.
Lead Facilitator of X2 Labs Sean Paul Shanor (right) congratulating X2 Labs Start-up hero and co-founder of Xaura, Greg Kowal.
One of largest and most ambitious entrepreneurship programs in the Nordics, X2 Labs’ goal is to successfully launch at least 50 new companies in its first year. “With the 4 companies and 3 concepts that have resulted from our Smart Cities program, we are well on our way to achieving that goal. By moving fast and facilitating successful collaboration between corporates and startups, we are showing that the impossible is indeed quite possible,” says X2 Labs Lead Facilitator, Sean Paul Shanor.
Watch the video X2 Labs’ Smart Cities program
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To find out more, contact christian@x2labs.io or visit www.x2labs.io/partnership
Become a Start Up Hero! Our 4-week programs address a range of themes from industries primed for growth, including Smart Cities, Digital Tourism, Food, Fintech and Digital Health. Anyone can join. Find out more and apply at www.x2labs.io/4-week-program