Wonderful Copenhagen: Accelerator for sustainable innovation in the tourism industry
The Context
Over a three-year period, we collaborated with Wonderful Copenhagen’s HIT (Hub for Innovation in Tourism) to develop and implement five pre-accelerator programs designed to support startups and entrepreneurs in the tourism sector. Twice a year, HIT invited applications for digital and sustainable solutions that could create value for the tourism industry or its stakeholders, and offered the selected participants a four-month accelerator program featuring networking, mentoring, and financial support.
The Journey
The journey began with the design and implementation of a carefully structured pre-accelerator bootcamp, which formed a central part of the overall accelerator program. The purpose of the pre-accelerator was twofold: first, to select the most promising and innovative ideas among the applicants, and second, to provide participants with a solid foundation in Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and lean startup principles.
The bootcamp served as a hub for idea development, where participants were not only coached on how to develop their concepts but also had the opportunity to build relationships and expand their professional networks. Mentors and industry experts guided the entrepreneurs through the process of creating scalable and sustainable solutions tailored to the many facets of tourism—from hospitality and travel booking to experience design and event management.
The results
The program resulted in a group of dedicated entrepreneurs with refined ideas and a clear foundation for further growth in the tourism sector. Several participants made significant progress in their work with MVPs and lean startup methods and succeeded in turning their ideas into concrete, market-ready solutions.
In addition to the tangible results, the bootcamp helped build a strong community characterized by collaboration, where like-minded entrepreneurs and organizations found common ground and laid the foundation for new partnerships and synergies.
These successes underscore the impact of the pre-accelerator program and highlight the transformative role that collaboration and shared learning can play in steering the tourism industry toward a more digital and sustainable future.
"We partnered with Thomas to design and facilitate the HIT Accelerator boot camps because he has a deep understanding of innovation and lean startup processes, excellent communication and facilitation skills, and a clear ability to 'read the room.' We have always felt in safe hands with Thomas as the host of the programs and have greatly appreciated his professionalism and ease of collaboration."