In this special Deep Dive episode of Konkursklubben, we explore Early Warning, a Danish program offering free business support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in crisis. Since its launch in 2007, Early Warning has helped over 10,000 businesses across all sectors in Denmark, making it a cornerstone of entrepreneurial resilience.

Key Takeaway:

Early Warning is a lifeline for business owners, offering practical solutions and the emotional support needed to navigate crises. Whether saving a business or ensuring a dignified closure, their approach is rooted in empathy, professionalism, and a commitment to making a difference.

⁠https://earlywarning.dk/

This episode was created with Google NotebookLM AI, an artificial intelligence tool for content creation. We retain full intellectual property rights to all original material used as input.

In this insightful episode of Konkursklubben, we welcome Nicolaj Højer Nielsen, a seasoned investor with a portfolio of 30 investments and a background as an entrepreneur. Nicolaj shares his journey, investment strategies, and candid thoughts on failure and resilience in the startup world.

This episode is packed with practical advice and candid insights for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Whether you’re building your first startup or looking for strategies to attract investment, Nicolaj’s experience and perspective offer invaluable lessons.

📧 Got a story or feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected].

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This episode was created with Google NotebookLM AI, an artificial intelligence tool for content creation. We retain full intellectual property rights to all original material used as input.

In this deeply personal episode of Konkursklubben, former nightlife mogul and now addiction therapist Jean von Baden, aka Jean Glistrup, shares his raw and intense life story. For Jean, bankruptcy wasn’t a shock—it felt like the inevitable outcome of a life he describes as one long series of failures, starting in childhood.

This episode explores the deeper question: Can you build a successful business if you’re not at peace with yourself?

Jean shares his perspective on the foundational work every entrepreneur needs to do before starting a business. He argues that unresolved personal issues, coping mechanisms, and bad habits will only grow under the pressure of a crisis.

This conversation goes beyond financial challenges, addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of failure and recovery. Jean’s candid reflections offer invaluable insights for anyone navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.

Resources Mentioned:

Follow Konkursklubben:

Tune in to this thought-provoking episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It’s a must-listen for anyone seeking to turn personal setbacks into a foundation for growth and success.

Note: This episode was created with Google NotebookLM AI, an artificial intelligence tool for content creation. We retain full intellectual property rights to all original material used as input.

In this Deep Dive episode of Konkursklubben, we explore the concept of entrepreneurial success. Our guest, Shakila Shaheen, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Shakila is a former management consultant, founder of MyMedicalGig, and currently the owner and leader of Envision Consulting ApS, a consultancy specializing in digital transformation, particularly within healthcare and life sciences.

Although Shakila didn’t go through a formal bankruptcy, she made the tough decision to close her company after realizing that the idea wasn’t sustainable given the resources she had at the time. However, the concept behind MyMedicalGig lives on in a new business venture, and Shakila’s contributions have played a vital role in advancing technological innovation in the healthcare sector, especially in the field of diagnostic imaging.

If you have ideas for content, a story of business failure you'd like to share, or are interested in partnerships, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or send us a DM on LinkedIn.

Links:

Note: This episode was created with NotebookLM AI, an artificial intelligence tool for content creation. We retain full intellectual property rights to all original material used as input.

Embracing Change After Loss with Cecilie Willer

In this episode, we sit down with Cecilie Willer, a coach for startups and founders, to discuss the unique challenges resourceful entrepreneurs face in the aftermath of bankruptcy. The conversation dives into the drastic shift from a high-performance lifestyle to an unstructured reality, exploring how to navigate this transition with resilience and self-compassion.

Highlights:

Links: changetoday.io, changetoday.io/foundertools, konkursklubben.dk

Key Takeaway: Bankruptcy is a tough experience, yet it’s an integral part of the entrepreneurial journey. By focusing on mental health, seeking support, and reframing failure as a learning opportunity, founders can emerge stronger, better prepared for future success.

Note: This episode was created with NotebookLM AI, an artificial intelligence tool for content creation. We retain full intellectual property rights to all original material used as input.

In this episode, our US friends at the Deep Dive Podcast delve into the raw and resilient journey of Frederick-Sebastian Krause, known as "Mr. Akvavit."

From the ambitious launch of SIX NORDICS and a dream of globalizing aquavit to navigating through significant personal and professional setbacks, Frederik’s story captures the relentless spirit of an entrepreneur who plays to win.

Join hosts Camilla Enge and Christian Marcus, alongside Frederik, as they unpack the ups and downs of his seven-year journey. The conversation explores not only the tactical lessons from building a business but also the emotional impact of seeing that dream dissolve. With openness, Frederik shares his reflections on dealing with guilt, shame, and the mental toll of going bankrupt.

But it’s also a story of resilience. The episode reveals how Frederik found strength in his community, family, and a renewed focus on mental health, inspired in part by Brené Brown’s insights on vulnerability. This is a conversation that looks beyond the struggles to the powerful lessons learned and the path forward.

Key Moments:

Listen now for an honest and inspiring look at what it means to face failure and come out stronger.

Note: This episode was created with NotebookLM AI, an artificial intelligence tool for content creation. We retain full intellectual property rights to all original material used as input.

This week, the English-language podcast Deep Dive will guest host our podcast and discuss the first episode of Konkursklubben—or "The Bankruptcy Club."

"The Pilot" is the first episode of the podcast Konkursklubben, dedicated to exploring the often overlooked and taboo aspects of business bankruptcy. In this episode, we meet hosts Camilla Enge and Christian Marcus, who openly and honestly discuss their own experiences with entrepreneurship, bankruptcy, and the mental health challenges that come with it.

Camilla Enge, who has personally experienced the bankruptcy of her business, shares her inspiring yet at times painful story. She takes us on a journey from her time as a "self-sufficient housewife" to becoming a passionate entrepreneur with a dream of revolutionizing the food system through a sustainable, building-integrated greenhouse concept. We hear about her struggle for funding, the ups and downs of partnerships, and how the energy crisis ultimately forced her to close the business.

Christian Marcus, who has worked at Tesla, SingularityU, and with startups and accelerator programs, contributes insights into the entrepreneurial culture and the challenges that can arise. He particularly focuses on the constant drive for "peak performance" and how this culture can lead to burnout. He highlights the need for balance and the importance of addressing the burn-out rate, not just in relation to the company's finances (burn rate) but also personal energy.

Together, Camilla and Christian discuss the mental and emotional consequences of bankruptcy. They emphasize the importance of breaking the silence and creating a space where those affected by bankruptcy can share their stories and learn from each other's experiences. They hope the podcast can help destigmatize bankruptcy and assist people in getting back on their feet after a failure.

The episode also features a humorous anecdote about the creation of the podcast, illustrating the proactive and "move fast, break things" mentality that often characterizes entrepreneurs. From meeting at DTU Startup Day to sitting in a studio recording a podcast, only a month passed.

"The Pilot" is an honest and gripping introduction to Konkursklubben. The episode offers insight into the challenges and potential of entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of openly discussing the difficult sides of running a business.

Note: This episode was created with NotebookLM AI, an artificial intelligence tool for content creation. We retain full intellectual property rights to all original material used as input.

Meditation og meditationens evne til at øge resiliens og mindske stress bliver ved med at dukke op i Konkursklubbens samtaler. Derfor har vi i denne episode inviteret Maria Therese Jessen-Petersen til at uddybe emnet for os. Maria er founder af QuietSpace, et rum til kontemplative praksiser i organisationer, såsom meditation, med showroom inde på matrikel1. i København. I denne episode skal Maria holde det meditative rum for os, mens vi i praksis træner vores evne til at være nærværende i os selv. For Maria er meditation ikke bare et værktøj til at øge vores ydeevne. Det er en livspraksis, der lærer os at lytte dybere og leve og agere fra et (selv)kærligt udgangspunkt.

Der er altså tale om en lidt anderledes og mere lavpraktisk episode i dag, hvor lytterne inviteres til at deltage. Inspireret af den vietnamesiske munk Thích Nhất Hạnh, har Maria taget en klokke med, som flere gange i løbet af episoden vil ringe os til stilhed og vores eget indre rum. Sidst i episoden vil der også være en guidet meditation. 

I kan finde mere information om QuietSpace og Maria Therese Jessen-Petersen på quietspace.dk

QuietSpace faciliteter blandt andet:

"Arrival Meditation" til workshops og større events

1-1 meditations sessioner 

1-Team sessioner

Urban Retreats for unge Founders & CEO's. 

Implementering af QuietSpace rum i organisationer

I denne episode af Konkursklubben har vi co-founder af Coinify, Hans Henrik Hoffmeyer i studiet. Samtalen udvikler sig hurtigt til en masterclass i Mergers & Acquisitions og international konkursret, da Hans Henrik udfolder historien om, hvordan han og hans co-founder, Mark Højgaard, solgte, tilbagekøbte og solgte Coinify på bare atten måneder. 

Denne episodes konkursfortælling handler altså ikke om Coinify, som i dag er en sund forretning, men om den amerikanske kryptobørs Voyager, der opkøbte Coinify tilbage i 2021. Året efter går Voyager under konkursbehandlig og Mark og Hans Henrik beslutter sig for at tilbagekøbe Coinify. Hans Henrik indvier os i, hvordan de præsterede at holde hovedet koldt og spille det ultimative endgame, for atten måneder senere at stå med et succesfuldt exit, igen! 

Ud over et unikt indblik i amerikansk konkursret, er nogle af deres største learnings fra denne periode:

I dag har Mark og Hans Henrik fortsat samarbejdet og de står bl.a. bag Blockchain Fonden (http://blockchainfond.dk) som nu er på Fond II og driver scale-up support og angel bureauet Ascension https://www.ascension-invest.com , som hovedsageligt hjælper fintech og blockchain startups. 

Øvrige links til Konkursklubben: 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/konkursklubben/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KonkursKlubben

Afsnittets sangtekst:

Verse:

Hans and Mark, they built it high,From blockchain dreams to touch the sky,Coinify rode the crypto wave,A million-dollar deal they gave.But every ride has twists and turns,The market crashes, how it burns,Yet through the ashes, they arise,Another exit in their eyes.

Chorus:

It's a crazy ride, highs and lows,Million-dollar dreams, where the wild wind blows.Crash and burn, but they won’t quit,Another exit’s waiting, this is it!

I denne episode af Konkursklubben har vi Nick Bridge fra det tidligere impact bureau Girls Are Awesome i studiet. Nick er en brand, community og kulturskaber ud over det sædvanlige og har i dag et hav af roller som mentor, brandudvikler og filmskaber. Derudover er han også bestyrelsesmedlem i det socialøkonomiske mikrobryggeri People Like Us.

Nick stiftede Girls Are Awesome sammen med sin barndomsven Danny Santaana tilbage i 2015. I 2021 fik Corona skovlen under Girls Are Awesome og de måtte gå konkurs. Konkursklubben har talt med Nick om tiden omkring konkursen og hvor kompliceret det har været, som hvis mand, at drive et selskab, der beskæftiger sig med female empowerment i en kulturel opbrudstid præget af kønsdifferentiering og repræsentation. 

Hvis du har en god konkurshistorie eller andre ideer til content, vil vi rigtig gerne høre fra dig. Skriv til [email protected]

Øvrige links til Konkursklubben: 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/konkursklubben/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KonkursKlubben