25 strong business ideas with the potential to enrich the Umeå region's economy are in the process of developing and testing new business models in the startup programme eXpress. This spring's edition is the largest yet and the number of applicants has been record-breaking. During ten intensive weeks, creators are given the opportunity, in a safe and creative environment, to take their idea to a sustainable business - now in a digital format.
- I'm really pleased that there is so much interest in participating in the eXpress programme. We have ten weeks ahead of us that we hope will help to develop not only the 25 business ideas, but the entrepreneurship of the creators," says Oscar Riby, business coach at eXpression Umeå.
PDF: Picture, presentation and contact details - all participants
Normally, the eXpress programme is held in eXpression Umeå's premises in Curiosum on the Artistic Campus in Umeå, but like most of them, the set-up has had to be changed to become entirely digital.
- We needed to quickly redesign the layout and find a technical solution that worked. Luckily, we work with creative and flexible contractors who quickly jumped on board and have bridged the gap to develop a digital concept. We believe that parts of the programme will continue to be offered digitally even after the situation we are now in has calmed down," says Emil Hägglund, business coach at eXpression Umeå, and who, together with Oskar, leads the incubator's fast track.
The 25 business ideas range from driving licence games, dance studios and textile design to experience-based tourism and 3D visualisation - and much more. The ideas represent different sectors of the KKN, cultural and creative industries.
If you want to know more about the programme or get in touch with the creators, please contact emil.hagglund@expressionumea.se or oskar.riby@expressionumea.se
Photographer: Stoffe Pettersson
ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THE EXPRESS PROGRAMME IN SPRING 2020:
PDF: Picture, presentation and contact details - all participants
bintArt - Binta Drammeh
Björksonen Media - Philip Björkstrand
BLOM - Carl Hansols
D.talk - Kristina Nord Koskela, Theres Svensson
Dance Studio - Anastasia Potekh
Design by Thildra - Susanne Fahlén Hörnberg
Foreword - Erica Forsman
Holistic and Wellness space - Anne Ouma
Illustration and cartooning - Alma Thörn
Illustrator - Isak Lundberg
I'm Illustrious - Jonathan Nilsson
Kenneth Ly Videographer - Kenneth Ly
King's Rider - Alexander Wrångstål, Viktor Lemoine, Clara Finziegler
Driving licence games - Mohammed Salem
Microbiota Studio - Sonia Juan Rubio
Perform Yourself - Ann Enström
Personal planner - Rachel Chuman Zhang
Revive - Jenny Karlsson
Sports Design Consulting - Mihalis Kalavros
Staite Consulting - Brad Staite
Take Me to Paisley (TMtP) - Hanna Ögren
Teatrica - Ottiliana Rolandsson
The Theodores - Dylan Stiegemeier
Tours in Umeå - Tinna Sandström
Umeå Today - Erik Campano
