The creative industries face major growth opportunities in the international market. One challenge in this context is that companies and business models that do not fit into traditional structures become challenging to understand and value. There is thus a risk that companies with growth potential will miss out on investment opportunities.
Here we are breaking new ground with exciting new investors, business angels and the purpose-driven creative entrepreneurs who have been part of the eXpression business since the incubator was founded. This means that together we will open up new opportunities for funding, says Marlene Johansson, CEO of eXpression business incubator.
An important step is the establishment of the Future Retail Lab accelerator, which focuses on the shift that retail is currently facing and how to harness the opportunities that follow. Part of the answer is about new knowledge, new digital tools and exploring innovative business models. Another part of the answer lies precisely in new forms of financing and investment strategies for growth.
To meet the opportunities of the future of commerce, it is important to build partnerships with innovative investors and business angels who see the potential and opportunities in innovative entrepreneurs in the creative industries. We are very much looking forward to the cooperation with Connect Region Norr, they will stimulate the development of the companies that are now accepted to the accelerator, says Annakarin Nyberg, program manager at Future Retail Lab.
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth's new report "Give space on stage, cultural companies want to grow" shows how creative industries are more innovative than average. One reason is that they build their business models on collaboration to a greater extent, usually in their core activities such as production, distribution, marketing and export. As entrepreneurs grow through collaboration rather than number of employees, they become more flexible, which creates different conditions to respond to new opportunities.
We see great potential in the collaboration with eXpression and the national accelerator that is currently being established in Umeå. Together we will build networks and collaborations that can capture the entrepreneurs of the future, says Anders Gothefors, CEO of Connect Norr.
In September 2019, the national accelerator programme Future Retail Lab will be launched. The programme is an initiative of the incubator eXpression Umeå, a business incubator that creates conditions for entrepreneurship in creative and cultural industries. In the Future Retail Lab, new entrepreneurs together with existing owner-operated companies focus on the sustainable retail of the future.
Contact:
Marlene Johansson,
CEO, eXpression
marlene.johansson@expressionumea.se
Anders Gothefors
CEO Connect Sweden Region North
anders.gothefors@connectsverige.se
Annakarin Nyberg,
Programme Manager, Future Retail Lab
annakarin.nyberg@expressionumea.se
