Scan Magazine

By Signe Hansen

There is probably no one who has not heard of the X factor and even though some of us may not admit to it, most are likely to have seen at least an episode or two of the popular talent show. But what all of us did not know is that the show has also brought fortune to two Danes whose invention has been just as exposed to fame’s searchlight as the aspiring stars.

The two Danes Kenneth Siber and Thomas Jensen are the founders of UK based Mindstorm, a company that specialises in bringing everyday surfaces and spaces to life with a range of innovative interactive solutions. The company was started just three years ago, but with its inventive development and reliable solutions it has quickly attracted the attention of both investors and clients.

Spotting the talent

One of the business developers who first spotted the potential in the innovative touchscreens was another Dane, the founder and CEO of 1CT (Corporate Technologies), Søren Jonas Bruun. 1CT specialises in taking emerging technology companies to their full potential and in the beginning of 2009 1CT got involved with Mindstorm. “I founded 1CT on the idea that I would like to repeat some of the successes that I had seen in the past where technology companies were brought forward quite quickly and brought into larger companies. I find that process very inspiring,” says Bruun adding: “To grow and groom is the key for what we do.”

The cool factor

Mindstorm is the first UK-based company that 1CT has invested in, but Bruun did not hesitate when he first heard about the company’s ideas and plans. “The companies we work with are not necessarily new companies, but they do need to have a new technology that is crisp and cool enough for the big players to find it interesting. Mindstorm certainly has that cool factor,” stresses Bruun.

On 27 September, more than 12 million people in the UK watched X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh use the Mindstorm Aurora Table to select the 24 acts that will compete for this year’s X Factor prize. But Mindstorm is not just about coolness and X factor, but also about solid production and reliability says Bruun. “Mindstorm very quickly developed the solutions in demand and a steady deliverance which enabled them to produce, for instance, the touch screen which greatly pleased Simon Cowell and consequently got them on national TV in the UK.”

The multi-touch technology of Mindstorm is installed across the globe with prestigious companies such as Nokia, Google and BMW and prestigious clubs around the world.

Crossing the finishing line

Since 1CT started up five years ago, Bruun has been joined by three partners and has around 100 experts which 1CT calls in for help in the different sectors. “We do it the old fashioned way, we try to build the company up in a healthy way and in partnership with the clients,” says Bruun.

Since its beginning 1CT has helped 14 companies “successfully cross the finishing line” as Bruun puts it. “We are very exit focused, we try to understand what it takes to become attractive to the leading international players. Basically, we set a goal and figure out how to get there. It sounds very simple, but it is a lot of hard work,” he stresses and adds. “A lot of companies get excited and overly confident about the new technology and then just go along. But if that is your tactic you often end up as the 4am girl, who was not picked on the dance floor; you have to be where the music plays and you have to be there at the right time, wear the right clothes and be ready to move in if approached.”

Many of the exits created by 1CT have been to large American “gorillas” such as Cisco, Adobe and VMware.

Fact Box

All 1CT’s projects are designed and planned to go from A (now) to Z (exit) within 6 to 36 months

1CT is based in Copenhagen, London (HQ), New York and San Francisco

1CT won a 32m DKK GazelleGrowth program tender from the Danish Ministry of Science together with the leading Danish Science Park, Symbion

1CT charge for services through options and makes direct investments on market terms

- For more information visit: www.1corptech.com