Jesper Rydahl Email & Phone Number

Copenhagen, Dk

Copenhagen Area, Capital Region, Denmark

Mentoring startups in the CSE incubator program. Providing strategic guidance to help them reach their goals and milestones. The vision of CSE mentors is to develop and implement the best-in-class mentoring initiatives that will help guide university startups through their growth phase.

Copenhagen Area, Denmark

Founded the company in 2009 (age 35)42Raw was the first 100% plant-based restaurant concept in Denmark. The vision was to create a sustainable F&B concept where people could eat healthy, sustainable and ethically responsible without settling on the all-important parameters of desirability, flavours and deliciousness. Operating the business taught me the secrets of successful staff training, creating operational systems, psychology in pricing, creating the right customer experience… Show more Founded the company in 2009 (age 35)42Raw was the first 100% plant-based restaurant concept in Denmark. The vision was to create a sustainable F&B concept where people could eat healthy, sustainable and ethically responsible without settling on the all-important parameters of desirability, flavours and deliciousness. Operating the business taught me the secrets of successful staff training, creating operational systems, psychology in pricing, creating the right customer experience, analysing sales data, analysing consumer preferences, and most of all how important financial management can be in a highly cost sensitive business, closely monitoring key financial indicators such as labour costs and cost of good sold. Growing the company I further gained experience on negotiating real estate contracts and raising capital from investors. • Established 3 profitable stores in City, Hellerup and Frederiksberg with +20 employees• Revenue DKK15M, Store Level EBITDA DKK2.8M, EBITDA DKK800.000 (2017) • Raised funding on a DKK 15M valuation from investors in London and New York• Negotiated with UK PE fund NEO Investment Partners in London and New York • Received $1M offer on 40% of the company from Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf • Opened franchise in CPH Airport with AREAS, the world’s 3rd largest airport F&B operator• Opened pop-up in Mayfair, London through German FIFA caterer Kofler & Kompanie• Opened pop-up at Design Hotels, Papaypa Playa Project, in Tulum, Mexico • Supplied catering for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland• Featured in business articles in Berlingske Business and Børsen Show less

Copenhagen Area, Denmark

dkbn was an online community for outgoing young people. Founding the company taught me how important it can be to have solid technical competences and know-how when developing a tech company. Teaming up with Freeway ApS in 2004 was a turning point for the company. It enabled me to focus on my role as project manager and carry out my vision with experienced developers in an environment with fellow entrepreneurs and extensive know-how in the organisation. Freeway provided the entire technical… Show more dkbn was an online community for outgoing young people. Founding the company taught me how important it can be to have solid technical competences and know-how when developing a tech company. Teaming up with Freeway ApS in 2004 was a turning point for the company. It enabled me to focus on my role as project manager and carry out my vision with experienced developers in an environment with fellow entrepreneurs and extensive know-how in the organisation. Freeway provided the entire technical, administrative, financial and legal back-end that enabled me to focus on developing and commercialising my vision to create the best online community for outgoing young people. Key learning from my time with dkbn was that having a strong partner with the know-how and infrastructure you need, can be crucial in becoming successful as fast as possible and monetising your idea to its fullest extend. As the company grew to a substantial size of its own the back-end provided by Freeway became less crucial but in the early stages of development the significance of having a strong partner was defining. • Launched the business while studying at CBS • Partnered 50% with tech company Freeway ApS in 2004• Increased revenue from DKK 600k in 2004 to DKK 16M in 2008• Annual profits DKK: 200k (2004), 1.6M (2005), 3.4M (2006), 5.6M (2007) and 7.6M (2008)• Rated top 20 largest website in Denmark measured on page impressions and unique users• Launched francebynight.fr in France in 2001 with investor from Pakistan investing DKK 1M • Launched ukbynight.co.uk in 2007 and usbynight.com in 2008 Show less

Masters, International Marketing & Management

IMM provided me with an understanding of Strategic Marketing and Management in an international context. A predominant part.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Business Administration And Management, General

BSc BLC taught me knowledge about international business conditions and the cultural, economic and social differences that companies need.