Hardware Podcasts

#004 - How one green company could beat the odds with a magical pencil and double each year, with Michael Stausholm of Sproutworld, Denmark

The Hardware Entrepreneur · 14 Dec 2016 · 28m

What this episode covers

Michael Stausholm, founder and CEO of Sproutworld, explains how his Danish company created the world's first plantable pencil, turning a simple wooden pencil with a seed capsule into a global sustainability brand. He details the journey from bootstrapping with positive cash flow by requiring upfront payments to securing a business angel investor for rapid scaling. Stausholm highlights key decisions such as acquiring the IP from MIT students, targeting B2B clients like Disney and Coca-Cola, and hiring staff based on passion for sustainability rather than just technical skills.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Sproutworld, Disney, Coca-Cola, Bank of America, IKEA, MIT, Amazon
Products
Sprout Pencil
Also
Kickstarter, Richard Branson

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