Which industry does the company operate in?
Consultancy

Description of the company
Benedikt Mørch Consult ApS is a design and innovation consultancy working with industrial design, product development, prototyping and early-stage business development. I help companies turn ideas into tangible products, concepts and proof-of-concepts.

The journey into entrepreneurship
My journey into entrepreneurship started while studying Industrial Design at Aalborg University. I co-founded Ideaal ApS in 2009 as an industrial design consultancy, working with product development and design for other companies.

Since then, I have been involved in several companies: Sekoia ApS, a point-of-care software company that grew from an idea to 35 employees and reached a valuation of DKK 110 million; Aalborg Syndikatet, a co-working space in Aalborg; and Benedikt Mørch Holding ApS, which later became the foundation for new activities including among many others Benedikt Mørch Consult ApS.

The main motivation has always been the same: I like building things, solving real problems and turning rough ideas into something concrete that people can use.

From education to company
AAU gave me a strong toolbox and a mindset for working with real-world problems. The project-based way of studying made it natural to work across disciplines, understand users, build prototypes and test ideas in practice.

That became a direct foundation for entrepreneurship. I learned how to move from analysis to concept, from concept to prototype, and from prototype to something that could create value for others. Later, as an entrepreneur, I used that entire toolbox and kept adding to it through experience.

Biggest challenge and learning
The biggest challenge was the steep learning curve from being a student and designer to actually running companies. Suddenly, it was not only about making a good product or solving a design problem. It was also about sales, finance, legal structures, customers, employees, partnerships and timing.

The main learning was that entrepreneurship is rarely one big idea executed perfectly. It is a long series of practical decisions, adjustments and compromises. You need to stay curious, but also become disciplined enough to make things work in reality.

Competencies and mindset
As mentioned previously - the most important competencies have been the ability to understand a problem, break it down and turn it into something practical.

My background in industrial design gave me a strong mix of user understanding, concept development, prototyping and technical problem-solving. I jokingly called it my "Cand.Alt" background (My: Can do Everything)

As an entrepreneur, persistence has also been essential. You need to be comfortable with uncertainty, learn quickly and keep moving even when the next step is not obvious. A good idea is rarely enough on its own. You need to make it concrete, test it and adapt it to reality.

Innovation and development
With Benedikt Mørch Consult ApS, the ambition is to continue working with design, product development and early-stage innovation projects where I can help turn ideas into practical solutions.

At the moment, the company has taken a back seat to my day-to-day work at AAU INNOVATE, where I am surrounded by startups, researchers and innovation projects. In many ways, that role keeps me close to entrepreneurship from another angle.

In the coming years, I want the company to stay focused and flexible, with selected projects where my experience in industrial design, prototyping and business development can create clear value.

Currently the goal is not necessarily to build a large company, but to build a strong consultancy with relevant projects, good collaborations and long-term relationships, for smaller projects I can handle in my spare time.

Advice for future or aspiring entrepreneurs
Start by building something small and concrete, elaborate from there. Test it with real users or customers before spending too much time perfecting the idea. (No gold-plating before exposing it to the users)
You learn much faster from real feedback than from planning alone.

Also..  get a good basic understanding of sales, agreements, ownership and cash flow early. Or onboard someone who can.

Many good ideas fail because the practical side of the business is underestimated. Find people who are strong where you are weak, and be honest about what you still need to learn

And remember: The best investor is a customer. If you can sell your product before you’ve made the first one, you have something concrete to take to the bank and may be able to retain a larger share of your company.

Seeking partners
Benedikt Mørch Consult ApS is always open to relevant collaborations within product development, industrial design, prototyping, IoT and early-stage innovation.

Relevant partners could be companies, startups or specialists working with physical products, digital/physical integration, hardware development, user testing, manufacturing or business development.

Christoffer Benedikt Mørch