KLAK and the Technology Development Fund renew their collaboration
KLAK – Icelandic Startups and the Technology Development Fund have signed a new three-year agreement on Dafni, workshops and mentoring services for those who receive Sprota- og Vaxtarstyrky from the Technology Development Fund. The agreement ensures continued support and targeted guidance for innovative companies at the start-up and growth stages, thus strengthening the infrastructure of the Icelandic innovation community.
„"We are proud of the Dafni project, which combines targeted education on how to build startups with a strong network of experienced mentors, experts and investors. This interaction can have a significant impact on results and increase the likelihood that companies will thrive and flourish," says Ásta Sóllilja Guðmundsdóttir, Managing Director of KLAK.
„"We are very pleased with the Dafna project and the collaboration with KLAK in developing it in recent years. A strong group of mentors has been built who will help the Technology Development Fund's grantees achieve their goals in the future. The fund's board decided to continue with the Dafna project because it increases the likelihood that grant funding will deliver the benefits that are intended," says Ágúst Hjörtur Ingþórsson, director of Rannís.
Dafna is a four-month growth space consisting of interactive workshops and mentoring services from KLAK VMS, based on the methodology of the MIT Venture Mentoring Service. Each grantee receives three mentors who form an advisory group and support the team with regular meetings during the period. The project is intended for teams that receive a Sprota or Vaxtarstyrk from the Technology Development Fund and is operated twice a year following the fund's spring and fall allocations. Since its inception in 2021, 219 innovation projects and 430 entrepreneurs have participated in Dafna.
The agreement underscores the shared vision of KLAK and the Technology Development Fund to build a strong and open innovation ecosystem where knowledge, connections and experience are used to accelerate the growth of start-ups and further strengthen the Icelandic innovation environment.