“I thought; why not come to Denmark? It’s the second happiest nation in the world, and it would be an amazing opportunity to go to Europe and get some experience with start-ups,” says Vanessa Choo Kwan May, who studies social science and strategy management at SMU and is an intern at the watch company Vejrhøj.

Hours of number crunching

The founders of Sitpack, Jonas Lind-Bendixen, and Vejrhøj, Janus Aarup have both been part of the Go Grow program at Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship (CSE), before they got established as companies. And to them, it makes perfect sense to have interns from Singapore.

“We got contacted by CSE, which we have previously been part of, asking if we would be interested in interns from Singapore. And it makes good sense having them here, as they help us out with number crunching, budget forecasts, and ideas on how to launch the next collection in Asia and elsewhere,” says Jonas Lind-Bendixen, CEO at Sitpack.

In Asia, Janus Aarup from Vejrhøj is mainly operating in Singapore, Taiwan and Japan, which Vanessa Choo Kwan May and Clare Lim Min are assisting with.

“They have made an in-depth analysis of the Japanese and Southeast Asian watch market, which would have been very difficult for us to do on our own. It is valuable research, which gives us a better basis for making the right decisions. So, it is of great help,” says Janus Aarup, CEO at Vejrhøj.

Start-ups give better insights

When the students were asked, why they wanted to be interns at start-ups, as they can be a little more unstructured and less settled in the way of working, they all responded that it was exactly the flexibility and unsettledness that seemed attractive.

“I have primarily been working for governments and insurance companies, which is way different from working for a start-up. The big companies are more bureaucratic, it’s more structured and they are less flexible. In startups, it’s super flexible, and you have to be able to multitask as there are many things to do,” says Vanessa Choo Kwan May.

Clare Lim Min, who studies social science and marketing, says that she feels her work is actually being of use to Janus Aarup. Something that she wouldn’t experience too often back in Singapore.

“A start-up is so open, which is nice because I feel like I can contribute with my marketing skills, and that they are being appreciated,” she says.

To Regina Lim Fang Qi and Yu Lin Ong, who both are interns at Sitpack, it is of great value seeing a start-up company from the inside, as they are in the process of developing start-ups themselves.

“I get to know exactly how a start-up works. Here at Sitpack they have been through different stages of development, and I get to follow their ongoing process to make the company a success. The things I learn here, I can bring back to Singapore and apply to my own startup,” says Regina Lim Fang Qi.

Combining the experiences from SitPack with what is taught at the summer school about business proposals and business plans, Yu Lin Ong and Regina Lim Fang Qi have a lot of work to do, when they come back to their own start-ups.

“Business proposals wasn’t really something I spent a lot of time doing, and the requirements to make one at SMU are very loose. Now, I’ve been taught the importance of them and how to write one, and that it is more about the process making one that really matters, so this is definitely something I will apply to my own startup,” says Yu Lin Ong.

A peek into the engine room

Both at Sitpack and Vejrhøj the four students are given different tasks, and this is something Jonas Lind-Bendixen and Janus Aarup prioritize.

“They are sitting along in the engine room doing market analyses in different countries, making price strategies for our new collection and we get their feedback on the product. In the end, we try to figure out what would be a bestseller in the Asian market,” says Janus Aarup.

To Jonas Lind-Bendixen it is important that the students get to take part in different kinds of tasks in the company – not only the ones that can be solved on a computer

“For example, it’s important that they get to see that it’s not that easy moving your entire stock from one place to another, and they also see that we have to buy basic things such as tape and boxes for storage. There is a value chain, and it is a process they get to be involved in. Things happen outside of Excel also,” says Jonas Lind-Bendixen.

Cold food and good working habits

While the Singaporean students are here they not only get to learn about business development and proposals. They also get to see the Danish culture and its – to foreigners – weird quirks.

One thing, Yu Lin Ong and Regina Lim Fang Qi agreed on as an oddity was the food. It’s not so much the food itself, but rather the temperature of it.

“You eat cold food for lunch. What’s up with that?  We always eat warm food, and why would you need to eat cold food, when you live in a cold country? I don’t quite get it. I feel so sad every time I eat cold food,” says Regina Lim Fang Qi and laughs. Yu Lin Ong adds:

“I have sort of gotten used to eating the cold food, but I would always go for a kebab for lunch. It’s so good,” says Yu Lin Ong.

Another thing that strikes the Singaporean students is the work-life balance, and how relaxed Danes are in general.

“It’s my first time in Europe, and I really like the slow pace of life here. In Singapore, it’s way more hectic, and you would work all the time. But you have got time to relax, and your working hours are very flexible. I would like to take things a little slower back in Singapore and enjoy the little things,” says Vanessa Choo Kwan May.

Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship Student