Danish Entrepreneurs Celebrate 40 Years: From a Dream to a Movement

Entrepreneurship is now an integral part of Danish business, but 40 years ago, the term was almost unheard of. It was in this context that Danish Entrepreneurs was founded – an association that not only introduced the term but also created a movement that has inspired generations of entrepreneurs. We spoke with Ane Buch, who played a pivotal role in the association's early days as a consultant at the Danish Crafts Council.

By Thomas Bøgh Rasmussen

Behind the Beginning: "Entrepreneurship" Enters the Vocabulary

Ane Buch, chairperson of Danværk and former CEO of SMV Denmark, played a key role in establishing Danish Entrepreneurs 40 years ago. As a consultant in the Danish Crafts Council, the then advocacy organization for business owners, she helped put entrepreneurship on the agenda at a time when the concept barely existed.

“We were among the first to promote the term 'entrepreneurship.' Before that, people were either self-employed or business owners, and no one wanted to label themselves as an 'entrepreneur,'” she recalls. This need to redefine and elevate entrepreneurship led to the idea of founding Danish Entrepreneurs.
 

A Hidden and Undefined Landscape

At the time of the association’s founding, the entrepreneurial environment in Denmark was nearly invisible. “There was a belief that the largest companies should drive development and innovation. Being an entrepreneur didn’t matter and wasn’t something people talked about,” says Ane Buch.

The establishment of Danish Entrepreneurs laid the foundation to address the many challenges entrepreneurs faced, from access to knowledge and networking to cultural shifts and financing. “One of our first initiatives was creating a handbook for entrepreneurs, covering everything from formal requirements to financing,” she explains.

These early efforts quickly gained momentum, with notable figures like Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen and then-Prime Minister Poul Schlüter participating in the association’s events. This helped give entrepreneurship a voice and visibility that had previously been lacking.
 

Challenges in a Growing Field

One major challenge for Danish Entrepreneurs arose as more organizations began offering their own services for entrepreneurs. “When Anders Fogh prioritized entrepreneurship, many others joined in, making it harder to define our role as an association,” Ane Buch shares. Nevertheless, the association has remained successful by ensuring that its members' experiences and voices lead the agenda.
 

Shaping Perceptions of Entrepreneurship

Among the most significant milestones for entrepreneurship over the past 40 years, Ane Buch highlights the abolition of the entrepreneurship allowance. “Being an entrepreneur became almost synonymous with being unemployed. When the allowance was abolished, we could refocus on the positive narrative of entrepreneurship,” she says.

She also emphasizes the association’s efforts to integrate entrepreneurship into the education system. “This fosters a positive culture and helps young people understand what it means to create something of their own.”
 

The Future of Entrepreneurship in Denmark

One of the association’s key tasks today is to continue giving entrepreneurs a unified voice. “The association’s primary role is to bring entrepreneurs into negotiation rooms and ensure that policymakers hear real-world perspectives. There needs to be an association with strong role models who share their experiences,” she stresses.

Entrepreneurs play a vital role in society, Ane Buch believes. “Ongoing innovation is driven by entrepreneurs, and we must embrace all types to avoid missing out on progress,” she says.
 

Untapped Potential

However, many challenges remain. Entrepreneurship still receives too little attention in the political sphere, the system is often too rigid, and several groups remain underrepresented. “We need more success stories, networks, and opportunities. There’s immense untapped potential,” she notes.

As Danish Entrepreneurs celebrates its 40th anniversary, its relevance is perhaps greater than ever. There is certainly no shortage of work for the next 40 years.