Speaking
Talks That Challenge Assumptions
I've sat through enough forgettable startup talks to know what doesn't work. The platitudes, the hustle porn, the "10X your growth" promises. I speak on sustainable growth, AI, and the philosophy of building. For audiences tired of the same BS.
Why I'm not your typical startup speaker
I've been there: 500 Startups-backed, launched a product to 40K wishlists in 48 hours, managed 30-person teams. I've lived this, and I've got the scars to show for it.
I blend philosophy with startup pragmatism. Growth comes down to sustainable systems, human-centered design, and building with intention.
I almost died from pushing too hard. I talk about burnout, failure, and the dark side of hustle culture. No toxic positivity, just real, honest talk about building businesses.
My speaking style: No slides full of buzzwords. No "10X your growth" nonsense. Just honest stories, practical frameworks, and philosophy-forward thinking that challenges how we build companies. Your audience will leave thinking differently about how they build.
Speaking topics
Choose a ready-made talk or let's craft something custom for your audience.
I almost died chasing growth the wrong way. This talk shares the frameworks I now use to help entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses, focusing on the 20% that drives 80% of results.
Key Takeaways:
- • The 80/20 principle applied to startup growth
- • Systems over heroics: building repeatable processes
- • Energy management for sustainable performance
- • Evidence-based decision making frameworks
- • Values-aligned growth strategies
Best for: Startup conferences, founder communities, accelerator programs
Everyone's talking about AI. Few are using it effectively. I share the frameworks I built localizing products to 30+ languages and automating workflows that saved weeks of work.
Key Takeaways:
- • Identifying high-leverage AI use cases
- • Simple systems that compound over time
- • Maintaining brand voice with AI content
- • Ethical AI implementation principles
- • Real case studies with specific tactics
Best for: Tech conferences, SaaS events, innovation summits
How I've helped products hit viral momentum using platform-specific growth hacking, community-driven tactics, and systematic experimentation. No paid ads. No viral stunts. Just strategy that compounds.
Key Takeaways:
- • Platform-specific growth strategies that compound
- • Community-driven growth tactics
- • Launch strategy & preparation frameworks
- • Rapid experimentation methodology
- • Metrics that actually matter
Best for: Product launches, growth marketing events, startup conferences
From my 500 Startups experience: fundraising is about relationships, not pitches. I share how to cultivate genuine investor connections, negotiate favorable terms, and maintain control of your vision.
Key Takeaways:
- • Building genuine investor relationships
- • Pitch narrative crafting & storytelling
- • Term sheet negotiation strategies
- • Alternative funding models (revenue-based, community)
- • Maintaining values during fundraising
Best for: VC events, accelerator programs, founder communities
Most startups optimize for exit. I think the interesting question is: what are you building that matters beyond the spreadsheet? This talk blends philosophy with startup pragmatism to explore building businesses that create lasting value.
Key Takeaways:
- • Journey > destination: the philosophy of building
- • Creating value vs. extracting value
- • Long-term thinking in short-term culture
- • Balancing profit with purpose
- • Building businesses that enhance humanity
Best for: Leadership events, values-led business conferences, retreat workshops
Running a 30-person team taught me: culture is your competitive advantage. This talk shares frameworks for hiring based on natural strengths, not credentials, and creating environments where people thrive.
Key Takeaways:
- • Hiring frameworks based on strengths, not resumes
- • Culture design for sustainable performance
- • Remote team management principles
- • Leadership for first-time founders
- • Creating psychological safety
Best for: Leadership conferences, HR events, team retreats
Custom Talk
Have a specific theme or challenge for your audience? I can craft a custom talk that blends any combination of these topics, or something entirely new based on your event's needs.
Discuss Custom TalkFormat options
45-60 minute presentation for your main stage. Thought-provoking, story-driven, with actionable frameworks attendees can implement immediately.
Best for: 100-1000+ attendees
Moderated discussion bringing diverse perspectives on growth, AI, or the philosophy of building. I ask questions that matter, and give honest, unfiltered answers.
Best for: 50-500 attendees
90-120 minute deep-dive session with hands-on exercises. Smaller groups, more interaction, deeper implementation guidance.
Best for: 20-50 attendees
Past appearances & testimonials
"Jonas possesses a unique blend of professional expertise and human empathy that is rarely found in one individual. His strategic insights and creative solutions have completely transformed our approach to the market, resulting in remarkable growth and engagement."
Charlotte Hoffmeyer, Commercial Director @ JP/Politikens Hus
"Jonas is a great asset to the team. He is easy to collaborate with, asks thoughtful and relevant questions, and has a strong mindset when it comes to growth and development. He is consistently on our go-to list when we need fresh ideas or qualified sparring."
Nikolaj Dylsing Olsen, Head of Brand & Marketing @ Frihedsbrevet
"Jonas is a highly engaged and trust-inspiring expert in growth hacking. He manages to optimize nearly everything he touches, and has a sharp eye for value for money. He is very insightful and provides qualified sparring across many areas. Huge recommendation."
Morten Vestergaard Kristensen, Direktionssekretær @ Mystery Makers ApS
SPEAKING HISTORY INCLUDES:
Booking information
✓Pre-event consultation to customize content
✓Professionally designed slides (if applicable)
✓Recording release rights (for your event)
✓Social media promotion to my audience
✓Q&A session with attendees
✓Post-event resource sharing with attendees
Location: Based in Copenhagen, travel globally
Virtual: Available for online events & webinars
Lead Time: Book 4-8 weeks in advance (minimum 2 weeks)
Fee: Varies by event type, audience, travel
Non-profits: Discounted rates for mission-aligned orgs
Response: I personally review all speaking requests
The calendar is full right now
But always feel free to reach out. I'd love to get to know you and what you're working on. Who knows, there might be room next quarter.
In the meantime, learn new strategies with our free growth tools and resources.