Mads Vad Kristensen
@madsjvk.com
Hands-on #innovator and #Venture Builder at DTU Skylab looking to #help great people #succeed. +25 years of #experience. #Thinker & #Doer.
Based in #Copenhagen, Denmark. Passionate about my #family, #friends, #LEGO and Blackburn Rovers.
Based in #Copenhagen, Denmark. Passionate about my #family, #friends, #LEGO and Blackburn Rovers.
Pinned
Mads Vad Kristensen
@madsjvk.com
· Sep 2
Notes From a Venture Builder | Notion
Bits, pieces and stray thoughts on research-based innovation, startup building and execution by Mads Vad Kristensen, Innovation Partner @ DTU Skylab
Feel free to connect on LinkedIn or follow me on B...
madsjvk.notion.site
New micro-blogging site for sharing short notes and observations on #innovation from my daily work at DTU Skylab helping turn #research into #startups.
madsjvk.notion.site
madsjvk.notion.site
Final week before Christmas vacation sets in. Plenty of things on the to do list before then. Including cleaning lists and preparing for 2026.
December 15, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Final week before Christmas vacation sets in. Plenty of things on the to do list before then. Including cleaning lists and preparing for 2026.
Park of the game when you work with super early stage research-based startups is that sometimes the team...disappears. And the project has to start over.
I get it. Founding a startup is a big, huge thing, and there are always alternatives that are also interesting for these gifted people.
1/
I get it. Founding a startup is a big, huge thing, and there are always alternatives that are also interesting for these gifted people.
1/
December 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Park of the game when you work with super early stage research-based startups is that sometimes the team...disappears. And the project has to start over.
I get it. Founding a startup is a big, huge thing, and there are always alternatives that are also interesting for these gifted people.
1/
I get it. Founding a startup is a big, huge thing, and there are always alternatives that are also interesting for these gifted people.
1/
If you're looking to change a process or procedure, but yourself in the middle of the existing flow, understand it and work your way out of it.
Don't ever start by observing from the outside, figuring you can figure it all out from afar. Chances are you can't.
Don't ever start by observing from the outside, figuring you can figure it all out from afar. Chances are you can't.
December 9, 2025 at 8:49 AM
If you're looking to change a process or procedure, but yourself in the middle of the existing flow, understand it and work your way out of it.
Don't ever start by observing from the outside, figuring you can figure it all out from afar. Chances are you can't.
Don't ever start by observing from the outside, figuring you can figure it all out from afar. Chances are you can't.
Working on the roadmap for our new team modelling project, which will kick into gear first in the new year.
Lots of moving parts coming together in what will hopefully be a super interesting and useful outcome for future spinout teams.
Lots of moving parts coming together in what will hopefully be a super interesting and useful outcome for future spinout teams.
December 9, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Working on the roadmap for our new team modelling project, which will kick into gear first in the new year.
Lots of moving parts coming together in what will hopefully be a super interesting and useful outcome for future spinout teams.
Lots of moving parts coming together in what will hopefully be a super interesting and useful outcome for future spinout teams.
Flashback:
Just learned that the first competitor of my career, Wilhelm Screiber - or just Screiber - died a week ago. He was 86.
RIP
1/
Just learned that the first competitor of my career, Wilhelm Screiber - or just Screiber - died a week ago. He was 86.
RIP
1/
December 8, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Flashback:
Just learned that the first competitor of my career, Wilhelm Screiber - or just Screiber - died a week ago. He was 86.
RIP
1/
Just learned that the first competitor of my career, Wilhelm Screiber - or just Screiber - died a week ago. He was 86.
RIP
1/
Jinx’ed it. Postponed due to illness…
Radiohead tonight at Royal Arena, Copenhagen. Will be a blast.
Looking so much forward. Christmas comes early this year.
Looking so much forward. Christmas comes early this year.
December 1, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Jinx’ed it. Postponed due to illness…
Another crazy busy fun month is over, with some exciting developments along the way.
My monthly review for November 2025 is out.
madsjvk.com/the-month-in...
My monthly review for November 2025 is out.
madsjvk.com/the-month-in...
The Month in Review — November 2025
Sprinting towards the finishing line for the year
madsjvk.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Another crazy busy fun month is over, with some exciting developments along the way.
My monthly review for November 2025 is out.
madsjvk.com/the-month-in...
My monthly review for November 2025 is out.
madsjvk.com/the-month-in...
Radiohead tonight at Royal Arena, Copenhagen. Will be a blast.
Looking so much forward. Christmas comes early this year.
Looking so much forward. Christmas comes early this year.
December 1, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Radiohead tonight at Royal Arena, Copenhagen. Will be a blast.
Looking so much forward. Christmas comes early this year.
Looking so much forward. Christmas comes early this year.
Probably the best and most understandable definition I have ever read of what a qbit in quantum computing is.
Overly simplifying things, yes. But making it way more relatable.
medium.com/itnext/stop-...
Overly simplifying things, yes. But making it way more relatable.
medium.com/itnext/stop-...
Stop Saying a Qubit Is “0 and 1 at the Same Time.”
You’ve heard the confusing shortcuts. “It’s all values at once.” Let’s replace the hype with a simple analogy that every developer can…
medium.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Probably the best and most understandable definition I have ever read of what a qbit in quantum computing is.
Overly simplifying things, yes. But making it way more relatable.
medium.com/itnext/stop-...
Overly simplifying things, yes. But making it way more relatable.
medium.com/itnext/stop-...
Spending most of the day in the panel judging student projects in feasibility studies from DTU Entrepreneurship.
Super interesting to get a sense of how the next gen of entrepreneurs work not only front stage but also back stage, i.e. how they think and structure the way they work.
Super interesting to get a sense of how the next gen of entrepreneurs work not only front stage but also back stage, i.e. how they think and structure the way they work.
November 26, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Spending most of the day in the panel judging student projects in feasibility studies from DTU Entrepreneurship.
Super interesting to get a sense of how the next gen of entrepreneurs work not only front stage but also back stage, i.e. how they think and structure the way they work.
Super interesting to get a sense of how the next gen of entrepreneurs work not only front stage but also back stage, i.e. how they think and structure the way they work.
New study on AI's impact on creativity. Bottomline: Humans are still very much needed, and those with superior cognitive abilities have an advantage over those, who just lazy out and rely on AI.
In other words: There is still hope for us.
www.forbes.com/sites/joemck...
In other words: There is still hope for us.
www.forbes.com/sites/joemck...
Does Creativity Still Stand Out In The AI Era? Study Seeks Answers
Generative AI has the potential to 'democratize' creativity. However, creative types still stand to benefit much more from AI.
www.forbes.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:32 AM
New study on AI's impact on creativity. Bottomline: Humans are still very much needed, and those with superior cognitive abilities have an advantage over those, who just lazy out and rely on AI.
In other words: There is still hope for us.
www.forbes.com/sites/joemck...
In other words: There is still hope for us.
www.forbes.com/sites/joemck...
Great IP discussion with startup today. When you start getting into the details of it, it is not only about deal terms for licensing the IP - it is about core company strategy going forward and setting yourself up for success. Plus of course avoiding setting yourself up for failure.
November 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Great IP discussion with startup today. When you start getting into the details of it, it is not only about deal terms for licensing the IP - it is about core company strategy going forward and setting yourself up for success. Plus of course avoiding setting yourself up for failure.
I was supposed to attend a conference today and tomorrow, but I simply could not find the time.
Sometimes I wonder how those who attend pretty much every conference out there manages to do so and still get work done.
Sometimes I wonder how those who attend pretty much every conference out there manages to do so and still get work done.
November 25, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I was supposed to attend a conference today and tomorrow, but I simply could not find the time.
Sometimes I wonder how those who attend pretty much every conference out there manages to do so and still get work done.
Sometimes I wonder how those who attend pretty much every conference out there manages to do so and still get work done.
Two of many learnings from this weeks local elections in Denmark:
(1) The ruling party, Socialdemokratiet, has no friends left in politics. None.
(2)...and they mainly did it to themselves by the brutal entitled way they are exercising government.
Masterclass in what not to do in politics.
(1) The ruling party, Socialdemokratiet, has no friends left in politics. None.
(2)...and they mainly did it to themselves by the brutal entitled way they are exercising government.
Masterclass in what not to do in politics.
November 23, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Two of many learnings from this weeks local elections in Denmark:
(1) The ruling party, Socialdemokratiet, has no friends left in politics. None.
(2)...and they mainly did it to themselves by the brutal entitled way they are exercising government.
Masterclass in what not to do in politics.
(1) The ruling party, Socialdemokratiet, has no friends left in politics. None.
(2)...and they mainly did it to themselves by the brutal entitled way they are exercising government.
Masterclass in what not to do in politics.
Spending most of the day reviewing action plans for a batch of pending patent cases.
While pursuing a patent is one thing, creating the commercial case for why it makes sense to protect the IP in the first place is entirely another. But also super interesting work to help the researchers with.
While pursuing a patent is one thing, creating the commercial case for why it makes sense to protect the IP in the first place is entirely another. But also super interesting work to help the researchers with.
November 19, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Spending most of the day reviewing action plans for a batch of pending patent cases.
While pursuing a patent is one thing, creating the commercial case for why it makes sense to protect the IP in the first place is entirely another. But also super interesting work to help the researchers with.
While pursuing a patent is one thing, creating the commercial case for why it makes sense to protect the IP in the first place is entirely another. But also super interesting work to help the researchers with.
Heartfelt congratulations to Scotland with the win yesterday evening. Well done!
Some of the most amazing football fans in the world, you fully deserve your epic hangovers today.
Some of the most amazing football fans in the world, you fully deserve your epic hangovers today.
November 19, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Heartfelt congratulations to Scotland with the win yesterday evening. Well done!
Some of the most amazing football fans in the world, you fully deserve your epic hangovers today.
Some of the most amazing football fans in the world, you fully deserve your epic hangovers today.
Local elections in Denmark today. A real day of celebration for democracy and the right to be heard as a citizen.
It's one of the only times every four years, I miss being a journalist. Nothing beats the vibe of election night in a news room.
Looking forward to a great day and night.
It's one of the only times every four years, I miss being a journalist. Nothing beats the vibe of election night in a news room.
Looking forward to a great day and night.
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Local elections in Denmark today. A real day of celebration for democracy and the right to be heard as a citizen.
It's one of the only times every four years, I miss being a journalist. Nothing beats the vibe of election night in a news room.
Looking forward to a great day and night.
It's one of the only times every four years, I miss being a journalist. Nothing beats the vibe of election night in a news room.
Looking forward to a great day and night.
My teenager applied for her first job today - totally on her own accord, because she wants to make her own money and not rely on handouts from mum and dad.
Couldn’t be more proud of her!
Couldn’t be more proud of her!
November 16, 2025 at 7:30 PM
My teenager applied for her first job today - totally on her own accord, because she wants to make her own money and not rely on handouts from mum and dad.
Couldn’t be more proud of her!
Couldn’t be more proud of her!
I am not for booing anything or anyone in general, but when you as a celebrated bunch of high-earning professionals in spectacular terms fail to show up for the event and under-deliver beyond belief, I am ready to make an exception.
So happy I did not go to watch that football dross in Parken...
So happy I did not go to watch that football dross in Parken...
November 16, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I am not for booing anything or anyone in general, but when you as a celebrated bunch of high-earning professionals in spectacular terms fail to show up for the event and under-deliver beyond belief, I am ready to make an exception.
So happy I did not go to watch that football dross in Parken...
So happy I did not go to watch that football dross in Parken...
Even though processes may seem rigid and time consuming, following them can actually help you save precious time. Yes, they can be efficient even.
Why?
Think of all the time saved trying to find ways around the process, if you could just have followed the actual process to start with...
Why?
Think of all the time saved trying to find ways around the process, if you could just have followed the actual process to start with...
November 14, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Even though processes may seem rigid and time consuming, following them can actually help you save precious time. Yes, they can be efficient even.
Why?
Think of all the time saved trying to find ways around the process, if you could just have followed the actual process to start with...
Why?
Think of all the time saved trying to find ways around the process, if you could just have followed the actual process to start with...
Part of investing yourself in helping others succeed is that sometimes you risk getting a rap on the wrist.
The important thing is not what went wrong but how you deal with it and create a path forward. Not always the most easy exercise, but if you're good at it, you have a superpower.
The important thing is not what went wrong but how you deal with it and create a path forward. Not always the most easy exercise, but if you're good at it, you have a superpower.
November 13, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Part of investing yourself in helping others succeed is that sometimes you risk getting a rap on the wrist.
The important thing is not what went wrong but how you deal with it and create a path forward. Not always the most easy exercise, but if you're good at it, you have a superpower.
The important thing is not what went wrong but how you deal with it and create a path forward. Not always the most easy exercise, but if you're good at it, you have a superpower.
Got confirmation that the papers we sent in on my late father-in-laws estate are all in order.
Thrilled to have passed that milestone after a lot of work in trying to make sure it got...in order.
Thrilled to have passed that milestone after a lot of work in trying to make sure it got...in order.
November 13, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Got confirmation that the papers we sent in on my late father-in-laws estate are all in order.
Thrilled to have passed that milestone after a lot of work in trying to make sure it got...in order.
Thrilled to have passed that milestone after a lot of work in trying to make sure it got...in order.
One of the hardest things in communication is simplifying the message with the essence and substance remaining intact.
Oversimplification may lead to misunderstandings and allude too little prep. Too much complexity effectively kills the clear message.
It is a fine line to thread.
Oversimplification may lead to misunderstandings and allude too little prep. Too much complexity effectively kills the clear message.
It is a fine line to thread.
November 12, 2025 at 11:15 AM
One of the hardest things in communication is simplifying the message with the essence and substance remaining intact.
Oversimplification may lead to misunderstandings and allude too little prep. Too much complexity effectively kills the clear message.
It is a fine line to thread.
Oversimplification may lead to misunderstandings and allude too little prep. Too much complexity effectively kills the clear message.
It is a fine line to thread.
Spent about of the afternoon learning a bit more about the quantum computing scene in Israel at an event in Copenhagen.
Super interesting case stories and some inspiration in how to execute on taking cases from research to spinout.
Super interesting case stories and some inspiration in how to execute on taking cases from research to spinout.
November 11, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Spent about of the afternoon learning a bit more about the quantum computing scene in Israel at an event in Copenhagen.
Super interesting case stories and some inspiration in how to execute on taking cases from research to spinout.
Super interesting case stories and some inspiration in how to execute on taking cases from research to spinout.