What Creative Business Network does

Creative Business Network (CBN), founded around 2010 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, operates as the world's largest network for startups and stakeholders in the cultural and creative industries. Under founder and Managing Director Rasmus Wiinstedt Tscherning, the organization connects creative entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, researchers, and entrepreneurial support organizations across more than 80 countries through a portfolio of interconnected programs. Its core offerings include the annual Creative Business Cup international competition (with national rounds and global finals), the Creative Business Academy online course (30-40 hours over 4 weeks), the Foreign Mentor Weekend intensive mentoring program, the BRIGHT annual event, Creative Business Investors (an investment-matching service spanning from MVP to $25M Series A), and Advisory Services targeted at policymakers and regional authorities.

The underlying platform architecture combines digital community infrastructure (thisis.cbnet.com and mycreativenetworks.com, supported by a 2015 partnership with Conferize) with a distributed national partner network that executes local programming in each country. CBN operates as a member of the European Creative Industries Alliance (ECIA) and has co-chaired expert groups at the invitation of the European Commission, producing policy recommendations on access to funding for creative industries. The technology layer is conventional: standard online community/event software and webinar tools, with no proprietary AI/ML or data systems disclosed.

The business model is a mix of subscription/membership-based network access, program participation fees, EU project and grant funding, and B2G advisory revenue. Specific pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by program and region, with the Creative Business Academy provided free of charge to national winners of the Creative Business Cup. Customer segments span creative startups (primary), creative industry investors, policymakers and public authorities, and creative industry trainers/educators. Revenue figures, headcount, and external capital are not disclosed in available sources, consistent with a privately-held, founder-managed European network organization.

Name

Creative Business Network

Legal name

Creative Business Network

Website

https://cbnet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Creative Business Network is a Copenhagen-based private organization that operates the world's largest network for startups and stakeholders in cultural and creative industries, running competitions (Creative Business Cup), training (Creative Business Academy), mentoring (Foreign Mentor Weekend), investment matching (Creative Business Investors), and policy advisory services across 80+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Ecosystem Services for Creative Industries

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Innovation & Design Thinking Programs (EDAMAHAD), Professional & Career Networks (BPAMABAB)

Keywords

• Creative industries network
• Startup competitions
• Creative business education
• Startup mentorship programs
• Creative industry advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Brønshøj

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Network Services: Creative Business Network operates as a membership-based organization connecting creative startups with investors and global markets. Revenue is generated through network membership, participation fees for programs, and potentially subscription-based access to their online community and training platform.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Creative Business Network operates a global platform connecting creative startups with investors, mentors, and policymakers across 80+ nations through interconnected programmes. Its core offerings include the Creative Business Cup annual competition, the Creative Business Academy online training course, the Foreign Mentor Weekend intensive mentoring programme, BRIGHT events with global finals, Creative Business Investors (investment connection and accelerator support), and Advisory Services for creative-economy policy and regional strategy development.

Product overview

Creative Business Network operates as a platform-plus-programmes architecture, offering a suite of interconnected services for the global creative and cultural industries. The core offerings include the Creative Business Cup (annual international competition), Creative Business Academy (online business development course), Foreign Mentor Weekend (intensive mentoring programme), BRIGHT (annual event), Creative Business Investors (investment connection service), Advisory Services (policy and regional strategy consulting), and the Global Network (cross-border collaboration platform). These services work together to support creative startups through competitions, education, mentoring, investment connections, and international networking across more than 80 nations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Creative Business Cup: Annual international competition for creative startups uniting and developing cultural and creative sectors across 80+ nations
• BRIGHT
• Creative Business Academy
• Foreign Mentor Weekend
• Creative Business Advisory Service
• My Creative Networks

Products and services

• Creative Business Cup Annual international competition for creative startups that aims to unite and develop the cultural and creative sectors across more than 80+ nations. National champions work under the direction of professionals from the Creative Business Academy and present in front of highly qualified global creative industry experts.
• Creative Business Academy Online Business Development and Internationalisation course for Startups within the Creative Industries. The course consists of 30-40 hours over 4 weeks covering Business Development, Internationalisation, Legal Issues and IPR, Market Analysis, Trends and Forecasts, and Promotion. The Academy is free of charge for national winners of Creative Business Cup competitions and also includes a Creative Industries Policy Seminar for public and private sector stakeholders.
• Foreign Mentor Weekend Intensive 3-day program designed to connect startup founders with experienced overseas mentors and investors through individual mentoring sessions, speed-dating, networking, public discussions, and keynotes. Each cohort includes 20 startups and 10 mentors focusing on business development, investments, marketing, and communications.
• BRIGHT Annual event bringing together the Creative Business Cup global finals, featuring networking, competitions, matchmaking sessions, and presentations from creative entrepreneurs worldwide.
• Creative Business Investors CBI supports creative businesses in making connections to the right investors and resources, whether they are aiming to build an MVP or raise a $25M Series A. It includes accelerator programmes offered on a global scale, providing startup founders with investment resources and investor expertise to fund, grow, and expand a business.
• Creative Business Advisory Service Advisory services focused on helping unlock the full potential of the Cultural and Creative Sector, including Regional Policy Strategy, EU Projects and Sectorial Development, and Policy Development Reports. Services include facilitating mutually beneficial environments where local, regional and national economies can benefit from creative industries.
• Global Network Global network for creative startups and investors of creative sectors to bring creative solutions to life. Promotes stronger cross-border collaboration and initiatives between entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and entrepreneurial support organisations across 80+ nations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Creative startups supported across 80+ nations through national competitions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Creative Industries Alliance (ECIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative Business Network is a member of the European Creative Industries Alliance (ECIA) and works closely with many of its members. CBN co-chaired an expert group at the invitation of the European Commission on access to funding, producing 10 key policy recommendations for EU Member States and institutions.
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBN was invited by the European Commission to co-chair an expert group with representatives from all EU member states and external experts on access to funding. The group produced policy recommendations for creative industry support.
• Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Austria Wirtschaftsservice for Creative Boucher Programmes supporting regional creative industry development.
• Barcelona Official Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Barcelona Chamber of Commerce on Audience Development programs for creative industries.
• GEN Nigeria (Global Entrepreneurship Network Nigeria)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational partner in Nigeria hosting Creative Business Cup Nigeria competitions and facilitating local startup participation in the global competition.
• Watify (EU-funded project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBN partnered with Watify, a European Commission-funded awareness-raising campaign, to host the Watify Solution Award recognizing SMEs implementing technological transformation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Slush: Major European startup event and community with strong public-sector and policy linkages. Comparable as a startup ecosystem convener with annual flagship event similar to BRIGHT.
• Creative UK (formerly Creative England): UK organization supporting creative industry growth through investment, policy, and ecosystem programs. Directly comparable to CBN's advisory and investment-connection mandate in cultural and creative sectors.
• Seedstars: Emerging-markets startup competition and network operating in 90+ countries with local competitions feeding global finals. Highly analogous to CBN's national-partner competition model in creative and emerging-market verticals.
• Pioneers: European startup community and event organizer running flagship gatherings and curated network access. Similar DNA to BRIGHT in bringing founders, investors, and policymakers together.
• Mass Challenge: Global non-profit startup accelerator running cohort-based competitions with finals and partner networks across multiple continents. Most comparable to CBN's Creative Business Cup model and global competition structure.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Largest global accelerator network with sector-specific programs including consumer and media. Overlaps with CBN on early-stage startup support but at vastly greater scale and capital intensity.
• Seedcamp: European early-stage venture fund with a community and network model that mirrors CBN's investor-access offering for founders, though Seedcamp is investment-led rather than competition-led.
• Startupbootcamp: European-headquartered accelerator with city-based vertical programs and a corporate partner model. Comparable to CBN's geographic spread and corporate/institutional partnerships.
• Web Summit: World's largest tech conference operator with global event series. Comparable to CBN's flagship events and ecosystem-as-a-service model, though at a much larger commercial scale.
• Nesta: UK innovation foundation with active programs in creative economy, cultural policy, and ecosystem investment. Comparable to CBN on the policy-advisory and ecosystem-building dimensions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thisiscbn
• Facebookfacebook.com/creativebusinessnet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creative-business-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/creativebusinessnet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Creative Business Network