DIS Blog
Mahado’s entrepreneurship practicum and Study Tour to Stockholm
“What I loved most about Study Tour was the mix of startup insights and cultural experiences. This wasn’t just the same class in a new country; it was a real-world look at innovation, the challenges you can expect to face, and the humans working to create something new.”
After our first three weeks of class in Copenhagen, we traveled on Study Tour to Sweden to continue learning in a new location. As a thriving European tech and startup Stockholm was the perfect backdrop for everything we learned so far. Before the fast-paced schedule began, DIS gave us time to rest, settle in, and take in the beauty of the city. What followed was a whirlwind week of learning, inspiration, and unforgettable moments.
Here is an overview of our cultural and academic visits, and an idea of all that you can do in one week on Study Tour.
About the blogger
Mahado (she/her) is a junior at Ohio State University. This summer she studied Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Europe (Labs, Research & Practicums Session) and Public Health Policy in Practice (Session 3).
Study Tour to Stockholm: Real-world lessons and global inspirations
Exploring Gamla Stan
Our first afternoon on tour, we explored Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s medieval Old Town. Its preserved architecture, narrow cobblestone streets, and colorful buildings made it feel like a living museum. We wandered through alleys, past historical churches, and learned about the city’s origins. It grounded us in the culture before shifting into startup mode.
Wingbits: Innovating without industry experience
Our first visit was to Wingbits, a startup letting everyday people monitor air traffic with custom equipment. The founders had strong technical skills but no prior aviation background. Their journey showed me how curiosity and the right mindset can lead to innovation, even in unfamiliar fields.
Hypertype: Patience, purpose, and the power of AI
Next, we visited Hypertype, a company using AI to help people draft and reply to emails faster. The founder’s story was inspiring – after a 15-year break from entrepreneurship, she returned to the field with new determination. Navigating a male-dominated tech world, her advice was clear: believe in your product and don’t let others limit you.
Pitching to Mattias: Honest feedback from an angel investor
Day three started with the biggest moment of the week. Our group had the opportunity to present our startup idea to Mattias, a renowned Swedish angel investor. I was nervous but found the experience empowering. His sharp questions about value and user experience pushed us to think deeper and refine our project.
Brite: Leading without a tech background
We closed day three with a visit to Brite, a fintech startup simplifying online payments. Its founder had no coding background, but brought strong leadership and corporate experience. She built her company by hiring skilled developers and leading with vision, showing us that technical skills aren’t always a prerequisite for innovation. This contrasted perfectly with the Wingbits story and reinforced the many different paths founders can take.
Vasa Museum: A perfectly-preserved 17th-century ship
We spent the afternoon at the Vasa Museum, home to a 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage and was recovered over 300 years later nearly intact. Seeing the intricate design and hearing its story was mesmerizing, a moment of reflection and appreciation for history and preservation.
Sting and Fjäderholmarna: Long-term thinking and lighthearted moments
Day four started with a visit to Sting, a startup incubator in Stockholm. Some of our teams presented their projects and received insightful feedback. We were also challenged to think in longer terms than just launching our project. Where would our startup be in five quarters? That question really pushed us to think beyond our current minimum viable products and imagine our business’s future.
Later that day, we took a ferry to Fjäderholmarna, a small island just outside the city. Here we got to join a creative chocolate tasting tour, where each piece represented a part of the island’s story. After the tour, we had time to explore, relax, and take in the scenery. Some classmates even went swimming.
Swedish cooking class: Our meatball moment
We wrapped up the week with a Swedish cooking class, where we made iconic Swedish meatballs from scratch. It was chaotic, funny, and the best kind of bonding moment for our class. For many of us, it was our first time trying Swedish meatballs, so making them ourselves made the experience even better. And as someone who loves cooking, it felt grounding and joyful to get to do it with my friends.
Final thoughts on our Study Tour in Stockholm
What I loved most about Study Tour was the mix of startup insights and cultural experiences. This wasn’t just the same class in a new country; it was a real-world look at innovation, the challenges you can expect to face, and the humans working to create something new. Stockholm inspired me, brought our class closer, and reminded me that creativity thrives when you step outside your comfort zone.
“Session 2 didn’t just build on Session 1, it elevated it. I returned from Stockholm energized and inspired, ready to put what I’d learned into practice. “
Startup Growth: From theory to testing
Back in Copenhagen, our startup group dove deeper into our project addressing financial illiteracy among young people. After refining our idea based on feedback from Mattias and conducting dozens of interviews, we focused on two pain points: taxes and credit cards.
We built several minimum viable products: a prototype website with a tax walkthrough, a chatbot answering finance questions, and a credit card comparison page, plus a short explainer video. Testing showed most users found the tax section clear and preferred our chatbot to tools like ChatGPT or TurboTax.
What made this phase exciting was turning our ideas into tested tools. Asking real users for feedback taught me the value of building fast and learning faster. Unlike typical group projects, teamwork was truly essential, which made the whole process feel like we were truly building something together. We also enjoyed sharing meals and hanging out, which strengthened our bond.
Growing outside the classroom
While I’ve already written about my practicum experience through the LeadUp internship, Session 2 brought new opportunities. I researched NGOs, prepared slides, and sent outreach emails. More importantly, I realized even small contributions mattered, and I grew more confident handling ambiguity.
Both the class and my internship have taught me a shared key lesson: growth comes from doing. Of course theory is important, but this experience has pushed me into new roles I hadn’t imagined just a month ago – pitching to investors, leading a team, researching partnerships, and reaching out and connecting with local organizations.
Final thoughts: Building my confidence and curiosity
Session 2 didn’t just build on Session 1, it elevated it. I returned from Stockholm energized and inspired, ready to put what I’d learned into practice. I now see entrepreneurship as more than ideas; it’s about persistence, flexibility, and having the courage to test, fail, and try again.
I’m proud of how much I’ve grown in mindset and skills. Innovation starts by asking the right questions and taking that first uncertain step. You don’t have to have it all figured out to get started, you just have to begin.
I’m deeply grateful for this class, the incredible people I’ve met, and the friendships formed. Huge thanks to my two amazing professors Mikael Fuhr and Kristian Knudsen for their guidance, and to Ole for welcoming us into his Nordic startup and giving us such a valuable experience.
