Kræn Østergaard Nielsen

Executive Advisor, Board Professional & AI/Tech Investor | Former Group CEO, CFO, CTO & McKinsey consultant | Digital & AI Transformation, Strategy & Governance

📍 Copenhagen, Capital Region, Denmark🔄 Updated September 2026💼 20 investments📅 11 years investing🗓 Last invested Jun 2026
VC🌍 Denmark20+ investmentsInvested this quarter
20
Total investments
5
Early stage
4
Mid stage
2
Late stage
11y
Years active

Portfolio

14 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Board Member
Jun 2026
Norlys er Danmarks største integrerede energi- og telekoncern. Vi er ejet af flere end 800.000 andelshavere og leverer energi, ladestandere, internet, tv og mobiltjenester til danskerne. Vi ejer landets største elnet, landets største fibernet og halvdelen af landets største mobilnet, TN-netværket. Derudover ejer vi aktiemajoriteten i Norlys Energy Trading og den grønne, cirkulære industripark Greenlab, samt halvdelen af Eurowind Energy, der er en førende udvikler af solcelle- og vindmølleparker. Vores 4.600 medarbejdere i Silkeborg, Aarhus, Aalborg, Esbjerg og København kæmper for et grønt og digitalt Danmark. Se vores persondatapolitik her: https://norlys.dk/persondatapolitik
Investor & Board Observer
Jun 2025
FreshSens is a technology-driven startup revolutionizing the way fresh produce is stored. Using AI-powered smart sensors, we monitor and control storage environments by tracking oxygen and CO₂ levels, temperature, humidity, and respiration rates. Our CA Storage Containers create optimized oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, slowing down senescence and reducing spoilage without chemicals. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to extend shelf life, reduce food waste, and deliver fresher produce from farm to table. By bridging technology and sustainability, FreshSens provides data-driven solutions for smarter, healthier storage.
Investor & Board Observer
Oct 2024
Optimum Voyage is a weather routing service that optimizes voyages for all types of vessels. The service takes all parameters into account and is on average simulating millions of route variations for each voyage. This gives owners and operators the most fuel-efficient routes for their controlled vessels. Optimum Voyage was established in 2016.
Investor & Advisor
Jun 2024
Since 2020, Vibrant has been on a mission to transform the way businesses are run by unifying all things payments. We build tools to lift business owners out of the chaos of multiple providers to supercharge productivity across sales, ops and strategy. It sounds radical, but it’s simple. Our solutions allow businesses to take any payment on any device, physical or online, and then manage them on a simple platform. Every payment. One seamless platform. Total flexibility. With thousands of transactions processed daily, Vibrant’s unified payments solution is revolutionising how businesses accept and manage payments while bringing consumers more convenient and enjoyable experiences everywhere. Nice, right? No more handling multiple providers or agreements. No more time-intensive reporting. We’re bringing everything under one roof. Finally. Welcome to payments, unified. Welcome to Vibrant. www.vibrant.io
Investor & Advisor
Jun 2024
At Viio, we help businesses spend wisely by providing complete control over software investments. With centralized spend management, AI-driven insights, and expert compliance support, we enable companies to save money by identifying cost-saving opportunities and avoiding unnecessary expenses. With proactive licence and contract management, we reduce your security and compliance risks by uncovering potential threats. On average, our customers save up to 25% of their annual software spend. Let us help you simplify software spend management so your team can focus on strategic work that drives real value. We’re proud to be recognised by G2 based on real customer reviews across the following categories: High Performer - Summer 2025 EMEA High Performer - Summer 2025 Europe High Performer - Summer 2025 Europe Easiest to Do Business With – Summer 2025 Best Support - Summer 2025 Users Most Likely to Recommend - Summer 2025
Investor & Advisor
Jan 2023
InstaPaid is a FinTech platform that gives employees access to their own money when it is earned. We are helping companies driving social impact by providing a digital tool for their employees with financial overviews and access to instant payment of their own salary.
Investor & Advisor
Jan 2022
LeapFroggers help start-ups and scale-ups create scalable world-class tech solutions. We succeed by mixing the best of entrepreneurship, startup thinking, and world-class engineering.
Investor & Advisor
Aug 2021
Kanpla is a B2B software company (SaaS) that provides an intuitive ordering system targeted at kitchens with recurring customers, such as canteens, lunch providers, etc. Kanpla helps kitchens reduce food waste by providing greater control and visibility across orders and products. We focus on the personal relationship between users and kitchens. In addition, we help to increase the level of service to customers and create additional turnover in daily operations. All with a focus on sustainable and user-friendly tech. kontakt@kanpla.dk © 2021 Kanpla ApS - CVR: 40369813
Tech Investor & Venture-builder
Jan 2021
Member / Investor
Jan 2021
DanBAN (Danish Business Angels) is a network organization for business angels in Denmark, with affiliation to similar business angel networks globally. DanBAN is today Denmarks largest network of business angels with more than 300 members. Through DanBAN our members share insights and pool investment capital, as well as provide knowledge and advice to their portfolio companies. Investing both capital and knowledge, DanBAN business angel members invest in un-listed companies in exchange for convertible debt or equity. DanBAN members are today active with ownership in more than 233 companies, with a collective 5.000+ jobs and exceeding Danish kroner 6.47 billion (app. EURO 870 million) in turnover.
Board Member
Jul 2020
Lobyco delivers a versatile & valuable marketing toolkit to retailers, powering individually targeted and personalised communications & rewards to their customers, so they can build engaging experiences and keep them shopping at their stores. Not only does it include classic customer loyalty solutions, it is enriched by additional features such as gamification, continuity and even self-checkout, to make sure the customer remains at the centre of the relationship, despite changing customer attitudes. With grocery clients in North America, EMEA and a recent expansion in APAC, Lobyco is precisely tailored to working with grocers to grow their share of wallet and open up new revenue streams.
Board Member
Jul 2020
Lobyco delivers a versatile & valuable marketing toolkit to retailers, powering individually targeted and personalised communications & rewards to their customers, so they can build engaging experiences and keep them shopping at their stores. Not only does it include classic customer loyalty solutions, it is enriched by additional features such as gamification, continuity and even self-checkout, to make sure the customer remains at the centre of the relationship, despite changing customer attitudes. With grocery clients in North America, EMEA and a recent expansion in APAC, Lobyco is precisely tailored to working with grocers to grow their share of wallet and open up new revenue streams.
Board Member
May 2017
Welcome to Copenhagen Optimization on Linkedin! We passionately believe that operating an airport should be simple and efficient. Se our video here : https://youtu.be/b9dTMw0NuhU Better Airport® brings clarity and confidence to plans, data, and complex decision-making, empowering both you and your business to better predict, operate, and optimize. We create value together and ensure mutual success through partnership, trust, and determination. Always one step ahead – be a Better Airport. Here you can read more about what we do and how we help Airports and Hospitals improve their operations. You can also stay up-to-date with news, whitepapers, and other articles that may inspire you and your organization. We are here to answer any questions you may have, and please do reach out at any time. Our software solutions and services help you forecast and manage traffic more efficiently, improving throughput, resource utilization, and customer experience. Based on our experience working for international airports, we have developed a collaborative, user-friendly online software solution that will kick your business into a higher gear, Better Airport®. OUR FOOTPRINT Time spent on forecasting reduced by 89% from 3 hours to 20 minutes per week at London Luton Airport. Reduced the number of peak check-in counters required by three despite an 8.5% increase in peak passenger volume at Swedavia Increased passenger throughput per FTE at security checkpoints by 10.4% at Dublin Airport Improved planning coupled with a new infrastructure reduced average waiting time by more than 50% at Genève Aéroport
Member of the Board
May 2017
Welcome to Copenhagen Optimization on Linkedin! We passionately believe that operating an airport should be simple and efficient. Se our video here : https://youtu.be/b9dTMw0NuhU Better Airport® brings clarity and confidence to plans, data, and complex decision-making, empowering both you and your business to better predict, operate, and optimize. We create value together and ensure mutual success through partnership, trust, and determination. Always one step ahead – be a Better Airport. Here you can read more about what we do and how we help Airports and Hospitals improve their operations. You can also stay up-to-date with news, whitepapers, and other articles that may inspire you and your organization. We are here to answer any questions you may have, and please do reach out at any time. Our software solutions and services help you forecast and manage traffic more efficiently, improving throughput, resource utilization, and customer experience. Based on our experience working for international airports, we have developed a collaborative, user-friendly online software solution that will kick your business into a higher gear, Better Airport®. OUR FOOTPRINT Time spent on forecasting reduced by 89% from 3 hours to 20 minutes per week at London Luton Airport. Reduced the number of peak check-in counters required by three despite an 8.5% increase in peak passenger volume at Swedavia Increased passenger throughput per FTE at security checkpoints by 10.4% at Dublin Airport Improved planning coupled with a new infrastructure reduced average waiting time by more than 50% at Genève Aéroport
Experience · 25 entries
All (25)
Investments (20)
Founder (1)
Board (13)
2026
Board Member
Jun 2026
Norlys er Danmarks største integrerede energi- og telekoncern. Vi er ejet af flere end 800.000 andelshavere og leverer energi, ladestandere, internet, tv og mobiltjenester til danskerne. Vi ejer landets største elnet, landets største fibernet og halvdelen af landets største mobilnet, TN-netværket. Derudover ejer vi aktiemajoriteten i Norlys Energy Trading og den grønne, cirkulære industripark Greenlab, samt halvdelen af Eurowind Energy, der er en førende udvikler af solcelle- og vindmølleparker. Vores 4.600 medarbejdere i Silkeborg, Aarhus, Aalborg, Esbjerg og København kæmper for et grønt og digitalt Danmark. Se vores persondatapolitik her: https://norlys.dk/persondatapolitik
2025
Board Member
Oct 2025
Freetrailer was founded in 2004 as a sharing economy platform that makes it easy for consumers to rent a trailer. Thanks to the user-friendly app, customers can manage their trailer rental on their own. With a 100% self-service solution through the Freetrailer App and the electronic lock, Freetrailer’s partners and their customers enjoy maximum flexibility. Freetrailer has over 1,000,000 rentals annually. Freetrailers mission is: We enable everyone to move anything for free, in a sustainable and easy way.
Investor & Board Observer
Jun 2025
FreshSens is a technology-driven startup revolutionizing the way fresh produce is stored. Using AI-powered smart sensors, we monitor and control storage environments by tracking oxygen and CO₂ levels, temperature, humidity, and respiration rates. Our CA Storage Containers create optimized oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, slowing down senescence and reducing spoilage without chemicals. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to extend shelf life, reduce food waste, and deliver fresher produce from farm to table. By bridging technology and sustainability, FreshSens provides data-driven solutions for smarter, healthier storage.
2024
Founder & Executive Advisor, Customer-Centric Growth
Oct 2024
Customer-Centric Tech specializes in helping tech companies grow sustainably by putting their customers at the center of their business strategies. Our mission is to enable businesses to align their strategy, product portfolio, go-to-market approach, and organizational focus to deliver meaningful, lasting value to their customers. We partner with customer-centric tech executives and leaders globally to transform their approach to growth and innovation. By fostering collaboration and leadership within the tech ecosystem, we empower our clients to become trusted digital transformation partners for their customers. Our Services 1. Customer-Centric Strategy Development: Refine vision, prioritize customer needs, and build actionable strategies for market leadership. 2. Go-to-Market Optimization: Design effective go-to-market strategies that drive measurable growth and align with customer expectations. 3. Product Portfolio Alignment: Ensure product offerings meet market demands, maximize customer satisfaction, and create sustainable value. 4. Leadership and Ecosystem Collaboration: Help organizations lead within their ecosystems, fostering meaningful partnerships and industry innovation. 5. Culture Development for Customer-Centric Growth: Cultivate a culture that aligns with customer-centric strategies by fostering collaboration, agility, innovation, and meaningfulness across teams, creating an environment where customer-first thinking thrives. With a deep focus on digital transformation, strategy, and customer-first thinking, Customer-Centric Tech is the trusted partner for tech companies looking to scale, innovate, and thrive.
Investor & Board Observer
Oct 2024
Optimum Voyage is a weather routing service that optimizes voyages for all types of vessels. The service takes all parameters into account and is on average simulating millions of route variations for each voyage. This gives owners and operators the most fuel-efficient routes for their controlled vessels. Optimum Voyage was established in 2016.
Show all 25 entries ↓
Investment activity
2015–2026 · 20 investments
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