# Carsten Kølbek

> Carsten Kølbek is a Danish entrepreneur and investor, co-founder of Rainmaking and Startupbootcamp, and former global CEO of Rainmaking. Based in Fredensborg, he has worked across company building, accelerator programmes and corporate venture development. Recent public activity includes startup ecosystem work in Georgia, a Bahrain AI accelerator partnership and support for Founder Factor’s Y Combinator investment activity.

- **Role:** Co-founder at Rainmaking; co-founder of Startupbootcamp
- **Organizations:** Rainmaking, Startupbootcamp, VentureScout, Kølbek Capital, Accenture
- **Nationality:** Danish
- **Education:** BSc, Chemical Engineering / Systems Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, MBA, business and strategy, University of Nottingham Business School, Digital Business Strategy certificate, MIT Sloan School of Management, Leadership and Management Certificate Program, Wharton Online
- **Known for:** Co-founded Rainmaking and Startupbootcamp., Helped develop an international venture-building and startup accelerator network., Reported graduating with distinction and the highest marks in his Nottingham business-school class.

## Career timeline

- **1994** — Completed engineering studies at the Technical University of Denmark.
- **2001** — Completed Nottingham business studies; his LinkedIn profile reports graduation with distinction and the highest marks in a class of more than 75 students.
- **2001–2003** — Strategy consultant at Accenture.
- **2007** — Co-founded Rainmaking in Copenhagen.
- **2010** — Startupbootcamp launched its first programme in Copenhagen; Kølbek is a co-founder.
- **2012** — Co-founded VentureScout, according to Crunchbase.
- **2013** — Contributed interview perspectives to Nesta’s Unchaining Investment report.
- **2023** — As Rainmaking Global CEO, commented on the announced sale of its APAC business to Bain & Company.
- **2025** — Visited Caucasus University in June and was quoted as Startupbootcamp co-founder and chairman in the November announcement of a Bahrain AI accelerator.
- **2026** — Public posts document founder training in Georgia and support for Founder Factor investment activity.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Rainmaking and Startupbootcamp.
- Helped develop an international venture-building and startup accelerator network.
- Reported graduating with distinction and the highest marks in his Nottingham business-school class.

## Latest updates

- **2026-11** — Scheduled to join Jed Ng and Iro Tsagareishvili for the Dare to Lead panel Decisions That Shape Companies in Tbilisi; announced future event, not a completed appearance.
- **2026-03** — Startupbootcamp publicly credited him with teaching a Pivot Mindset masterclass for the Georgia MVP-stage cohort.
- **2026-03** — In a LinkedIn post, he reported Founder Factor had made 17 investments in YC companies during the preceding autumn and planned 25 in the next batch.
- **2025-11** — Quoted as Startupbootcamp co-founder and chairman in the Bahrain AI accelerator announcement: targets of 160 entrepreneurs, 80 products and $4 million in direct investments over three years.
- **2025-06** — Met Caucasus University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center with Sarah Grippay to discuss possible joint entrepreneurial programmes.

## Links

- Website: https://rainmaking.io/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckoelbek/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/carstenkolbek

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/carsten-kolbek
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-26