Incubator company Daje Prevent continues its development journey with yet another success - this time in the form of a SEK 300,000 grant from the XO Foundation, which supports young talent throughout Sweden.
- We probably didn't realize how big it was until I got to present our idea to the XO jury in Stockholm," says Daniel Björkman.
Daniel Björkman and Jesper Åman are developing a head protection for football players and have previously been awarded the SKAPA prize. Since autumn 2022, Daje has participated in Dalarna Science Park's incubator program and it was here that Daniel got the tip about XO Foundation's scholarships.
Almost 400 applications were received, and from them the jury selected 10 start-up fellows.
- We are very happy that we applied and went all the way. Product development is expensive, so the money is welcome. But the best part is that XO believes in our idea," says Daniel.
The incubator means a lot
The background to the head protection that Daje is developing is Daniel's own experience as an elite football player. He suffered several concussions that stopped him from playing and also meant that he needed to protect his brain against new injuries when he returned.
Daniel was looking for a headgear adapted for footballers, but couldn't find anything he liked, so he started thinking about developing his own. He mentioned the idea to his friend Jesper Åman, also a soccer player, who immediately got to work.
- He said "let's go, let's do it" and that was that.
Daniel and Jesper booked a kick-off meeting with Dalarna Science Park's business coaches. This eventually led to Daje joining the incubator program, Daniel full-time and Jesper part-time.
- We get a lot of support through our coach Jörgen Bond and we can attend training courses and events. Without the incubator, we would never have been where we are today, says Daniel.
Changing a standard
Head injuries in football are very common and it is not only the hardest hits that risk damaging the brain, even repeated minor impacts have been shown to pose health risks.
- We have read many research studies and have engaged scientific advisors, so I would say we have done the job. We know that head protection could make a big difference, not least for children and young footballers who are particularly vulnerable as their brains grow," says Daniel.
Today, head protection in football is used almost exclusively by players who have already been injured and need to avoid further injury. This means that Daniel and Jesper not only need to develop a new product, they also need strategies to change a norm.
- When I played floorball, the coach said that everyone had to wear glasses, otherwise you couldn't play. That's pretty much how we want head protection to be introduced in football, via coaches and clubs. So that we build from below. Then I see no other way out than for the Football Association to introduce a requirement for head protection for children and young people, because the problem is that serious.
In parallel with product development, Daniel continues to work on business strategy and calculations, monitors the research situation and scans the world around him.
- "Initially we were a bit naive and thought product development would be relatively quick, but now we know it's a process. We are not in a hurry either; the most important thing is that we produce high-quality protection that really meets the criteria we have set.
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Incubator - Dalarna Science Park
