A future in balance
Hi! We're Frederik Denning and Vladimirs Mihnovics, the founders of Dawn. We founded Dawn (originally Sustainly) in Copenhagen in 2023 because we wanted to build software that works with meaningful data.
We started with a platform for life-cycle assessments and sustainability compliance. But through hands-on work with manufacturing companies, we could see an opportunity to improve digital workflows and data management.
So the scope of our solution grew over time, until today Dawn covers compliance, sustainability, and the value chain more broadly. We didn't do it alone, and to this day people from more than 10 nationalities have helped shape Dawn.
A note from the CEO
Frederik Denning on why Dawn exists, what drives the team, and where we're going.
Frederik Denning
CEO & Co-founder
What moment or frustration made you decide to start Dawn?
I kept seeing critical business insights from compliance teams—especially sustainability—collect dust instead of becoming part of the data landscape that drives decisions.
What was the first “yes” that convinced you this should exist?
Early customers saved time and money while gaining ownership of their data. Even when we were just an LCA platform, SMEs saw significant savings and better outcomes than before.
What do you wish the industry did differently—that Dawn is trying to fix?
I want it to be possible to make decisions on an informed basis. Sustainability matters enormously, but so does a wide net of non-financial data such as chemical substances, circularity, supplier risks, and more. Traditionally it's been too heavy and expensive, so it ends up as compliance instead of a core business input.
What moment made you think “we're on the right path”?
We onboarded an experienced expert from a market leader, and he got it immediately. The pain points around transparency, scalability, and ease of use that he had lived with were exactly what Dawn addresses.
What traits do you look for in the people you invite to build Dawn?
Hunger first and foremost. We love proactive people who have a builder mindset. In the age of AI, many people can do a lot, but it's still hard to do the right thing.
What do you refuse to compromise on, even when it's hard?
Work-life balance. I haven't missed a single meal with my kids while building Dawn. We push hard when we need to, but family comes first—for founders and employees alike.
What's surprised you most about building Dawn?
How many times it has changed shape along the way.
What do you hope customers feel after working with you?
Relief and empowerment. We often replace uncertainty, double work, and siloed functions with clarity and momentum.
In 3–5 years: what would make you feel most proud of Dawn?
That we kept our values intact while building an amazing growth company.
What should never change about Dawn as you grow?
Our four core values: build great software, stay curious and hungry, fair terms, and be a kick-ass place to work... without the startup bullshit.
What we stand for
We are building a data platform that is trusted, beautiful, and useful. These principles guide how we build—and how we work together.
Quality and beauty
We build software that is reliable, thoughtful, and a joy to use. Beauty reduces friction and makes users come back.
Stay curious
We keep learning, seek different perspectives, and make decisions based on feedback and data.
Fair terms
Everyone should feel safe and supported, with equal opportunities to grow and contribute.
We're a team, not a family
We celebrate wins together, but we respect boundaries and work-life balance.
