Employer of the Month: How Comundo is redefining workplace culture and environmental responsibility

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Currently, finding a job is not just about earning a paycheck. The work environment, company culture, and employer-employee relationship have become equally important factors for job seekers. 

The role of an employer has transformed from simply providing a job to becoming a facilitator of growth and success for their employees.

A good employer not only offers a fair paycheck but also cares about the well-being of their employees, provides opportunities for professional development, fosters a positive work culture, and values diversity and inclusion. 

Such employers recognise their employees as their most valuable asset and treat them accordingly.

However, being a good employer is easier said than done. 

It requires a lot of effort, time, and resources to create a positive work environment, including managing conflicts, promoting diversity and inclusion, and balancing the needs of the company with that of the employees.

Meet Comundo! 

Founded by Sverre Dueholm (CEO), Palle Hansen (CFO), Jonas Bruhn (CRDO), and Alexander Tolstrup (CSO), Comundo, a Copenhagen-based carbon accounting platform, has gained widespread attention in recent times for its positive work culture and unique employee benefits.

Comundo has managed to foster a work environment that promotes a healthy work-life balance by implementing a four-day workweek, organising Friday bars, and engaging employees in fun activities such as music quizzes.

However, Comundo’s success is not limited to its innovative work culture. 

The company is also making significant strides towards achieving net-zero emissions through its energy data solutions. 

By providing businesses with accurate carbon accounting data, Comundo is empowering them to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute towards a more sustainable future.

Employer of the month

For our “Employer of the Month” series, Silicon Canals chose Danish startup Comundo, thanks to their commitment to creating a dynamic workplace culture that fosters creativity and innovation.

To gain further insight into Comundo’s unique approach to employee well-being, we had the pleasure of interviewing its CEO Sverre Dueholm. 

Our in-depth conversation delved into Comundo’s values, vision, 4-day workweek, employee benefits, and more. 

SC: In simple terms, can you explain what Comundo does?

Sverre: We make carbon accounting for properties fully automated, affordable, and, most importantly, accurate.  

SC: How does Comundo’s solution help businesses reduce their carbon footprint?

Sverre: We provide businesses with accurate baseline data that enables them to act. In most cases, you need to go through three stages to reach Net Zero. 

First, you need to identify your current emissions. Then you need to reduce your footprint. And finally, you need to compensate for your emissions. 

Comundo covers steps 1 and 2, while step 3 is handled by partners specialising in offsetting. 

Having the right data can have a very real impact on a business’s bottom line. 

If you’re using estimated data, there will be a discrepancy between that and the actual emissions. If you’re offsetting your emissions, or for instance having to pay the carbon tax, you can end up paying a lot more than you need to. 

SC: Can you share the inspiration behind the 4-day working week idea? Have you considered the potential challenges that may arise such as maintaining productivity levels, workload distribution, meeting deadlines, etc?

Sverre: It’s something we’ve thought long and hard about for quite a while before founding Comundo. We’re all experienced within the startup and tech scene and noticed how everyone talked about the importance of people but rarely truly acted on it. 

What we saw was that people often were reduced to numbers in a spreadsheet and had a firm belief that “butts in seats would solve most problems.” 

We see things quite differently. 

Naturally, a 4-day working week comes with lots of challenges and responsibilities. But we truly believe that working more efficiently will result at least in the same level of output – if not higher. 

SC: How will you measure the success of the 4-day workweek in terms of employee satisfaction, productivity, and overall company performance?

Sverre: If we want to be second-to-none while working fewer hours, we need to work smarter, not harder. Yes, a cliché but nevertheless true. 

You can argue that the importance of tracking and data is even more crucial for those companies working with a 4-day workweek than those working with a traditional setup. You don’t have the ‘luxury’ of wasting time. 

We’re lucky to have teamed up with some brilliant people helping us to ensure we look at everything from engagement (eNPS), to productivity and development using an employee experience tool.

SC: Can you share a few of your favourite “interview questions” that you would ask a potential employee?

Sverre: Five years ago I would have given you a couple of examples. Today, we look at interview questions quite differently. 

Too many times, candidates show up for interviews trying to act in a certain way to fit in what they think is the employer’s desired persona. 

We’re looking for the exact opposite. Real people that dare to show who they are and what they need to thrive. 

We’ve decided to divide our interview process into two steps. The first one is a ‘cultural interview’. We know that we’re doing things differently and we want to make sure that potential employees buy into the same vision as we do. 

If we think there’s a cultural match then we move forward with an interview focusing on skills. We know there is a clear risk of bias without having very clearly structured interviews from the beginning, but for now, the model seems to work.  

SC: How would you describe Comundo’s culture in three words?

Sverre: Community, mastery, and doing good. 

SC: Can you describe any specific programmes or initiatives you have in place to promote employee development and growth?

Sverre: Our first job post was a People and Culture Lead which is a bit unusual for a startup at our stage. But we want to invest in this area. 

From the get-go, we’ve had a job architecture in place, including salary bands. We base our career development philosophy on our company values. Everyone should know where any role sits in the organisation and how to grow. 

However, growing doesn’t necessarily mean getting promoted or becoming a manager. In our opinion, an individual contributor can be just as important as a manager – or even more so. And then we fully acknowledge that there are a million things we need to work on and continuously get better.  

SC: What kind of perks do you offer your employees?

Sverre: It’s pretty basic. We pay a fair salary, give people autonomy and ensure they can live the life they want by not overloading anyone with work. 

Sure, we have Friday bars, music quizzes – some cool ones – and all that stuff. But that’s not as important as the things we think truly matter.

SC: Company’s vision vs perks: Which works the most with potential employees?

Sverre: Well, neither, I guess. Rather, it’s all about acting on your values. 

Who cares if you’re “bold” or “radical” if you’re underpaid and overworked? 

And what’s the meaning of a Friday Bar and the occasional Yoga class if all you need is autonomy and a manager who trusts you? 

To us, vision and values are really important but acting on them – that’s what matters. 

SC: Are you currently hiring and for what positions in Comundo?

Sverre: We are indeed. Current open roles include backend engineers and Q&A. Everyone can keep track by following us on LinkedIn.

SC: What are your future plans for the company and how do you envision it contributing to a more sustainable future?

Sverre: We have big ambitions and want to be the world’s largest contributor to the green transition. We believe that the best way to do that is by doing two things. We create an easy path to Net Zero. 

At the same time, we want to create the world’s best workplace. Down the line, we hope to say we played a role in creating a CO2-neutral planet while creating a workplace that genuinely makes people happy.

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Vigneshwar Ravichandran

Vigneshwar has been a News Reporter at Silicon Canals since 2018. A seasoned technology journalist with almost a decade of experience, he covers the European startup ecosystem, from AI and Web3 to clean energy and health tech. Previously, he was a content producer and consumer product reviewer for leading Indian digital media, including NDTV, GizBot, and FoneArena. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Instrumentation in Chennai and a Diploma in Broadcasting Journalism in New Delhi.

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