Jens Heitland – Founder and Head Coach of Scaling Stars
Jens Heitland is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, board member, educator, and global innovation leader with a passion for helping startups achieve scalable growth through human-centered strategies. With a career spanning over two decades, Jens has built, run, and owned multiple businesses while actively investing in and advising startups. He also serves as a board member for several startups, providing strategic oversight to help them scale effectively.
At Scaling Stars, Jens helps startup founding teams become ready to scale in just 90 days by empowering leaders to build the leadership capacity, operational efficiency, and systems necessary for sustainable growth. His hands-on experience with startups and global corporations enables him to provide tailored, human-centered guidance.
Jens is also the founder of the Rising Stars Community, a career development program designed to help emerging leaders unlock their potential and advance in their careers. This initiative aligns with his mission to nurture leadership talent and ensure that high-performing individuals are recognized and promoted within their organizations, contributing to the overall growth of businesses.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Jens teaches entrepreneurship and innovation at universities in Amsterdam and Barcelona, sharing his real-world insights with the next generation of innovators and startup leaders. His academic work further amplifies his commitment to shaping future business leaders.
Before founding Scaling Stars, Jens was the global Head of Innovation at IKEA Centers, where he led initiatives to connect startups with corporate innovation needs, driving transformative growth through people-centered leadership.
Jens’ diverse background includes:
Mentoring hundreds of startups globally, helping them prepare for rapid growth and funding.
Designing leadership programs focused on unlocking human potential and driving business growth.
Embedding innovative systems that enable sustainable scaling while keeping a people-first focus.
Investing in and supporting startups, providing strategic capital and board-level guidance.
Running the Rising Stars Community, which empowers high-potential leaders to achieve career advancement.
Teaching entrepreneurship and innovation, helping shape the next generation of leaders.
As the Head Coach of Scaling Stars, Jens is dedicated to helping startup leaders unlock their full potential and achieve lasting success by focusing on the human side of business, drawing on his experience as a founder, investor, board member, educator, and leadership community builder.