One of the world’s last frontiers, Greenland, is an island full of potential, showcasing the opportunities, adventures, and challenges of traveling and doing business in the Arctic. While the unique landscape and hospitable blend of Inuit and Danish cultures attract tourists from around the world, this same geography faces challenges with trade expansion and economic diversification. No one feels this dichotomy more keenly than Greenland’s business owners.
A boat in the waters off South Greenland
Inaluk, a social media expert based in the Disko Bay region, is commercializing social media marketing in a business ecosystem that is not yet accustomed to using social media as a strategic marketing tool. Malik, a skilled mechanic, and Martin, a helicopter pilot, are differentiating their tourism offerings in Qaqortoq to compete in South Greenland’s flourishing tourism market. With business development services (BDS) concentrated in the capital Nuuk, business owners like Inaluk, Martin, and Malik find it difficult to access customized support tailored to the unique operating conditions of their communities. This challenge contributes to Greenland’s wider economic issues.
However, Greenland is prioritizing significant investment and growth in its trade and tourism sectors and is expanding and reinforcing international commercial ties to support the growing and diversifying economy. Under the U.S.-Greenland Enterprise Driven Growth Initiative (EDGI), Resonance is partnering with local stakeholders to support the advancement of Greenland-led private sector business development and trade.
About the EDGI Program
EDGI is a three-year (2022–2025) activity implemented under the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Digital Economy and Market Development Activity. Through EDGI, Resonance is helping USAID cooperate with Greenlandic private sector and government stakeholders to support inclusive economic growth in Greenland and promote bilateral trade and commercial ties with the United States. This work is anchored in USAID’s commitment to local sustainability and ownership, respect for the environment, and inclusivity of indigenous populations. 
Resonance and INUVA staff with Inaluk and other IBI entrepreneurs in Aasiaat
Since 2022, EDGI has worked with Greenlandic municipalities, firms, and entrepreneurs. As part of its commitment to advancing business development, EDGI launched the Inclusive Business Incubator (IBI) to pilot and scale robust and inclusive BDS in Greenland’s hardest-to-reach municipalities. The IBI launched with its first cohort in the Qeqertalik municipality in January 2024 and its second cohort in the Kujalleq municipality in May 2024. EDGI partnered and collaborated with the municipal business units in each municipality for direct outreach, enduring partnerships, and lasting impact. Inaluk, Malik, and Martin are some of the first entrepreneurs to transform their businesses through their participation in the IBI.
Meet Inaluk L. Olsen of the Qeqertalik Municipality
Inaluk L. Olsen is pioneering a new wave of digital empowerment through her venture, SoMe by Inaluk, in the Greenlandic town of Aasiaat in the Disko Bay, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Heritage Site. Specializing in SoMe (social media) management and strategy, Inaluk uses a personal touch and deep expertise to offer underserved Greenland businesses in her remote region the tools and guidance needed to navigate and excel in the digital landscape, helping businesses elevate their online presence and build targeted engagement with customers and tourists. Faced with the challenges of establishing her business in a region where the concept of social media marketing is still developing, she encountered hurdles in expanding her client base and maintaining consistent cash flow due to the nascent nature of the market.
Inaluk taking a photo in Aasiaat
Through the IBI, managed by Resonance’s local partner INUVA, Inaluk received crucial mentorship and resources that were customized to her experience as a woman business owner to strengthen her business model and expand her network. With her mentor's support and advice, she explored new markets by traveling to cities like Ilulissat and Sisimiut, actively networking and acquiring new clients. This outreach has not only increased her customer base, but also strengthened her confidence in managing and promoting her business. Inaluk expanded her business from offering general social media services to providing specialized courses and workshops. This expansion allowed her to offer more comprehensive solutions to her clients, fostering stronger relationships and opening additional revenue streams.
"Participating in the IBI program has been a transformative experience, helping me expand my network and refine my business strategies. The mentorship and resources have opened new doors for my venture in social media expertise." – Inaluk Olsen
Meet Malik Petersen and Martin H. Kristensen of the Kujalleq Municipality
In Qaqortoq in South Greenland, serial entrepreneurs Malik Petersen and Martin H. Kristensen run Qummut Tours ApS, a business that offers exclusive and authentic tourism experiences that highlight the local culture and scenic landscapes of the region, particularly to cruise ship passengers. Both deeply rooted in the local community, Malik and Martin were challenged to establish a new tourism business with a unique proposition to succeed in a competitive market. However, they quickly realized that their success would require more than offering luxury bus tours —it would demand strategic partnerships, robust distribution channels, and an effective marketing strategy.
Qummut Tours excursion in Qaqortoq
The IBI helped Martin and Malik to refine their business model, focusing on strategic partnerships with operators like Greenland Cruises and Sagalands to distribute their tours effectively and develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to boost brand awareness and attract more customers. With guidance from their mentor and insights gained from the program, Martin and Malik have expanded their business model from offering simple bus charters to offering unique tourism experiences that command higher prices and attract a broader audience. By diversifying their product offerings, including cultural-themed tours and airport shuttles, Qummut Tours is appealing to a wider range of customers and securing additional revenue streams. Their innovative approach includes creating complementary products to enhance the tourist experience, such as putting a lounge area near their café and clothing store and providing cruise guests with a relaxing space to enjoy refreshments and explore local goods. This integration enriches their services and increases foot traffic and sales across their other businesses.
The Impact of the IBI
Inaluk, Martin, and Malik’s successes benefit their businesses as well as the broader Greenlandic community. Inaluk's journey has set a precedent for digital innovation, filling a crucial gap in the market as she distinguishes herself in the industry. By leveraging their local knowledge and curating in-demand experiences, Martin and Malik are not only building a successful company, but also contributing to the economic development of Qaqortoq with their commitment to employing local staff as guides and drivers for authentic tourism experiences.
Malik and Martin with their IBI certificates of completion in Qaqortoq
Over the pilot stage, the IBI supported a total of 19 entrepreneurs across 17 small businesses based in the Qeqertalik and Kujalleq municipalities. Participants praised the quality of personalized mentorship support, reported gaining confidence and new skills, and appreciated networking with fellow business owners in their communities. Under EDGI, the IBI will continue to serve all of Greenland in 2025, further leveraging the country’s entrepreneurial spirit to build a vibrant and resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem and drive economic progress in Greenland’s communities.
