Tommy Ahlers

Tommy Ahlers (born 18 November 1975) is a Danish entrepreneur, investor and former politician who was a member of the Folketing for Venstre from 2019 to 2021. He served as Minister of Higher Education and Science in the Lars Løkke Rasmussen III Cabinet from 2018 to 2019.

Before entering politics, Ahlers worked in the technology sector and was chief executive of the mobile company ZYB, which was sold to Vodafone in 2008, and later of Podio, which was acquired by Citrix in 2012. He also became known in Denmark as an investor and television personality through the Danish version of Dragons' Den ("Løvens hule").

After leaving politics in 2021, Ahlers returned to business and took on roles in venture capital, academia and public and non-profit governance. He became a founding partner at Look Up Ventures in 2022, was appointed adjunct professor at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in 2023, became chairman of CONCITO in 2024, and later also chairman of the board of .

Early life and education Ahlers was born on 18 November 1975 in Haderslev and grew up in Agerskov in southern Jutland in an Inner Mission family. His parents were active in the local religious community, and he later recalled that church attendance, Sunday school and family prayer formed part of his upbringing.

From 2015, Ahlers worked as an investor and held a number of board positions. He also appeared in the Danish version of Dragons' Den.

After leaving politics, he returned to business. In 2022, he became a founding partner at Look Up Ventures, an investment firm focused on climate and deep-tech ventures.

Political career Ahlers entered politics for Venstre and became a member of the Folketing in 2019. On 2 May 2018, he was appointed Minister of Higher Education and Science and Science in the Lars Løkke Rasmussen III Cabinet. He remained in office until 27 June 2019, when the government left office after the 2019 Danish general election.

On 3 August 2021, Ahlers announced that he was leaving politics and returning to business. He said that he wanted to work on the green transition as an entrepreneur and that he found political life at Christiansborg too focused on political games and too little on ideas.

Later career In 2023, Ahlers was appointed adjunct professor at the Technical University of Denmark and attached to DTU Entrepreneurship. In April 2024, he became chairman of CONCITO. On 1 May 2025, he became chairman of the board of .

Personal life Ahlers has two children from his first marriage, which ended in 2012. In 2018, he said publicly that he is bisexual.