Starting from Scratch is a business novel set in the late 1980s, an era of accelerating technology, emerging globalisation, and political upheaval. It follows Henrik Bertelsen, an ambitious Danish executive driven by growth and international expansion.

After helping build Dataco into a leading European distributor, Henrik leaves amid investor-driven power struggles. He joins Printonix, a startup determined to challenge industry giants with a revolutionary high-performance printer. Henrik builds distribution networks across Europe and positions the company as a rising Danish tech contender.

But the product falters. Technical flaws and delays stall shipments while costs rise and liquidity tightens. Sales teams are ready, distributors are waiting, yet nothing ships. Henrik is caught between aggressive growth targets and an unstable reality. Strategic conflicts intensify, especially with leaders pursuing high-risk, short-term gains at odds with his long-term principles.

Meanwhile, constant travel strains his family life. Success begins to show its personal cost.

A potential lifeline appears in negotiations with Japan’s Nishikawa, whose technology could secure Printonix’s future. Cultural tensions and internal divisions complicate the talks. Soon after, Henrik travels to Beijing for aviation negotiations – just as protests fill Tiananmen Square. What begins as business becomes a confrontation with history when violence erupts.

The events mirror Henrik’s own struggle: ambition colliding with responsibility. Starting from Scratch is a corporate drama about integrity, leadership, and the moral weight of global decisions.