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Danish TechBBQ secures grant to connect Nordic investors with African startups
The Nordic Connection As I sat in the dimly lit conference room in Copenhagen, surrounded by the hum of innovation, I couldn't help but think about the power of connections.
As I sat in the dimly lit conference room in Copenhagen, surrounded by the hum of innovation, I couldn't help but think about the power of connections. Connections between people, cultures, and ecosystems. And it's this very idea that Danish TechBBQ, a non-profit startup and innovation conference organiser, is banking on with its recent grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
The grant, worth DKK4 million ($620,000), will enable TechBBQ to build a permanent desk linking Nordic university startups, investors, and corporations with tech talent in Africa and India. This ambitious initiative, which will run from August 2026 through December 2028, has the potential to revolutionise the way these ecosystems interact with each other.
At the heart of TechBBQ's plan is the creation of a platform for investment, commercial partnerships, and tech collaboration between the Nordic region and Africa and India. This platform will give African startups a route into Nordic capital, research institutions, and corporate networks, thereby unlocking new opportunities for growth and development. The Nordic startup ecosystem, which attracted $7.7 billion in venture capital funding in 2025, is on track to exceed $9 billion in 2026, according to Dealroom. With this kind of backing, the potential for joint development, investment, and market access between the Nordics and the global markets in India and Africa has never been stronger.
The grant will also enable TechBBQ to transition from pilot projects to a permanent platform focused on three areas prioritised by the Novo Nordisk Foundation: life sciences, deeptech and artificial intelligence (AI), and climate and agricultural technology. This is a significant development, given the growing importance of deeptech and climate technology in the global innovation landscape. The Nordic region, with its strong tradition of innovation and entrepreneurship, is well-placed to make a meaningful contribution to these areas.
The announcement of TechBBQ's grant follows its participation in Bharat Innovates 2026, an initiative launched by Indian President Narendra Modi and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Nice, France, to strengthen global innovation and entrepreneurship networks. This is a clear indication of the growing recognition of the importance of global innovation networks in driving economic growth and development.
As I left the conference room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and optimism about the future of innovation and entrepreneurship. The connection between the Nordic region and Africa and India has the potential to unlock new opportunities for growth and development, and TechBBQ's grant is a significant step in that direction. With its focus on deeptech, climate technology, and equitable access, this initiative has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of people around the world.
This grant is evidence of the power of collaboration and innovation, and I have no doubt that it will pave the way for a new era of cooperation between the Nordic region and Africa and India.
- TechBBQ has secured a grant worth DKK4 million ($620,000) from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
- The grant will fund the creation of a permanent desk linking Nordic university startups, investors, and corporations with tech talent in Africa and India.
- The initiative will run from August 2026 through December 2028.
- The Nordic startup ecosystem attracted $7.7 billion in venture capital funding in 2025.
- The region is on track to exceed $9 billion in 2026, according to Dealroom.
