Nothing can replace human interaction! Especially after the pandemic, people realised the importance of in-person meetings and events. We got the opportunity to have a chat with Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej, Head of PR & Communications at TechBBQ, and Vera Liscinska, Head of Marketing at TechBBQ, about the upcoming TechBBQ-event in Copenhagen 11th-12th of September.
TechBBQs mission is to connect Scandinavia to the rest of the world, to promote tech & innovation, sustainable growth, diversity and inclusion, not just talking about it, but creating a space where all of these disciplines can coexist and where like-minded people can exchange ideas and talk about the latest trends.
Content-wise, we have a stellar lineup of founders, investors, keynote speakers, taking the stage to discuss pressing global issues within media, misinformation, technology, AI, climate, life science, urbantech, sustainability and the status of the investment landscape. We have 350+ speakers this year, across eight stages.
Thousands of startups and scaleups annually attend TechBBQ and find through the Summit their future investor and/or make impactful connections that lead to further growth of their businesses.
Can you highlight any success stories or notable outcomes from previous TechBBQ events?
Some examples count ComplyCloud’s funding round of 33,5 million DKK from SEED Capital. The conversation was kicked off at TechBBQ. Another one is the upcoming Danish unicorn Zensai (formerly known as LMS365) who found an investor at TechBBQ that led to raising 127 million DKK.
Generally speaking, attending TechBBQ is valuable for anyone with interest in entrepreneurship. Whether you just got started, are a serial entrepreneur, a VC investing in startups, or something completely else, it’s a melting pot of forward-thinking solutions, high-tech businesses and talented entrepreneurs.
TechBBQ is the place where all these connections are made. Interestingly enough, many people stay in touch with their connections after the Summit, and embark on new collaborations.
Can you share any specific projects or initiatives that showcase TechBBQ’s commitment to positive social change?
Our program team works diligently to curate a diverse range of topics on our stages, featuring industry leaders from various backgrounds. Last year, 52% of our speakers were female or non-binary, a significant achievement for an event of our size, and indeed for any event.
Keyvan highlights that each year, TechBBQ tries to include a mental health & wellbeing track on the TechBBQ program to address the major issues around the mental sacrifices and struggles that are made for a company to be successful.
Building a company should not equal a mental health challenge. You should be able to grow a company without a burnout, is our main message.
Apart from that, we also have our “TechBBQueer” and “Inspiring conversations with female founders and investors” that pave the way for underrepresented founders to have conversations around tech and entrepreneurship.
The aim with these initiatives are to foster an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome to be a part of the tech community.
What unique opportunities does TechBBQ provide for startups and entrepreneurs?
Vera tells me that TechBBQ started as a meeting in a park for local entrepreneurs. Over the years, the event has grown into an organisation that is behind the biggest event of this kind in Scandinavia, but the mission remained the same:
Founders and startups are at the heart of what we do.
Every year, founders can join the Startup Program, which consists of pitching competitions and showcasing areas, dedicated specifically to innovative startups.
We also include them in a ’Startup Catalogue’ where startups can upload their pitch decks, visible to all attending investors.
All participants are encouraged to take advantage of the event app, Brella, where they can match-make with other attendees and find a potential investor, partner, co-founder or just someone who is interested in the same topic.
And what should investors expect when attending TechBBQ in terms of networking and investment opportunities?
There are a lot of opportunities for investors! All investor ticket holders are invited to special activities, such as Nordic Investor Day, where investors can network with other investors. There is an Investor lounge with refreshments, which is perfect for meetings!
This year TechBBQ will also facilitate VC/LP Matchmaking, investors are invited to ’Unlocking the Entrepreneurship Spirit’ event on the 13th of September, there will be panel discussions on the stages and side events that are super relevant for investors to attend!
Here you can find more info on all investor activities.
Here you can access tickets with Nyfikna Investerares discount (-25%)!
Here you can listen to Nyfikna Investerare PodCast and the episode with Sam Eshrati, COO at TechBBQ.
Head of Marketing at TechBBQ
Head of PR & Communications at TechBBQ
