NAIROBI, June 23 – Danish non profit startup conference organiser TechBBQ has secured DKK4 million ($620,000) from the Novo Nordisk Foundation to create a permanent platform connecting Nordic investors, universities and companies with startups and tech talent across Africa and India.
The three year grant will support the launch of the Nordic Africa Innovation Summit and the Nordic India Innovation Summit, both of which will become part of TechBBQ’s annual conference. The initiative is designed to encourage investment, commercial partnerships and technology collaboration between the regions.
The funding comes as Europe looks to strengthen its economic and technology ties with Africa and India while expanding partnerships beyond its traditional markets.
For African startups, the programme is expected to open access to Nordic investors, research institutions and corporate networks. According to Dealroom, the Nordic startup ecosystem attracted $7.7 billion in venture capital funding in 2025 and is on track to exceed $9 billion in 2026. The region is also home to more than 100 unicorns and accounts for about 12% of all venture capital investment in Europe.
TechBBQ Chief Executive Officer Avnit Singh said the funding would help build stronger and more sustainable links between the Nordic region, Africa and India.
The project will run from August 2026 to December 2028 alongside TechBBQ’s flagship conference at Copenhagen’s Bella Center. It will focus on life sciences, deep technology and artificial intelligence, as well as climate and agricultural technology.
Chief Strategy Officer Thomas Ebdrup said opportunities for joint innovation, investment and market access between the Nordic region, Africa and India continue to grow.
Under the terms of the grant, knowledge developed through the programme must be shared openly where possible, while innovations should remain affordable for low and middle income countries.
