At Startup Aarhus, the mission is clear: 2025 will be “less talk more action” (1)

By Mette Hoberg Tønnesen, CEO of Startup Aarhus

2025 has to be the year where we in Aarhus, in Denmark and in the EU intensify our role in tech and the global economy. I believe we can only succeed if we dare to take risks, include startups and scaleups to a much greater extent and strengthen both investments and customer relationships.

Europe is behind on tech – very behind! The last 25 years have shown that not keeping up with tech and the commercialization of digital solutions is costly. Today, the EU is 30 percent poorer than the US, mainly because we didn’t get on the tech train in time. But we also have unique opportunities: We are digital, data-driven and have a strong ability to collaborate. We must dare to take advantage of this.

Mette Hoberg Tønnesen, CEO of Startup Aarhus.

Startup Aarhus wants to help turn things around by focusing on three key areas: community, capital and customers.

We believe that startups are at the heart of innovation and our goal is to create a framework that gives them the best conditions for success. To break the negative trend, we will bring startups, investors and industry together and create new opportunities through concrete initiatives.

Community: SMIL creates stronger relationships

We believe that strong relationships are crucial for founders. In 2025, we will therefore launch SMIL – The happiest startup experience in the world. With a new, intimate format, we will create a space where founders and investors can meet in a meaningful and value-creating way. We want to strengthen the community and build networks that help founders succeed.

Startup Aarhus has held the well-attended event “Aarhus Townhall” in recent years. It is now joined by a new flagship event, which has been dubbed “SMIL”.

Capital: Bridge between startups and investors

We will work to attract more investors to Aarhus and link them with the latest technologies and promising startups. It’s about building bridges and making it easier for investors to discover the potential of the Aarhus ecosystem. By connecting capital with innovation, we can create an environment where both startups and investors thrive.

Customers: Early validation as a stepping stone

We dream of developing a market validation program that helps startups test their solutions through concrete collaborations with industry. Early validation can accelerate growth and tackle major societal challenges such as green transition, cybersecurity and digitalization. It takes courage and partnerships, but we believe it’s the way forward.

At Startup Aarhus, we work to ensure that founders do not stand alone. We believe that community, courage and partnerships can turn the tide and bring Aarhus and Europe back to the forefront – together.

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