Massive investment in programs and major events to make it easier to succeed as an entrepreneur
Danish entrepreneurs play a key role in developing the green and digital solutions of the future. Now they are getting a significant boost. The Danish Business Promotion Agency is investing DKK 122 million in new initiatives to help up to 1,500 entrepreneurs grow and strengthen their competitiveness. This is the message in a press release.
The investment will support both start-ups and entrepreneurs with high growth potential with advice, skills development and access to networks and capital.
“It must be easier to succeed as an entrepreneur in Denmark. Entrepreneurship is a very important driver of our competitiveness. Therefore, with this investment, we focus both on newly established entrepreneurs and on the more specialized entrepreneurs with a special growth potential,” says Ulrik Gernow, member of the Danish Business Promotion Board and COO of Grundfos.
He emphasizes that the effort must support entrepreneurs across the country and take into account that the startup journey looks different depending on ambition and maturity.
Targeted support for startup events in Aarhus and Copenhagen
Part of the funding will be used to strengthen two key events in the Danish startup ecosystem: The Link in Aarhus and TechBBQ in Copenhagen. Both events play an important role in connecting entrepreneurs with investors, knowledge environments and international partners.
“This time we prioritize strengthening the two major entrepreneurial events that already have the experience and high visitor numbers – The Link in Aarhus and TechBBQ in Copenhagen – where the latter is especially aimed at tech entrepreneurs who can showcase themselves in the journey to commercialize new technology and grow internationally,” says Ulrik Gernow.
TechBBQ receives DKK 6 million and is expected to attract over 9,500 visitors annually in 2026-2028. The Link, which is behind the SMIL conference, receives DKK 2.75 million and is expected to attract over 1,000 participants per year during the same period.
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In addition, the board plans to support smaller, complementary entrepreneurial events in 2026 to ensure broad geographical coverage and increased networking power across the country.
Funding to boost both the broad and the elite
The total of DKK 122 million comes partly from the EU’s Social Fund Plus with DKK 83 million, and partly from DKK 30 million in decentralized business promotion funds from the Danish Finance Act. The goal is to create an ecosystem where both budding entrepreneurs and growth-ready startups get the right tools to scale.
The initiative will help maintain Denmark’s position as one of Europe’s most innovative countries, while making it easier for new companies to contribute to green transition, digitalization and productivity growth, according to the press release.