TechBBQ, a Danish non-profit startup and innovation conference organiser, has secured DKK4 million ($620,000) from the Novo Nordisk Foundation to build a permanent desk linking Nordic university startups, investors, and corporations with tech talent in Africa and India.
The three-year grant will fund the Nordic-Africa Innovation Summit and Nordic-India Innovation Summit, which TechBBQ plans to include in its annual conference. The initiative plans to create a platform for investment, commercial partnerships, and tech collaboration between the regions.
The funding comes as Europe seeks closer economic and tech ties with both Africa and India amid growing concerns over competitiveness, access to talent, and the need to diversify strategic partnerships beyond traditional markets.
The programme will give African startups a route into Nordic capital, research institutions, and corporate networks. The Nordic startup ecosystem attracted $7.7 billion in venture capital funding in 2025 and is on track to exceed $9 billion in 2026, according to Dealroom.
Originally published by TechCabal.