Highlights from Scandinavia’s leading startup summit
As CBS’s dedicated unit for early-stage venture and founder development, CSE returned to TechBBQ for the third year with a visible presence. TechBBQ is where startups, investors, researchers, and policymakers meet to exchange ideas and shape the future of innovation. For CSE, being here is about showcasing founders – and about underlining CBS’s role as a driver of entrepreneurship and innovation in Denmark.
- Anika Paulus
- 4 min read
TechBBQ 2025 at a glance
- Eight early-stage startups showcased at our booth and met investors, partners and customers
- CBS President Peter Møllgaard visited for the second year, underlining the university’s commitment to supporting student entrepreneurship
- CBS’ Dean of Research Søren Hvidkjær joined a panel on how universities can better facilitate and strengthen entrepreneurship
- KeyPitt, a CSE startup, returned as TechBBQ’s official wardrobe partner
- On stage, Founder to Leader Programme Manager, Yohanna Gustafsson, presented CSE’s approach to founder development and turning research into businesses
Why we are at TechBBQ
TechBBQ exists to support and strengthen the Nordic startup-ecosystem. Showing up matters. CSE is here to advocate for and demonstrate the value of student entrepreneurship – and to underline how universities must play an active role in strengthening the innovation ecosystem. Visibility helps our founders access opportunities, and it signals CBS’s long-term commitment to building innovation capacity in Denmark.
“CSE is an integral part of CBS and our broader strategy to empower the next generation of responsible innovators. We’re not just supporting startups – we’re developing capabilities that benefit society, industry, and the economy,” says Peter Møllgaard, President of Copenhagen Business School.
By being present and visible at TechBBQ, CBS and CSE underline the importance of giving student entrepreneurs a platform and space to develop – ultimately strengthening Denmark’s long-term capacity to innovate. Our role connects directly to broader ambitions: building strong talent pipelines, driving research-based innovation, and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
Dean of Research Søren Hvidkjær emphasised the need for increased collaboration across universities to create an environment where innovation and entrepreneurship can flourish. Photography: Vitor Hugo Silva Mendes
Bridging research and entrepreneurship
At TechBBQ, Dean of Research Søren Hvidkjær addressed how Danish universities can better support entrepreneurship. He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration across institutions and fewer barriers for students and researchers to access opportunities across universities. Innovation, he argued, thrives when research, technology, and business are connected in one system.
“The true impact lies in building capabilities – skills and mindsets that founders carry into future companies, careers, and collaborations,” said Søren Hvidkjær, Dean of Research at CBS.
This long-term perspective is also at the core of CSE’s approach. We create structured learning pathways with re-entry points for alumni and support founders throughout their journeys. Founder to Leader combines organisational psychology with experiential learning to help founders grow with their companies, while Commercial Co-founder enables commercially skilled professionals to step into early-stage teams – showing how CSE builds capabilities for entrepreneurial roles at different stages.
On stage, Yohanna Gustafsson presented CSE’s approach to founder development and turning research into businesses. Photography: Vitor Hugo Silva Mendes
From CSE to the wider ecosystem
TechBBQ also showed how early-stage support and the capabilities built at CSE compounds over time. Several former CSE founders returned this year as established voices in the ecosystem. Andreas Johansson, Co-founder and CEO at SHIELD, Suvi Karoo, VP of Growth at Famly, and Isabella Agdestein, Co-founder and CEO at Focalx, all began their journeys at CSE and are now contributing as leaders, speakers, and role models.
Entrepreneurship is lifelong learning. Whether founders continue to build companies, take on new roles in the startup world, or bring their skills into established organisations, the foundation they gain at CSE supports them throughout.
The story of Keypitt™ captures this continuity. They presented at our booth in 2023 and returned this year as TechBBQ’s official wardrobe partner – a clear step from CSE startup to recognised player in the wider ecosystem.
Karla Pitt Winther, Founder and CEO of Keypitt™, puts it straight: “Being back at TechBBQ as the official wardrobe partner is a big milestone for Keypitt™. CSE’s support has had a huge impact on our journey, and I’m truly grateful and happy to be part of this community.”
The President of Copenhagen Business School, Peter Møllgaard, in conversation with Karla Pitt Winther from Keypitt™, who returned to TechBBQ as official wardrobe partner. Photography: Vitor Hugo Silva Mendes
Eight CSE startups on the floor
TechBBQ is also a stage for today’s student founders. This year, eight early-stage startups joined us at the CSE booth: Koji Copenhagen, BRØG, athme, Krown, ESGEra, Mamsa, Ruutle, and Capii.
Covering a wide span of sectors, from sustainability and healthtech to digital solutions and consumer products, the startups represent the breadth of innovation within the CSE community. For the founders, TechBBQ is a chance to connect with investors, partners, and peers, gaining direct feedback and opening doors for their ventures.
At the CSE booth, visitors explored collaboration opportunities within the entrepreneurial ecosystem and learned about how CSE supports founders from idea to growth – with programmes that help them build capabilities they need to progress.
Founders of eight early-stage startups who are part of CSE presented their product or idea at the booth to potential investors, partners and customers. Photography: Vitor Hugo Silva Mendes
Looking ahead
TechBBQ once again confirmed the strength of the startup ecosystem in Denmark and the Nordics. For CSE, it was more than a showcase of founders – it underlined CBS’s role as a strategic partner in innovation and entrepreneurship. We are proud of the startups, alumni, and colleagues who represented us in 2025, and we look forward to returning next year to deepen our role in the ecosystem and continue building connections and impact.
Photos and images: Vitor Hugo Silva Mendes
