What to expect in 2025

The Life Science area at TechBBQ is entering a new phase of growth. In 2025, we’re expanding with a brand-new partnership with the Danish Life Science Cluster, strengthening our ties across industry and research. Our Life Science Stage will focus on the critical theme of internationalization and scale-up, continuing the journey highlighted in our Community chapter of the Impact Report.

We’ll showcase 30 cutting-edge startups—evenly split between Human Health and Planetary Health—to reflect the sector’s evolving diversity and innovation. And for the first time, all of this will take place at the Bella Center, Denmark’s largest convention venue, offering an elevated experience for startups, investors, and ecosystem partners alike.

Lifescience conference in large hall with audience

About Life Science without Borders

Life Science without Borders is a project dedicated to breaking down barriers and expanding the horizons of life science startups. Our mission is to promote entrepreneurship in the life sciences industry through collaboration, support, and global networking. We strive to create a vibrant and dynamic ecosystem for life science startups where creativity, entrepreneurship, and scientific excellence can flourish without borders.

Our vision is to amplify Denmark and the Nordic countries within the global life sciences industry, and to contribute to the betterment of society through innovation, growth, and development.

Our values include:
• Collaboration and support over competition
• Amplifying each other’s efforts and helping one another
• Facilitating knowledge sharing, partnership building, and access to funding
• Creating opportunities for startups to succeed on the global stage
• Commitment to the growth and development of the life sciences industry in Denmark and beyond

What to Expect from Life Science Without Borders

Life Science Without Borders is TechBBQ’s largest dedicated area, exclusively focused on the life science industry. It covers all verticals within planetary health and human health technologies. Showcasing 30 exhibiting startups from various corners of the life science ecosystem, it provides comprehensive insights into the field. We feature startups at different stages, from early-stage ventures to those well into their journey, offering valuable learning opportunities. Our curation encompasses a diverse range of verticals, including drug development, diagnostics, food, new materials, energy, biotech, medtech, healthtech, therapeutics, health services, biosolutions, pharmaceuticals, and more, thereby embracing the entire ecosystem.

We present a dedicated stage with up to 15 hours of content specifically tailored to strengthen your knowledge about life science and scaling your startup in this industry. In the heart of the area, surrounded by showcasing startups, you’ll find a lounge where our life science speakers gather after their sessions. This creates an opportunity for the audience and showcasing startups to engage in in-depth discussions about the topics covered.

Why should your startup join?

Connect

with a global community of like-minded entrepreneurs, investors, and experts

Access

new markets, forge valuable partnerships, and attract necessary investment to scale up and achieve success

Expand

your horizons and enhance visibility for your startup

Life Science Without Borders 2024 recap

Relive the Life Science Stage Experience!

11th of September 2024

“Welcome by Novo Nordic Foundation and a small apatizer on what to expect the coming 2 days. 4 selected startups out of the 30 showcases will present their startup to you ranging from Biotech to MedTech to Services.”

Novo Nordisk Fonden – Charlotte
Schöller Bellyfood – Line Pedersen
Exo360 – Mads Terndrup
Cambiotics – Hitheshi Paresh Rathod
ReefCircular – Shannon Hanson
ReefCircular – Kathryn Larsen

Adam Bluestein | Host

“In this moderated Panel debate by Danish Life Science Cluster; Nordic Health Lab, Danish Chamber of Commerce and Danish Industry share update and overview of the new initiatives within Life Science that has been initiated the past year, amongst others the Life Science Strategy and the entrepreneurial strategy. The panel looks into the future but reflects also on initiatives already implemented and the impact they have brought in the Life Science Industry. “

Dansk Erhverv – Sara Vogt Bøgsted 
DI – Lars Bech-Jørgensen 
Nordic Health Lab – Sara Gry Striegler 

Danish Life Science Cluster – Diana Arsovic Nielsen | Moderator

“CSO & Co-Founder of BioPhero; Irina Borodina shares her amazing journey from a research idea to industrial biotech start-up BioPhero to the acquisition”

BioSustain – Irina Borodina

“Wind and solar only work when weather permits, and nuclear is complicated. But what if our planet could power itself? Torsten Kolind from Underground Ventures and Aurore Belfrage from Baseload Capital will explain geothermal energy, how it scales, and why it is the only power we need, if all goes well. Learn about baseload power, energy geopolitics, and the growing venture case for geothermal energy.”

Underground Ventures – Torsten Kolind 

Baseload Capital – Aurore Belfrage | Moderator

“We need to take care of our planet in multiple ways, and one crucial aspect is rethinking our food production and consumption. TechSavvy Media interviews Tempty Foods, a company that has taken this challenge to heart and embarked on a journey to create delicious and sustainable foods, while changing the way we think about meat alternatives.

In this interview with TechSavvy Media’s Erik Lillelund, CEO & Co-Founder Martina Lokajova shares Tempty Foods’ startup story, explaining how they prepared to enter the established food industry and their path to collaborating with leading Food Service companies.”

TechSavyy Media – Erik Lillelund | Moderator
Tempty Foods – Martina Lokajova

“Bayer and PerPlant share their journey towards their collaboration in the Nordics. Listen to the learnings and how-to in this fireside.”

Bayer A/S – Jaume Arau Canal 
PerPlant – Rasmus Emil Hansen

“There is no doubt the recent advancements in research and technology are paving the way to shorter timelines for bringing new drugs and discoveries to the market
This is true for all, startups, biotech to big companies and is shaking up how we do things in research.

Danish Tech Challenge Winner Clair Scientific, Scaleup Glycospot and Lundbeck are all on the same journey making life-saving treatments available to the planet and patients more quickly through optimized approach within research.”

Clair Scientific (DTC Winner) – Hugh Simons
Glycospot – Michael Stanley Pedersen
Lundbeck – Morana Vitezic
Wired – Rob Reddick

“Eight selected Startups within Life Science will do a 2 min pitch followed by a 3 min Q&A in front of judges, with the opportunity to win 10.000 EURO. A fireside session will take place while the judges decide on the winning startup.”

Visibuilt ApS – Line Pedersen | Pitcher
Rheia Medical – Andreas Thorngaard Heitmann | Pitcher
MyEpi ApS – Jakob Junker Jeppesen | Pitcher
Uvisa Health – Ella Harris | Pitcher
nervapax – Meike Sieburg | Pitcher
nervapax – Fridel Laursen | Pitcher
Glaze Life Sciences – Sara Garcia | Pitcher
Sylvia Health ApS – Andrew Stretton | Pitcher
Sens Vue ApS – Hong de Beer-Song | Pitcher

Stephan Christgau | Judge
Bjørn Broby Glavind | Judge
Jesper Grønbæk | Judge
Anne Lerche | Judge
Signe Ulrik Holm | Judge

Novo Holding – Marcus Remmers | Fireside Panelist
Accelerace/Nome – Christian Waarst | Fireside Panelist

“It is important to think strategically from the beginning of the life science startup journey. Life Science Academy for Startups is a Nordic product development program initiated in Denmark. It involves leading Nordic life science organizations in a grand collaboration with the purpose of preparing the startups for the product development journey towards hitting the market. In this panel, some of the organizations involved will share viewpoints of the value of the collaboration and what steps the startups should take to accelerate.”

Smile – Ebba Fåhraeus 
Norsk Life Science Cluster – Hanne Mette Dyrlie Kristensen Teknologisk Institut – Rune Rex 
Erhvervshus Sjælland/ Life Science Academy – Anette Høgh Sonnichsen | Moderator

“The international VC scene is increasingly interested in Danish life science startups—but what are they looking for, and how can you attract them to your startup? In this panel, VCs who focus on life science startups will share advice on making your company stand out. What do international investors see as the strengths and competitive advantages of Danish life science startups? What sets apart the companies they have invested in? What tips do they have for approaching, pitching, and working with international investors? What common mistakes can you avoid? There will be an opportunity to question the panelists, to accelerate your life science startup journey.”

Calm Storm – Carina Roth 
Goddess Gaia – Priya Oberoi  
Baltic Sandbox Ventures – Dominykas Milasius

Adam Bluestein | Moderator

12th of September 2024

“Relationbuilding is essential in the journey of building a company. One of the ways is joining a community. 9 communities will pitch, their offering and how they contribute to the Life Science Ecosystem and startups.”

REBBLS – Kamil Bakowski
Nome – Christian Waarst
Symbion – Peter Thorstensen 
Health Tech Hub Copenhagen – Anett Falussy 
DTU Science Park – Camilla Gilbro
Nucleate – Christoffer Merrild
Alliance for Biosolutions – Anne Lerche 
Food & Biocluster – Louise Krogh Johnson 
Danish Life Science Cluster – Jens Just

“Optoceutics, a startup in light therapy for Alzheimer and dementia, finds itself straddling two worlds: Denmark and the United States. What can Danish startups learn from this journey, and from the differences between Denmark and Silicon Valley?  Listen to CEO & Founder Mai Nguyen, interviewed by Stephane Guerraz, whose podcast “Leaders in Flow” interviews European and US business leaders.”

Optoceutics – Mai Nguyen 

Competence in Flow – Stephane Guerraz | Moderator

“The Universities in Denmark will pitch their offer and incubator environment to startups.” 

AAU – Jacob Lundberg
SDU – Jannek Solgaard
DTU  – Stine Kruse 
AU – Morten Holmager
CSE – Tillie Johansson  
The PipeLine & SPARK – Peter Løvschall
Open Entrepreneurship – Helle Nielsen-Elgaard 

“Many early startups don’t have the resources or expertise to focus on regulatory issues early in the development phase, resulting in high rejection rates from regulatory bodies and prolonged time to market for tech solutions. We need to change this. Hear some tips from the newly established Danish based notified body, a startup whom recently had their solution regulatory approved, and what we can learn from the Netherlands. The panel will be moderated by the CEO of Health Tech Hub Copenhagen, Jesper Grønbæk.”

TÜV SÜD Denmark – Theresa Larriba Harboe
Evido Health – Taus Holtug 
Holland – Tess Rütgers

HTHC – Jesper Grønbæk | Moderator

“Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Bytes share real-life example of the journey of entering into Finland, Sweden and Norway by benefitting from the advice and services provided by the Trade Council.”

HumanBytes – Ulrik Rokkedal Therkildsen 

Nordic Trade Council Team Health – Emma Karoliina Peltonen | Moderator

Corti.ai – Alison Holberton

Atomico – Laura Connell | Moderator

“Initiatives are at the moment being introduced to establish Denmark as an important Life Science Nation. A new government entrepreneurship strategy which promises less tax, less red tape, and more support for talents, also introduces a boost for knowledge-based entrepreneurship and added support for innovation districts. But why should you choose Denmark as the base for your startup? In this panel, original US citizen Colleen Acosta, CEO of Freya Bioscience shares why she chose Denmark as a base for her startup and representatives from EIFO and Novo Nordisk Foundation share their view of Denmark as a life science start-up nation.“

EIFO – Mads Lacoppidan 
Freya Biosciences  – Colleen Acosta 
Novo Nordisk Fonden – Mikkel Skovborg

Innovation District Copenhagen – Jes Andersen | Moderator

“A fireside between CEO of BII; Jens Nielsen and Director, European Biosolutions Coaliation from DI; Sofie Carsten Nielsen. Uncovering the opportunities and challenges of the Nordic Planetary & Human Health Landscape.”

DI – Sofie Carsten Nielsen 
BII – Jens Nielsen

“Join us for insights on “Attracting International Research Talent to Denmark,” where industry leaders will discuss the need for attracting top international research talent and enhancing Denmark’s appeal as a premier career destination for researchers worldwide.”

Lundbeck – Karin Hamberg
Villum Fonden – Thomas Bjørnholm 
DTU – Marianne Thellersen

Copenhagen Capacity – Nikolaj Lubanski | Moderator

“Can you make the Life Science Journey a bit more eas

“Join us for insights on “Attracting International Research Talent to Denmark,” where industry leaders will discuss the need for attracting top international research talent and enhancing Denmark’s appeal as a premier career destination for researchers worldwide.”

Lundbeck – Karin Hamberg
Villum Fonden – Thomas Bjørnholm 
DTU – Marianne Thellersen

Copenhagen Capacity – Nikolaj Lubanski | Moderator

y to navigate in? Storytelling and mapping the stakeholders are key but it is also easy to loose overview of the roadmap. Simple tools can help you along the way. Anne-Marie from Amazing Hall will share how she has helped startups in Denmark navigating this journey.”

Amazing Hall – Anne-Marie Hall

“Nordsjællands Hospital and Start-up NordInsight share their story of collaboration. How was the relation built? What were the steps that needed to be taken and how was the process before the solution offered by Nordinsight could benefit patients and healthcare professionals?”

Nordsjællands Hospital – Mette-Charlotte Marklund 
NordInsight – Simon Elliott Thomassen

“CEO of Siren; Ran Ma shares the outcome from attending TechBBQ Life Science last year. How to create opportunities and be successful in a difficult funding environment.”

Siren Care – Ran Ma

“The Funding of a Life Science Startup is long and complicated. It is a journey that requires a lot of insights and knowledge from all involved. The Investors need to be prepared for the journey and the startups needs to know how they can attract the investors. Can you with one national initiative merge knowledge, money and Life Science solutions? This is the goal of the new Life Science Investor/Startup initiative.”

DTU Science Park – Steen Donner
FamilY Office TW Medical – Marie-Louise Little 
Bootstrapping – Jesper Højberg 
Neurescue – Bjørn Broby

Explore our 2024 Life Science Project Report

Read along as we share the reasons and pre-project considerations that shaped our journey. Discover the concrete initiatives we developed and the outcomes we achieved. The report is available as a downloadable PDF.

Which startups did you meet in 2024?

Human Health

Planetary Health

Planetary Health

FAQ

TechBBQ Summit is one of Europe’s largest startup events where entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals come together to network, pitch ideas, and showcase products.

There will be a dedicated area focused on life science, with up to 30 exhibitors, a stage with speakers from around the world, pitch competitions, matchmaking, and opportunities to build new relationships across industries and organisations.

TechBBQ Summit 2025 will take place on August 27th and 28th in Copenhagen.

Over 10000 attendees from 70 different countries are expected at the summit in 2025.

Only startups directly involved in life science may attend as a life science startup, and we recommend that each startup have no more than 2 representatives. Please note that TechBBQ has the final say in whether or not a startup can participate.

It is free for startups to exhibit at TechBBQ. Guest attendance follows the regular ticket prices.

If you want to sign up, need more information or have any questions about participation or registration, feel free to contact Jan Thordsen, project manager and lead of Life Science Without Borders, at jan@techbbq.org.

What did the participants say?

This project is funded by:

Have any further questions?

For media inquiries, please contact our project lead, Jan jan@techbbq.org. You can also access our press kit for materials, including our logo, relevant images, and previous articles

Jan Thordsen

Project Manager
Email: jan@techbbq.org