07/09/2026
1,000 cups of coffee. Hundreds more conversations. Dozens of new opportunities for the Turku region. ☕🚀
Around 10,000 participants gathered at TechBBQ in Copenhagen to explore the future of innovation, with this year's discussions placing a strong emphasis on life science and deep tech.
Over two intensive days, Business Turku and the Turku region startup delegation connected with founders, investors, researchers, corporate partners and future collaborators from across the Nordics and beyond.
The result: dozens of promising new leads, valuable contacts and exciting opportunities for future collaboration!
As Jussi Pyysalo, Director of Turku Startup Hub, put it:
"The value of an event like TechBBQ isn't only in the leads. Two days of pitching to people who have no reason to be polite teaches a founder more about their business than a month of internal planning. Not to mention everything the startups can learn from each other by participating in an event like this as a delegation.”
While the Turku region booth was buzzing throughout the event, TechBBQ also provided an excellent platform to showcase the strengths of our innovation ecosystem, build new relationships and open doors for future partnerships.
Turku's presence extended far beyond the booth itself:
❤️ Jussi participated in several discussions focused on strengthening Europe's life science ecosystem, highlighting Turku
💚 The "Life Science & Deep Tech Ecosystem in Turku, Finland" panel discussion featured with Juuso Juhila (Thestra), Olli Huhtinen (Evogence Biologics), Olli Pentikäinen (Leads4cip, Turun yliopisto - University of Turku) and Anna Kivinen (Turun kaupunki - Åbo stad - City of Turku)
💜 Anastasiya Markvarde, Head of the Eir Accelerator programme, joined a panel discussion on women's health innovation
💙 A'Pelago's representatives Sini and Patrik further reinforced the Turku region's reputation as the Nordic hotspot for Blue Economy
Other startups with us: Hipped, TeachersPro, Aurafleet, PALL0® by Ai2Ai, Kokit, GlaciaNav and SA-FLAAS, Turun ammattikorkeakoulu.
Will you join us in future exhibitions?
The trip was enabled by Sitra – the Finnish Innovation Fund.
