INCUBA Awards: Finalists for Startup of the Year and Investor of the Year 2024
Startup of the Year 2024 Finalists
Battman Energy
Founded in 2022 by a young and dynamic team, Battman Energy has quickly become a key player in wind energy - one of Aarhus' strengths. The company addresses a key issue for energy companies with its innovative solutions, which also play an important role in one of the city's industrial verticals. In a short time, Battman Energy has scaled significantly and secured investments from multiple stakeholders. They already have projects worth 300 million DKK and operate in several foreign markets, emphasizing their global ambitions. The jury recognizes their great potential to create significant impact on the green transition.
Kanpla
Founded in 2019 by a very young founder team who jumped into the market straight out of high school, Kanpla is transforming the canteen industry, a market with enormous potential that has been under-digitized so far. Their platform has already attracted investors, including a Dutch fund, and CEO Peter Bæch has moved to London to take on the European market. Kanpla's international team, working from different countries, reflects their ambition to dominate the market as the leading canteen platform. With their rapid growth and promising digital solutions, they are a strong candidate for Startup of the Year.
Norfalk
Norfalk, a student startup from Aarhus University, was founded in 2022 and has already established itself as a game changer in surfactant technology. With support from BioInnovation Institute and their unique technology, which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 70%, Norfalk contributes to both the green transition and a number of industries such as personal care, cleaning and detergents. Co-founders Kasper Falkenberg and Nicklas Nørgaard are known for their commitment to the local startup community and dedication to helping other entrepreneurs. Their passion and innovative approach places Norfalk as a worthy finalist for the award, according to the jury.
Teitur Trophics
Founded in 2020 as a spinout from Aarhus University, Teitur Trophics works to find solutions to preserve brain cells that are normally lost in neurodegenerative disorders. Founded by four biomedical researchers, Teitur Trophics focuses on improving the quality of life for millions of patients. Their work has already raised significant funds and they are in full swing with their research projects. The company combines a meaningful purpose with strong entrepreneurs and innovative technologies, which the jury considers a strong candidate in the Startup of the Year category.
Investor of the Year 2024 Finalists
Christian Vinther
Christian Vinther has been a central figure in Aarhus' startup and investor ecosystem for years, including Danban and Founderment. He is known for his hands-on approach, where he not only provides financial support, but also acts as a strategic partner and mentor to the companies he and his fund invest in. Christian has a knack for identifying potential and working closely with entrepreneurs to ensure their success. His commitment and dedication to supporting new startups makes him an obvious candidate for Investor of the Year according to the jury.
Pernille Lynggaard Frandsen
With a background in a successful entrepreneurial family, Pernille Lynggaard Frandsen has a great understanding of business development and growth. After selling the family business, Frandsen Group, in 2020, Pernille has thrown herself into investing in startups, combining her experience with a passion for supporting entrepreneurs. The jury believes that her commitment to supporting companies in their development makes her a respected figure in investment and a worthy candidate for the Investor of the Year award.
Stefan Rosenlund
Stefan Rosenlund, one of Denmark's most prominent tech entrepreneurs, has built an impressive portfolio of investments following his successful exit from Zitcom (now Team.blue). Through his holding company, Stefan has invested in both real estate and software companies, while challenging the financial sector with his multi-family office Dreamers Collective. He is an active business angel and advisor to scale-up companies, and his combination of experience, capital and advice makes him a formidable candidate for Investor of the Year according to the jury.
From nomination to nominee to finalist to winner
The process to find this year's winners starts with nominations from companies, universities, industry organizations and other players in the ecosystem, who can nominate candidates until the beginning of September. Self-nominations are also possible - and encouraged. All nominations are then assessed against the criteria of the awards and those that meet these requirements move forward as nominees. Finally, the official jury reviews the nominees and selects finalists in each category. After a thorough assessment of the finalists, the winners in each category are announced at the Aarhus Investor Summit.
The jury consists of a number of players from the Aarhus startup ecosystem who bring both experience and expertise to the judging of the nominees:
- Jeppe Dørup, The Kitchen, Aarhus University
- Jan Snogdal, DLA Piper
- Søren Grønbæk, EIFO (Danish Export and Investment Fund)
- Lars Louring, DanBan (Danish Business Angels)
- Mathias Tannebæk, Danske Bank
- Sisse Melsen, The Link
- Finn Bødtker, Erhvervshus Midtjylland
- Jacob Mogensen, INCUBA
We look forward to celebrating both the finalists and winners at Aarhus Investor Summit.