Here are the nominees for the INCUBA Awards 2026
This year’s nominees represent a broad range of fields, from life science, biotech and green technology to robotics, AI, SaaS and digital platforms. What they have in common is that someone in the ecosystem has nominated them as companies and investors deserving of extra recognition.
INCUBA Awards 2026 Startup of the Year – the nominees
22 startups have been nominated for Startup of the Year 2026. The jury will assess the candidates based on factors including the team’s ability to execute and its scalable ambitions, level of innovation, global business potential, results and ability to inspire other startups.
- Capra Robotics: Develops autonomous mobile robots capable of navigating indoors, outdoors and across rough terrain. Its robots are, among other things, deployed at VELUX for material handling between production facilities.
- Cernel: Aarhus-based AI startup that automates and optimises product data for e-commerce. Its customers include Matas, Hummel and Vero Moda, and in February 2026, the company raised a €4 million seed round.
- Coana: Cybersecurity startup originating from research at Aarhus University. Its technology helps companies identify which open-source vulnerabilities actually pose a risk. Coana was acquired by US-based Socket in 2025.
- Cordulus: Combines its own weather stations with AI models to provide precise, local weather data, including for the agricultural sector. The platform has more than 31,500 users across 23 countries.
- Cystotech: Develops diagnostic solutions for bladder cancer with the potential to provide patients with faster and more precise answers while reducing the need for invasive examinations.
- Decameal: Turns invasive shore crabs into protein-rich feed ingredients and other raw materials. In 2026, the company raised a seed round from Delphinus Venture Capital and Rockstart, with Aller Aqua joining as a strategic co-investor.
- DiFacto: Works with automated invoice control and has also been recognised for its contribution to the culture and startup environment at INCUBA.
- Draupnir Bio: Biotech company with research rooted in Aarhus, developing a new class of therapeutics based on targeted protein degradation. Key research findings were published in Cell Chemical Biology in 2026.
- Henosia: Develops enterprise solutions within vibe coding and has been nominated for its strong product and ambitions to accelerate sales.
- Herodesk: Builds an AI-powered customer service platform for small and medium-sized online stores. The platform brings customer dialogue across channels into one place and automates many recurring enquiries.
- Kanpla: Digitalises canteen operations by connecting kitchens, guests and data on one platform. Kanpla is used in more than 5,000 canteens by over 600,000 users and has expanded from Denmark into 10 European countries in just 18 months.
- Kripthonite Therapeutics: Biotech company spun out of Aarhus University, developing new treatments targeting hypoxic cancer cells. The company’s lead molecule has demonstrated strong preclinical results.
- LaevaCare: Develops supportive underwear for women experiencing pelvic floor symptoms, including after childbirth. The company combines clinical experience and product development with an ambition to bring greater attention to an often-overlooked health issue.
- MedicQuant: Deeptech and medtech startup spun out of Aarhus University, developing technology that measures drug concentrations from a drop of blood in around 10 minutes. The company raised DKK 22 million in 2026.
- Norfalk: Develops bio-based surfactants as alternatives to petroleum- and palm oil-based ingredients. The company has raised more than €5 million and entered into its first commercial agreement with an international personal care brand.
- Prduct.com: Digital platform helping companies manage suppliers, product data and EU sustainability requirements. Its customers include REMA 1000, Søstrene Grene and NORMAL.
- Predicti: Fintech startup using machine learning and public data to help financial companies predict customer needs. In 2025, the company raised $4.2 million from investors including international venture funds.
- PriceShape: Aarhus-based pricing intelligence platform monitoring prices across more than 1.4 million online stores. The company has more than 800 customers and became an acquirer itself in 2025 with the acquisition of Swedish Priceindx.
- Raven Biosciences: Uses machine learning and computational design to accelerate the development of new therapeutics. Its technology is already being used by established biotech companies.
- Serpier: Automates online marketing for e-commerce businesses with its AI agent, Navi. The company generated more than €2.5 million in revenue in its first financial year and raised €1.4 million in 2026.
- Stadio: Has developed technology that makes it easier to book football trips and has also been nominated for founder Jeppe Chris’ visible and personal approach to building the company.
- Understory: Digital platform for the experience industry that brings booking, payments, guest communication and marketing together in one solution. Understory has expanded into 11 countries and raised a €12 million Series A in 2025.
INCUBA Awards 2026 Investor of the Year – the nominees
12 investors have been nominated for Investor of the Year 2026. The jury will consider factors including new investments and funding rounds over the past year, exits, engagement in the Central Denmark ecosystem and the investors’ contribution of experience, networks and active support to their portfolio companies.
- Berit Klibo: Business angel who invests alongside Christian Klibo through BCK Invest. She has been involved in medtech investments and contributes to the investor community around Aarhus.
- Christian Klibo: Business angel and Co-lead of DanBAN’s Lead Angel Corps with a focus on HealthTech and MedTech. In addition to capital, he contributes experience within areas such as strategy, governance, scaling and fundraising.
- Christoffer Hübertz Christensen: Founder and Chairman of Heymate, which invests in and develops digital businesses. Heymate has completed several exits and has a broad portfolio of digital companies.
- Geeta Schmidt: General Partner at Seed Capital and former co-founder and CEO of Aarhus-based Humio, which was acquired by CrowdStrike. She brings first-hand experience from an international growth journey and a major exit to her work with new companies.
- Jesper Hvejsel: Experienced business angel and formerly of Firtal Group. He has invested in companies including Cernel and Relewise and, with True Collective, has moved from angel investing to building a fund focused on the next generation of AI companies.
- Jon Risvig: Partner at VækstPartner Kapital, where he works actively with portfolio companies on strategic initiatives and scaling. He also serves on the boards of several companies.
- Martin Schorling Overgård: Leads AURA Ventures, which invests in energy, mobility, connectivity and the green transition. The focus is on combining capital with AURA’s industry expertise and access to industrial infrastructure.
- Mathias Brink Lorenz: Managing Partner and CEO of Delphinus Venture Capital. He has helped build the Aarhus-based evergreen fund and completed 14 investments in one year across food, health, defence and energy.
- Mikkel Salling: Business angel, former co-founder of Firtal Group and co-founder of True Collective. He has invested in companies including Cernel and Relewise and contributes both capital and his own experience of building and scaling companies.
- Mikkel Skorkjær Kongfelt: Former CEO and co-founder of RadiSurf. Following his own exit, he has become active as an investor and is, among other things, co-founder and angel investor in Decameal as well as lead investor and Chairman of Meat Tomorrow.
- Morten Larsen: Serial entrepreneur and business angel who founded Hungry.dk and sold the company to Delivery Hero. Today, he invests through Mola Invest and has also made numerous investments through the Danish version of Shark Tank, Løvens Hule.
- Stefan Rosenlund: Founding Partner at True Collective and winner of Investor of the Year 2025. A former founder and angel investor, he focuses on combining capital with active value creation for the companies he invests in.
The jury will select this year’s finalists and winners
On Friday, 18 September, the jury will meet to review the 22 startups and 12 investors. They will select three finalists and one winner in each category.
This year’s jury consists of:
- Caroline Langergaard, Development Consultant, Aarhus Municipality Business
- Jan Snogdal, Partner, DLA Piper
- Søren Grønbæk Nielsen, EIFO
- Mathias Tannebæk Olesen, Relationship Manager, Danske Bank
- Jacob Doktor Mogensen, CEO, INCUBA
Celebrating those who move the ecosystem forward
The INCUBA Award was presented for the first time in 2021 and was created to spotlight startups and investors that deliver strong results while also contributing positively to the startup ecosystem. Previous winners include Ento Labs, NMD Pharma, Kvantify, BattMan Energy and Formalize, as well as investors Poul Carstensen, Bo Wase, Claus Hansen, Christian Vinther and Stefan Rosenlund.
“The INCUBA Award is about recognising founders and investors who both deliver strong results and contribute to the ecosystem they are part of. This year’s field once again shows just how much is happening in and around Aarhus and how many strong companies and investors we have to be proud of,” says Jacob Doktor Mogensen, CEO of INCUBA.
The three finalists in each category will be announced following the jury’s deliberations, while the winners will be revealed on 8 October at Aarhus Investor Summit 2026 at INCUBA Katrinebjerg.
This year, Aarhus Investor Summit brings together Danish and international investors for a curated programme featuring market insights, conversations about venture investing and networking. Later the same day, the startup and investor programme continues at Startup Aarhus Townhall at Turbinehallen.
