Pitching for the future: The robotics city of Odense brings together investors and tech startups from all over Europe
Last week’s R-24 robotics event in Odense, the Odense Investor Summit once again bridged the gap between investors and startups. This year’s summit had a high international level with startups from all over Europe.
With the manufacturing industry facing an uncertain investment climate as well as new disruptive technologies and a global labor gap, it is more important than ever to create the best possible conditions for hatching the innovative growth companies of tomorrow.
Therefore, the matchmaking event – Odense Investor Summit – once again brings together visionary investors and capital-seeking startups within robots, drones, and automation at next week’s major European robotics event R-24 in Odense, Denmark.
“Capital and investors are a vital part of Denmark’s thriving robotics ecosystem. Yet in the current economic climate, securing capital can be challenging for some companies. That’s all the more reason why building bridges between Denmark’s robotics, automation, and drone companies and investors at home and abroad continues to be of huge importance,” says Søren Elmer, CEO of Odense Robotics.
REBLADE took home the prize
The startup REBLADE claimed the trophy and was awarded as the most investor-ready company. REBLADE is a drone-based company that reduces the levelized cost of wind energy through drone-based, automated repairs of wind turbine blades.
The panel of experts who choose the winner was made up of:
- Isabel Zhang, Investor at HCVC
- Eugene Demaitre, editor, writer, and speaker, The RobotReport
- Niels Jul Jacobsen, Chief Executive Officer at Capra Robotics
Last year, the promising Danish startup AIM Robotics took home the first prize of € 5.000. Less than a year later, AIM Robotics recently announced a new capital injection after a successful round of funding.
A STRONG GATHERING OF PARTNERS TO BOOST ROBOTICS STARTUPS
For this edition of the Odense Investor Summit, there is a particularly high level of companies from across Europe – featuring startups from not just Denmark, but also Norway, Romania, Finland and Poland. The companies om stage were: Dropla technology, Adapta Robotics, Fastsewn, REBLADE, AgriRobot, Oinride, and BlinkTroll Robotics. Selected from a netlist of around 40 potential companies, all of these finalist companies pitch their business from the stage to some 80-100 investors. Before the event, the startups went through training sessions to deliver the sharpest investor pitch.
The investors include both national and foreign business angels, VCs and corporates with Universal Robots, Neura, PreSeed Ventures, and more being represented on stage.
“For a startup, it is essential to be able to raise capital to develop. I am very proud that for the ninth time, we can gather so many competent startups with innovative solutions, helping them improve their pitch and give them the opportunity to expand their investor network and perhaps initiate dialogue with their next investor,”
AI high on the agenda
This year’s Investor Summit will mark the 9th of its kind. Just as in 2022, the summit will take place during R-24, which will be one of the main European robotics events of 2024. Its predecessor, R-22, gathered more than 5.000 guests in March 2022.
Topics such as AI, the future labour market and cybersecurity will be high on the agenda at R-24, which can showcase a three-day extensive conference programme from the 13th to the 15th of March at Odense Congress Center with Odense Investor Summit taking place on the 14th from 13-16.30.
“With R-24, we want to shed light on companies, technologies and innovations that can help create a better society. Bringing forward the talents of tomorrow is certainly part of that, and we are therefore very excited to once again host Odense Investor Summit,” says Morten Ihlow, Head of Exhibitions and Events at Odense Sport and Event who organizes R-24.
Investments broken through the glass ceiling of 1 billion
From 2015 -2024, more than 1 billion euros have been invested in local robotics companies, with last year bringing a surge in syndicates between domestic and foreign investors as well as a steady flow of cash from the reinvestment’s phenomenon, powered by local serial investors with a large exit.
With more than 160 companies and organizations as well as 3.600 people employed, Odense is considered one of the main robotics hubs in Europe and is one of the European cities, which occupies most people in the robotics industry per capita.
The city features a unique ecosystem consisting of companies, universities, research facilities and talent, which has fostered some very impressive results.
Further information
Martyna Waliszewska
Investment Manager - Investments
An engineer by trade, Odenseaner by heart. My focus lies within identifying investor-ready cases, developing our investor network of business angels, venture capital, and corporate venture capital, and bridging the investment gap. Ultimately, we are creating growth through investments in the robotics, drones, and automation industries.
+45 6115 3259
marwa@odense.dk
Connect
Rasmus Torpegaard Festersen
Investment manager - Robotics & drones
My drive is to help foreign companies in the robotics, drone, tech and automation industry to establish in Odense and connect them to relevant business partners and opportunities in the City of Odense. My background is within business, sports and leadership in tech – and my knowledge and network are there to help you.