Try to imagine a generic startup. Beanie bags, free lunches, pool/foosball tables, open spaces, in-doors gym, people in hoodies, branded “swag”, arcade machines, crystal walls, bicycles, and free transportation might be some of the things that come to mind. While all startups certainly are different, we have become used to thinking about them as a “monolith” of sorts.
With startups being all about disruption, it was only natural that this idea also applied to reimagining the workplace and how it is done. Not only does this allow startups to foster creativity and innovation but also to secure top talent by offering unique perks like private chefs, free transportation, or a “separate professionally catered micro-kitchen.”
While this approach would have seemed like madness 3 decades ago, startups have proven this approach to wellness to be extremely effective. Startups like Google, Apple, and Facebook became the giants they are today by attracting top talent with the offer of well-being. This idea falls under the concept of Hygge, a word used by the Norwegian and Danish to refer to the creation of a “warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people.”
It is not a surprise that Denmark has become an increasingly popular destination for founders looking to build their startups. Not only is the country’s culture of Hygge extremely synergetic with startup culture but it is also one of the easiest countries to do business, produces more unicorns per capita than any other country, and is one of the most digital societies in the world. The country has also made efforts to attract conferences and events specially catered to startups, with TechBBQ’s “PR & Press Panel Pitch”.
First envisioned in 2021 by Danish entrepreneurs, TechBBQ is one of the biggest tech events in all of Europe with more than 6,000 attendees. The events see entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, and experts from all around the globe meet to discuss the latest trends, network, learn, and help shape the future. The 2022 edition of the event will also see five local companies (three startups and two scaleups) pitching to a strong lineup of internationally recognized journalists.
This one-of-a-kind “PR & Press Panel Pitch” will not only allow the companies to get their individual stories far and beyond but also receive specialized feedback from the panel. Attendees, on the other hand, will get to know more about the companies’ stories, as well as their team’s experiences and insights. The pitching order has already been drawn and will take place as follows:
- Seaborg Technologies — Navid Samandari, Executive Chairman
- Farmdroid – Eddie Pedersen, European Sales Manager
- Stykka – Jarl Engelbrecht Vindnæs, Founder
- ATLANT 3D Nanosystems – Maksym Plakhotnyuk, Founder & CEO
- Blue Lobster – Christine Hebert, Founder & CEO
The journalist panel will see some of the biggest names covering startups in the world of journalism. Not only are these people familiar with the latest trends in the space but they also possess first-hand experience through their connections and own entrepreneurial efforts: Morgan Meaker, Amala Balakrishner, Rob Pegoraro, Niels Lunde, and Jordan French.
Morgan Meaker is a senior writer at WIRED covering European business. Before that, she was a technology reporter at The Telegraph and also worked for the Dutch magazine De Correspondent. Her work has been recognized by several awards, including Technology Journalist of the Year at the Words by Women Awards. She was also selected as one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 working in European media.
Amala Balakrishner is a business journalist who reports primarily on venture capital, private equity, macroeconomic trends, and financial markets. Highlights of her work include reporting on the Singapore Budgets in 2019, 2020, and 2021, the Covid-19 multi-ministerial taskforce’s policies, and the court trial on the 2013 penny stock crash. Most recently, she was named the Most Promising Journalist of The Year by the Securities Investors’ Association (Singapore).
Rob Pegoraro writes about computers, gadgets, telecom, social media, apps, and other things that beep or blink. He answers consumer questions at USA Today, covers tech policy at PCMag and Fast Company, offers telecom guidance at Wirecutter, and holds forth about tech topics on radio, TV, podcasts, and the occasional conference. He has met most of the founders of the Internet and once received a single-word email reply from Steve Jobs.
Niels Lunde is the Chief Editor at the Danish business daily, Børsen. A celebrated writer and speaker, he’s the host of the podcast: “Topchefernes strategi.” With more than 20 years of experience as a journalist, Nielshas seen the world of startups grow from its humble beginnings and can provide unique insights into where it is heading.
Jordan French is an award-winning journalist and the Executive Editor at Grit Daily News, his sixth company. Following work as an engineer and a two-year stint as an enforcement attorney at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, French grew his first company (both as CEO and COO) to Fast 50 and Inc. 500 rankings and his first exit/buy out.
TechBBQ will take place between Tuesday, 13 September 2022 – Thursday, 15 September 2022 at Copenhagen SV, Denmark. If you are interested in joining the “PR & Press Panel Pitch”, you will be able to do so on Wednesday, 14 September 2022 at 11:51 AM. You can find more information about the event here.
