Global outlook and local investments meet at Aarhus Investor Summit

On Thursday, October 9, more than 200 investors, founders and partners will gather at Aarhus Investor Summit 2025 in Aarhus City Hall. This year’s theme focuses on the US – a market that for decades has been the most attractive for European startups, but which today requires greater preparation and strategic courage than before.

This year’s headline is “The US Shift – What it means for Europe’s investors and founders”. With rising trade barriers, geopolitical tensions and changing capital flows, the summit raises the question: How can European founders seize opportunities in the US and when is the time right to take the leap?

Among the keynote speakers is Professor Peter Viggo Jakobsen from the Royal Danish Defense College, who will set the stage with a presentation on the security situation and the US role in the world order – and how political decisions and geopolitical conflicts can affect European investments and businesses.

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“The US economy, security policy and technological dominance are increasingly affecting the conditions for European entrepreneurs and investors. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the long-term movements in the relationship between the US and Europe – and how we can best position ourselves,” says Peter Viggo Jakobsen.

A hub for the East Jutland ecosystem

The program also features panel discussions on opportunities and challenges in the US market, interviews with founders in the middle of a US expansion and presentations of new venture funds based in Aarhus.

One of the highlights is the recurring One-Minute Madness, where selected startups pitch their business on stage before the day concludes with the announcement of the winners of the INCUBA Award 2025: Startup of the Year and Investor of the Year.

“As an investor, Aarhus Investor Summit is a unique opportunity to meet strong founders on home turf. Last year I heard Cernel pitch on stage – today I’m an investor in the company myself. It shows the value of gathering so many sharp startups and investors in the same room,” says Stefan Rosenlund, who at this year’s summit is in the final field to win the Investor of the Year award.

Aarhus Investor Summit has previously formed the basis for concrete investments, and according to the organizers, it is precisely the combination of networking, inspiration and capital that makes the summit a meeting point for the East Jutland ecosystem.

“The Summit has become an annual milestone for both investors and startups. This is where we get new perspectives on the big global agendas, while making concrete connections that can lead to investment and growth. Aarhus is doing well – both with the development of new cases and with the ecosystem itself – and Aarhus Investor Summit helps support this positive development. With this year’s focus on the US, we want to highlight the challenges and opportunities that matter most to founders and investors right now,” says Jacob Doktor Mogensen, CEO of INCUBA.