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Building connections that move businesses forward
On 23 September 2026, entrepreneurs, partners and key players from across Copenhagen’s startup ecosystem came together at Copenhagen City Hall for StartUp Forum 2026.
The afternoon brought together inspiring keynote talks, honest founder stories and plenty of opportunities to meet, exchange perspectives and build new connections across the ecosystem.
From entrepreneurship and creativity to purpose-driven business and new ways of building companies, the programme offered different perspectives on what it takes to start, grow and develop a business in Copenhagen.
StartUp Forum also marked an important moment in this year’s StartUp Planet programme, which continues throughout 2026 with targeted entrepreneurship programmes, StartUp Talks and new opportunities to connect across Copenhagen’s startup ecosystem.
Speakers at StartUp Forum 2026
3:00 PM – 6:30 PM
The programme
StartUp Forum 2026 took place from 3:30-6:30 PM at Copenhagen City Hall. Throughout the afternoon, five speakers shared their perspectives and experiences, alongside networking, conversations and the traditional City Hall pancakes.
Doors opened
Time: 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Guests arrived, grabbed a coffee and found their seats before the programme began, with time to meet fellow entrepreneurs and make new connections.
1) Welcome
Our moderator, entrepreneur Katrine Lee Larsen, welcomed everyone to StartUp Forum and sat the scene for an afternoon dedicated to entrepreneurship, community and new connections.
2) Opening speech: Mette Reissmann
Member of the Copenhagen City Council, Mette Reissmann, opened StartUp Forum with her perspective on the importance of entrepreneurship and how Copenhagen can create strong conditions for entrepreneurs and new businesses.
3) Keynote: Nikolaj Koppel
From a career in music and media to building a podcast platform, Nikolaj Koppel shareed his journey into entrepreneurship. He reflected on changing direction, building something new and why strong networks and communities can make all the difference along the way.
4) Keynote: Oliver Maxwell
What can bees teach us about entrepreneurship and community? Oliver Maxwell shareed the story behind Bybi, a social enterprise connecting the city, its bees, people and businesses, all built around a simple North Star: meaningful work.
5) City Hall pancakes
No visit to Copenhagen City Hall is complete without the famous City Hall pancakes.
6) Keynote: Katrine Lee Larsen
Katrine Lee Larsen swapped the moderator role for the founder’s perspective. Drawing on her own entrepreneurial journey and her current work with Even Founders, she shared why having the right people and communities around you can be crucial when building a business.
7) Keynote: Erin Chapman
From advertising and art direction to opening Denmark’s first authentic pie shop, Erin Chapman shared the entrepreneurial journey behind The Pie Co. and the ups and downs of building a food business in the heart of Copenhagen.
8) Networking Session
The stage programme ended, but StartUp Forum continued. Participants met other entrepreneurs, exchanged experiences and ideas, and connected with people from across Copenhagen’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Questions?
Contact us on startupplanet@dkiv.dk if you have any questions about the event.
1
Mette Reissmann
Member of the Copenhagen City Council for the Social Democratic Party and former Member of the Danish Parliament, where she served as spokesperson on trade and industry. With extensive experience in business and politics, Mette Reissmann brings a strong focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and creating better conditions for businesses in Copenhagen.
2
Nikolaj Koppel
Co-founder of Podimo and former concert pianist, Nikolaj Koppel has built a career spanning music, media and entrepreneurship. After leaving classical music, he moved into journalism and broadcasting before co-founding the Copenhagen-based audio platform Podimo in 2019, where he currently serves as Country Manager.
3
Oliver Maxwell
Anthropologist and founder of Bybi, a Copenhagen-based social enterprise bringing people, businesses and urban nature together through bees. Since launching Bybi, Oliver Maxwell has worked to create meaningful collaborations across social and professional backgrounds, using bees as a way to rethink our relationship with the city, nature and each other.
4
Katrine Lee Larsen
Entrepreneur and founder of Copenhagen Cartel, a purpose-driven clothing company created with a focus on challenging traditional production and consumption patterns. After building and selling Copenhagen Cartel to Magasin, Katrine Lee Larsen joined the board of Even Founders, an organisation working to support more women in building businesses.
5
Erin Chapman
Co-founder and Creative Director of The Pie Co., Erin Chapman traded a career in advertising and art direction for entrepreneurship and a lifelong passion for food. Since opening Denmark’s first authentic pie shop in Copenhagen in 2015, she has become one of Denmark’s best-known pie experts, with appearances on Den Store Bagedyst and Go’ morgen Danmark.
StartUp Forum was just the beginning
StartUp Forum 2026 marked the beginning of this year’s StartUp Planet activities. Throughout 2026, StartUp Planet brings together entrepreneurs, partners and organisations through targeted entrepreneurship programmes, StartUp Talks and new opportunities to learn, connect and grow.
StartUp Planet is created by Danske Iværksættere in collaboration with Copenhagen Municipality and partners across the startup ecosystem.
Find Copenhagen City Hall
Getting to StartUp Forum
Getting to StartUp Forum is easy. Copenhagen City Hall is located in the heart of the city and is well connected by public transport, with Metro, buses and Copenhagen Central Station all just a short walk away. If you’re cycling, you’ll find plenty of bike parking nearby.
If you’re arriving by car, please note that parking around City Hall is limited. We recommend using the paid public parking garage at Dansk Industri, located just across the street from City Hall.
The event room “Festsalen” is easy to find on the second floor of the City Hall overlooking the City Hall Square.
Sign up for StartUp Forum
Sign-ups for StartUp Forum have closed.
- Date: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
- Time: 3PM–6.30PM (15.00–18.30)
- Address: Rådhuspladsen 1, 1553 København K
- Price: Free admission (limited seats)
- Event language: English