Financial Times shortlists Odense Robotics StartUp Fund as one of Europe’s best startup hubs

Today, Financial Times and Sifted have published a list of Europe’s top startup hubs and accelerator programmes in collaboration with the analytics agency Statista. The Odense Robotics StartUp Fund and its incubator at Danish Technological Institute are collectively ranked 36 on the list, which features a total of 125 hubs from 21 European countries. 

“Many stakeholders have worked long and hard to provide the best conditions for robotics and drone startups to thrive as part of the robotics ecosystem here in Odense, Denmark. We have long known that we have a strong setup in Odense Robotics StartUp Fund and the incubator at Danish Technological Institute. With this new ranking from Financial Times, it’s now official that we are one of the top hubs for robotics and drone startups in Europe. It is a validation of the fund’s unique offering and the result of the strong collaboration within the Danish robotics ecosystem,” says Søren Elmer Kristensen, CEO of Odense Robotics. 

Odense Robotics StartUp Fund offers robotics and drone startups from Denmark and abroad access to capital, unique industry knowledge and an internationally recognised incubation environment at the Danish Technological Institute in Odense. Startups also receive coaching and mentoring from business and technical experts, as well as from the fund’s founders, who are among some of the most respected business leaders and investors in Denmark’s robotics industry. It’s a successful recipe that turns innovation into business. 

“We wish to make the journey from idea to go-to-market technology easier for robotics entrepreneurs. We are incredibly proud of this international recognition together with our partners at Odense Robotics. Leveraging the expertise of the Technological Institute’s robotics specialists and innovation facilities in a way that attracts not only Denmark’s best robot ideas but also those beyond the country’s borders benefits not only new companies but our entire society,” says Director Anne-Lise Høg Lejre from the Danish Technological Institute. 

More than 2,000 hubs in Europe have been invited to participate in the ranking. They were subsequently awarded a score based on evaluations from alumni, investors, entrepreneurs and researchers. Alumni were asked to assess based on the following criteria: mentors, business development support, networking, funding, infrastructure and guidance on legal matters. 

Check out Financial Times report on Europe’s leading startup hubs here.