Imagine stepping into a massive former steam locomotive workshop buzzing with energy, where thousands of tech enthusiasts mingle effortlessly like old friends around a cozy fireplace. This isn't your typical tech conference; it's TechBBQ in Copenhagen, a place where the Danish concept of "hygge," meaning cozy contentment, seamlessly blends with cutting-edge innovation.
I discovered firsthand how this event breaks down barriers, fosters genuine connections and reminds us that being our authentic selves is the key to finding our people—even in a crowd of thousands.
Fostering community over competition
In 2012, a small group of entrepreneurs in Denmark came together to found TechBBQ. Their goal was to create a space where tech innovators could connect, share ideas, inspire one another and support each other's business growth, thereby nurturing the then-emerging startup ecosystem.
The conference has grown significantly from its humble beginnings as a barbeque in a Copenhagen community park. It’s now a “hyggelig” two-day tech conference with thousands of attendees and participants, including startups, investors, speakers, media and more.
Yet their purpose is still intertwined with building communities, which was clear from my experience at this year’s conference, as well as on their website.
“TechBBQ exists to support and strengthen the Nordic startup-ecosystem. We build communities and foster growth for startups and scaleups based on the Nordic values of overcoming egos, barriers and promoting openness, trust and inclusion.”
They don’t gatekeep. They foster community.
Being my authentic self and finding my people
I experienced this welcome embrace firsthand when I applied for press credentials. At the time I applied, Digital Entrepreneur was just a landing page, and I had no bylines in tech or business writing. I was truthful about where we were at and the kinds of stories we sought. I figured a major conference would reject someone unproven like me. A couple of weeks later, I was delighted to receive a press pass.
Fast forward several months later and I’m holding a glass of sparkling water at the pre-launch party for the media and participating speakers. I’m an extrovert at heart, and I can talk to anyone about anything, but I was nervous.
I circled the room and stood awkwardly at the periphery of a couple of conversations. I didn’t want to interrupt people deep in discussion, so I scanned the room for someone who was also on their own.
I introduced myself to a woman at a high table, and we found common ground in our passion for uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community. Soon, another entrepreneur introduced himself and we discussed the challenges of LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs. Then a beauty tech founder passed by, complimented the entrepreneur’s hairstyle and spurred a passionate conversation about each of our curly hair journeys.
From the serious to the silly, TechBBQ created digital and physical spaces that allowed for intimate and authentic conversations. If you showed up with your full self, you could find your people. Even among thousands of conference-goers.
TechBBQ’s digital space facilitated this connectivity with their conference networking app, Brella. A couple weeks before the conference started, I registered and highlighted some of my interests across the tech field. I got some interesting messages–including a few from founders–which turned into riveting in-person conversations about their startups.
I spoke with Filip Carlberg, co-founder of Bru which is turning tea brewing on its head, as well as to Emma Kettunen from Wave Ventures, a student-run venture capital firm that funds student initiatives. I learned about Tryp, a travel booking site that’s looking to disrupt the monopoly of that industry and spoke with Henrik Johansson, a former professional poker player and co-founder of Temple, which aims to help young people become homeowners and reach financial independence. We’ll be sharing content from many of these folks in the coming months.
Intentional energy investments
I was feeling a lot of FOMO (fear of missing out) right from the start, with several talks vying for my attention. Given that I had spent the past year and a half recovering from a very serious burnout, I naturally gravitated toward a session called “Mind Matters: Mental Health as Foundational to a Thriving Ecosystem.” It featured a group of founders, writers and scientists sharing their views on how startups could be more inclusive and equitable by putting mental health at the center of the conversation. The buzzing of hundreds of overlapping conversations faded away when I put on a wireless headset and joined the hundreds of other attendees listening in on the presentations. I felt like I was right there with the speakers on stage.
Writer and feminist activist Emma Holten called out tech companies for their lack of female talent. She spoke passionately, saying if they wanted to hire more women, they should implement policies that are flexible and supportive of those who may be the primary caregivers in a household. I was also struck by remarks from Dr. Wizdom Powell, Chief Meaning Officer at Headspace, who declared that “rest is resistance,” encouraging us all to “microdose on rest.”
I loved her ethos and wanted to talk more, so I sent her a quick connection request on LinkedIn. I assumed she’d follow up with me after the conference, or that it’d get lost in the LinkedIn inbox blackhole. Instead, she came looking for me in the Media Lounge.
We had a long and intimate conversation over lunch discussing mental health and wellbeing across the spectrum of our respective personal and professional experiences.
Leave the gates wide open
One of the most refreshing aspects of TechBBQ was its dedication to inclusivity and openness. There were many official networking events featuring affinity groups. I attended a breakfast hosted by a group of LGBTQIA+ founders and venture capitalists who discussed the challenges we face, alongside the unique opportunities we have access to, as members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
For entrepreneurs, building inclusive communities that break down barriers and invite collaboration is key to long-term success. TechBBQ minimizes gatekeeping to allow for that diversity and possibility.
A healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem thrives when everyone has a seat at the table. And if there aren’t enough chairs? Bring your own.Barrak Alzaid
Remember when I mentioned I’d included my various interests in tech on the Brella app? Well, Monique R reached out to me because I’d included sextech and femtech. Monique R founded SexTech Nordics to foster idea exchange among diverse professionals, advancing sexual health and creating more inclusive spaces. Their unofficial side event gathered over a hundred people at a nearby outdoor spot, serving as a welcome respite from the hubbub of the conference venue.
This year’s theme at TechBBQ was “One Giant Leap”, and as they explain, “Our collective future hinges on the power of collaboration and innovation. The startup ecosystem is where that happens. It’s the founders, investors, accelerators and community players (and more) who are willing to think big, take risks and be the active change agents in shaping our futures.”
Cross-cultural innovation starts with open, meaningful conversations.
Whether they happen in online forums or communities, more formal networking events and conferences, or even simple coffee dates–reaching out to others and sharing your interests, challenges and passions can connect you with like-minded individuals. Fostering these connections can lead to deep, impactful dialogues that lead to collaboration and innovation.