Join this lab visit as part of Nordic FinTech Week, with an optional tour of Kitchen's facilities after the program.

An industry-driven afternoon connecting research, innovation, and real-world financial practice within cybersecurity and fintech.

Cybersecurity in Fintech brings together research, startups, and the financial industry to explore how cybersecurity research translates into real-world fintech practice.

Get concrete insights into cybersecurity research, learn how research-based companies move from academia to market, and hear how their solutions are applied in the financial sector.

The event connects Aarhus University research, research-based spin-offs, and the financial industry to show how cybersecurity capabilities are built, scaled, and applied across the fintech ecosystem.

You will gain

• Insight into how cybersecurity research is turned into practical solutions.
• Real examples of research-based companies moving from academia to market.
• Use cases showing how cybersecurity solutions are applied in the financial sector.
• A broader understanding of how research, startups, and industry strengthen the fintech cybersecurity ecosystem.

You will meet

• Søren Skovgaard Bødker, Kitchen (AU) – on the new initiative, AU Cyber Center, the upcoming accelerator programme, and how the financial sector can take part in future research and industry collaborations.*
• Peter Frands Frandsen, COO & CTO & Co-founder of Partisia – sharing the path from academic research to a global cybersecurity company, with use cases from the financial sector.
• Prof. Anders Møller, Aarhus University, Co-Founder of Coana/Socket – on cybersecurity research, applied impact, and the journey behind Coana, including experiences working with US banks.

Who is this event for?

• Fintech startups and scaleups.
• Financial institutions and industry professionals.
• Technology leaders and security professionals.
• Founders, product owners, and decision-makers.
• Researchers and innovation-focused practitioners interested in applied cybersecurity.

The event is open to everyone interested, but the content is explicitly industry-focused and designed for practitioners rather than purely academic audiences.

Please specify upon registration whether you wish to participate in person or online.

Friday is for teaming up around ideas. Participants pitch fresh startup ideas, the room votes, and diverse teams of 4-6 people form around the strongest ones.

‍Saturday is for building and feedback: Teams spend the day validating, testing and iterating including 1:1 mentor feedback from experienced founders and operators.

‍Sunday is the final stretch. Teams refine their ideas, prepare their pitches and present to a panel of expert judges before the winners are announced.

Capital can be an important driver of growth, but the right type of financing depends on your company’s ambitions, maturity and strategy.

In this masterclass, you’ll get a practical and realistic introduction to the fundraising landscape and learn how to assess whether external funding is the right next step for your company.

Through workshops and exercises, you’ll work directly with your own company and leave with a concrete plan for financing and investor readiness. You’ll also gain insight into what investors actually look for when evaluating startups — and how to make your company more attractive to potential investors.

What you’ll get:

• A clear overview of different funding options, from bootstrapping and soft funding to business angels and venture capital.
• An understanding of when raising capital makes sense — and when it might not.
• A concrete fundraising strategy matched to your company’s needs, ambitions and stage of development.
• Insight into how investors make decisions and the criteria that determine whether they invest.
• An action plan for strengthening your investor readiness and preparing for conversations with investors.

Sign up if you’re considering raising capital or simply want to better understand your options before deciding on your next step.

The masterclass is held in collaboration with Tech Nordic Advocates and led by Jeanette Carlsson, CEO of Tech Nordic Advocates, and Thomas Marschall, former CEO of DanBAN and angel investor. Both have extensive experience helping Danish startups raise capital in Denmark and across Europe, and bring first-hand insight into the fundraising process and what investors look for.

What does it take to create the next leap in growth for the design and lifestyle industry?

At Lifestyle Growth 2026, you’ll meet ambitious companies looking to develop and scale their businesses. Watch selected companies pitch to a panel of investors and experienced business leaders, and gain new perspectives on growth, innovation and sustainable development.

‍

Follow as business models and growth potential are challenged and discussed, and get insight into both the opportunities and difficult questions that arise when a company is looking to grow. Emerging companies will also pitch their ideas for the audience talent award.

‍

This year’s expert panel is chaired by Christian Stadil, CEO of Thornico, and includes profiles from the lifestyle industry, entrepreneurship, innovation and investment, including representatives from DK Company, LoveMondays, Founderment, EIFO, Nordic Female Founders and Ferm Living.

‍

Lifestyle Growth is open to anyone curious about developments in the design and lifestyle industry and interested in getting closer to the ideas and companies shaping its future.

‍

Register for Lifestyle Growth

‍