Robotics startups pitched their technologies at Robotbrag in search of funding and pilot customers. In this article, hear from founders of O-Robotics and Kasparium – and from investor network Keystones.
The sky was blue, the startup tent buzzing with anticipation, and the agenda packed from morning till evening at this year’s Robotbrag at the Danish Technological Institute. Organized in collaboration with Odense Robotics StartUp Fund, the event gave early-stage startups a chance to present their technologies to investors, industry stakeholders, and potential partners.
O-Robotics’ autonomous sweeper
One of the startups pitching in the investor session was O-Robotics, represented by founder Alf Olsen. The company is developing a robotic outdoor sweeper, capable of clearing everything from moss, algae, and trash to autumn leaves and winter snow.
For Alf and his team, the pitching event was not just about visibility, but survival in a capital-intensive field:
“It’s really, really difficult to establish a hardware startup, especially something so complex as a robot. It requires a lot of capital. And the only way to get that is to establish good networks. You get that through pitching sessions like today.”
The next critical step for O-Robotics is to move out of the lab and into real-world settings:
“Our next big milestone is definitely to get pilot testing going with customers. We need to see how the robots actually work in the field.”
Kasparium: Modern warehouse automation
Also pitching was Kasparium, a startup tackling the problem of automating warehouses that don’t fit the standard mold. According to co-founder Morten Bitsch, current automation systems struggle with non-standard layouts and odd-sized inventory. Kasparium’s answer? A flexible, modular solution that can be deployed in low-ceiling environments and tailored to unique storage needs.
“Existing solutions on the market are not very good with odd-sized inventory,” Morten said. “We’re delivering a modular system that fits spaces where others don’t.”
“We’re looking for an investor to help us through this vulnerable stage where we have a product but are still finalizing client agreements,” Morten Bitsch explained. “And visibility. These events help us meet potential clients we wouldn’t otherwise reach.”
The investor lens: What Keystones looks for
Participating as both speaker and evaluator was Kenneth Larsen, CEO of Keystones, an investor networks for early-stage tech companies. He started the day by giving a talk on funding for startups, and later joined a panel about how to connect early investors with bigger venture funds.
“When we evaluate startups, we look at three main things: the team, the funding requirements, and whether the company is ready for the investor journey,” he explained.
“Even though investors are normally minority shareholders, they often require board positions or influence. You have to be ready to give up some sovereignty.”
Keystones prefers to get involved early, when there’s still an opportunity to support startups actively and contribute directly.
“We invest early, where you can actually be involved and use your skills to make a difference,” said Kenneth Larsen. “There’s also a chance of becoming an important part of the company — and possibly high returns, even though it’s high risk.”
A day built for connection
For founders like Alf and Morten, events like the pitching session help build the relationships early-stage startups rely on.
“There’s no way to develop something this complex alone,” Alf said. “Odense Robotics and events like this are critical. They make it easy to speak to other startups and say: Should we collaborate? Should we try to solve this together?”
“It’s helping small startups like us get the product to the right level and giving us great visibility — towards potential clients we’d usually have a hard time getting in touch with.”
The event was organised in collaboration between the Danish Technological Institute, Invest in Odense, Odense Robotics StartUp Fund, Nykredit, Keystones, Odense Robotics, and DIRA.