At TechBBQ in Copenhagen
Africa today is an emerging market with a large young population and growing access to technology. With vast opportunities for collaboration between Nordic investor ecosystems and African startup ecosystems, the inaugural Nordic–Africa Startup Summit provided a platform to exchange ideas and innovative approaches, address challenges within startup ecosystems, and explore how to capitalize on Africa’s growth. We find out from Golda Kamara what happens when you bring together a dynamic mix of startup founders from Lagos, Nairobi, and Kigali; Nordic investors looking for scalable, impactful ventures, policymakers from Denmark, the African Union, and diaspora leaders!
Post-Summit Interview with Golda Fania Kamara, Founder MAWA Health Ltd.
IA: Why did you want to attend and be part of this event?
Golda: I wanted to be part of the inaugural Nordic–Africa Startup Summit because I knew it would be a historic moment for the Nordics. Too often, Africa–Nordic relations are framed in silos, aid, trade, or policy, but this gathering cut across all those lines to focus on innovation, startups, and real partnerships. For me, it was important to bring a Diaspora African perspective into that conversation and to help shape how these ecosystems connect in meaningful ways.
IA: Can you tell us a bit about what you do, your work?
Golda: My work sits at the intersection of digital health, innovation, and diaspora engagement. I founded a digital health consultancy, MAWA Health Ltd, designed to co-build the infrastructure of digital health in Africa. I also established the Nordic–Africa Diaspora Collective, building a community of diaspora professionals focused on Nordic–West Africa relations.
In short, I try to create the bridges that connect African talent, innovation, and institutions with global opportunities, ensuring impact flows both ways.
IA: Can you tell us a bit about your participation in this event?
Golda: I attended TechBBQ 2025 both as a participant and as a bridge-builder, moderating the panel on Diaspora Founders. I joined other panels, engaged in networking sessions, and listened closely to the Nordic and African founders in the room.
I also partnered with Intro:Africa to spotlight the event’s narratives, helping ensure the stories from this summit reach beyond Copenhagen.
IA: What were some of the highlights or favourite parts you experienced?
Golda: For me, the highlight was seeing seasoned African founders and changemakers on stage with their Nordic counterparts, on equal footing. It wasn’t framed as “aid” or “charity”; it was framed as business, as innovation, as collaboration.
I also loved how the conversations about funding, diaspora roles, and cross-border partnerships became very real and personal.
IA: Can you give us a glimpse into who was in the room and who did you meet?
Golda: The room was a dynamic mix: startup founders from Lagos, Nairobi, and Kigali; Nordic investors looking for scalable, impactful ventures; policymakers from Denmark and the African Union; and diaspora leaders like myself. I met entrepreneurs working on agritech, cleantech, fintech, and healthcare, people whose innovations could change both African and Nordic markets.
IA: Having attended some talks yourself, do you have 1 or 2 key takeaways to share here?
Golda: One big takeaway is that the Nordic region is beginning to see Africa not as a risk but as an opportunity, a new investment frontier for green transition, digital solutions, and emerging consumer markets.
Another is that African founders are increasingly confidently insisting on equal partnership terms. The language has shifted from dependency to collaboration, which is a very encouraging sign.
IA: What do you think is the main power or benefit of a gathering like this?
Golda: The power lies in closing the distance between the tech ecosystems. Suddenly, a startup founder from Accra can sit across the table from a Nordic venture capitalist, or a Minister from Nigeria can hear directly from diaspora professionals in the Nordics about what works and what doesn’t. These encounters speed up trust, which is the foundation for any long-term partnership.
IA: Anything you would like to see more of?
Golda: I’d like to see more African voices not just participating but shaping the agenda, especially women founders and leaders from the continent. And more follow-through. Events are powerful, but the real impact comes when the connections forged here translate into investment deals, joint ventures, and long-term collaborations.
IA: Which outcomes would you like to see coming from this event?
Golda: I’d love to see memorandums of understanding (MoUs), trade missions, and collaborative projects emerging over the next 12 months. It would be a success if, by next year, we could point to concrete partnerships, whether in clean energy, fintech, or healthcare, that were seeded in this room.
IA: Who do you think could benefit from knowing about this event and attending?
Golda: Diaspora professionals, without a doubt. They’re natural bridges between the two regions. But also Nordic SMEs who may not yet have Africa on their radar. This event can show them that Africa isn’t just a future market; it’s a present-day opportunity. And of course, African founders and young leaders, who can gain both capital and partners by engaging in these conversations.
