Tivoli and CPH Airport have purchased award-winning technology

New technology from the start-up Simplewire, which provides an overview of complex electrical installations, won the Danish Tech Challenge 2021 after a pitch at Industriens Hus. Tivoli and CPH Airport have already placed orders with the company.

Just last week, Simplewire secured its first order with Tivoli. Shortly after, CPH Airport followed, potentially saving €6-7 million annually with new technology that rapidly provides an overview of complex electrical installations.

On Thursday evening at Industriens Hus, Simplewire and its three founders, Dennis True, Peter Tune, and Sasha Beck, also won the Danish Tech Challenge 2021.

- We have undergone an incredible maturation as a company, something we would not otherwise have achieved. In the Danish Tech Challenge, you become part of an impressive environment of skilled and helpful people, which has given us an invaluable network. Our next step is to begin collecting data from our customers, and our goal is to reach 35 customers in total this year. First, we need to raise half a million euros through a completely new investor group, while also needing expertise in production and scaling, say the delighted winners from Simplewire.

The electrical profession may be on the verge of revolution

The jury had the following words for this year’s winner:

“First and foremost, we would like to emphasise that we are deeply impressed with all the finalists – particularly their commercial maturity. Simplewire stands out because their technology has the potential to impact an entire industry. The working process of locating electrical installations and wiring in the electrical profession may be on the verge of a revolution. The technology is so simple that you are tempted to ask why it wasn’t invented sooner, and that is characteristic of the truly great inventions.”

Simplewire was in the final alongside Kombo Audio, Sincere Aquaculture, StaySeat, and WOHN, but throughout the process with the Danish Tech Challenge, it has been accompanied by a total of 20 entrepreneurs. Those who did not reach the final were Aerial Tools, AQ Feed, Blue Atlas Robotics, Brøg, Ceus, Exo360, GripWiq, HEMBOO, Hydrosafe, NAUST Robotics, Fionia Locker, Sensæ, StepUp Horse, VenomAID Diagnostics, and Viking Drone.

- Our foremost task is to help these startups. Over the past two years, hardware startups have been under considerable pressure, both in attracting talent but especially in the challenges within the supply chain that we see globally. Component shortages are hitting hard, but conversely, it is our task within the program to prepare them for a changing world and ensure that they have order in place early on, says Steen Donner, CEO of DTU Science Park, which has organised the Danish Tech Challenge in collaboration with Industriens Fond since 2014.

Impressive progress

Danish Tech Challenge is an intensive program that puts 20 startups through their paces in all areas of their business, so they can get to market faster. The program has created more than 1000 jobs and 250 new hardware products have been launched.

- Vejen fra den gode idé til den første ordre er lang for industrielle iværksættere. Med Danish Tech Challenge vil vi gerne hjælpe iværksætterne, så flere overlever og flere får succes – og det er faktisk lykkedes ret godt gennem mange år efterhånden. Det er imponerende, hvor hurtigt virksomhederne rykker sig, når de er med i Danish Tech Challenge. Vinderne fra Simplewire er et godt eksempel, men de andre deltagere har også taget store skridt i løbet af det seneste halve år. Uanset om det handler om ny teknologi, internationalisering, bæredygtig produktion eller noget helt fjerde, så er de her virksomheder klar til at tage kampen op og hele tiden forbedre sig. Det er glædeligt at se, siger Sten Scheibye, der er bestyrelsesformand i Industriens Fond.

The doors are now open

Sine Linderstrøm, newly appointed team leader for regulatory simplification, entrepreneurship and SME policy at DI, is enthusiastic about the breadth of represented startups.

- The range is impressive. Everything from technology to aquaculture, drones and a tool for measuring equine health. This bodes well for Denmark’s future, says Sine Linderstrøm.

She believes that Denmark has very good conditions for being the birthplace of many of the companies that will create future solutions.

- At the same time, we are seeing that many of the large, established companies are beginning to open their doors to collaboration with the startups. They need the innovation that startups bring in terms of becoming more digital and sustainable. For the individual startup, this can provide significant scaling opportunities. Therefore, we hope to see more of these win-win partnerships in the future, says Sine Linderstrøm.