Case

Entrepreneurs moving to Denmark to scale their defense start-up

Case

Entrepreneurs moving to Denmark to scale their defense start-up

Their dream is to protect NATO and allied soldiers so that they can return home safely to their families. While the dream started in Norway, the founders moved to Odense to realise the idea. 

When

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Why Blinktroll chose Odense, Denmark

With the Odense Robotics StartUp Fund granted, they have been part of the incubator at the Danish Technological Institute. In Odense, they have received guidance and practical sparring to strengthen both business and technology. And the decision to move the company's activities from Norway to Odense is one that the founders have not regretted.

"In Odense, we sense a real willingness to work with defense start-ups. This has helped us advance our mission of creating life-saving technology for frontline soldiers of the free world, now urgently needed in Ukraine."

Øystein Hatlestad Hovland

Co-founder and COO of BlinkTroll

After moving to Denmark, Blinktroll, has a solid product, a growing team and a clear ambition to scale. They have designed a flexible system where shooting targets are attached to a robot, which is tensioned on a rope and operated via a tablet. During their time in Odense, they have refined their technology and laid the foundation for scaling.

The company has grown to more than 20 employees, and the product, the BlinkTroll Moving Target System, has already been sold in several European countries, including to special forces from different NATO member countries with more than 10,000 soldiers and police officers trained on the system.  

"We have made the training system more robust, gained access to a fantastic network and saved valuable development time by learning from others who have faced the same challenges."

Øystein Hatlestad Hovland

Co-founder and COO of BlinkTroll

The goal is to give each and every soldier and police officer the training tools they deserve, so they can do their jobs as well, efficiently and safely as possible. BlinkTroll would like to increase sales to NATO and allied countries and expand their product range. 

"In NATO, there are more than three million soldiers or police officers who have been asked to carry weapons to ensure our internal and external security. Our goal is to give each and every one of them the training tools they deserve."

Kenneth Skorpen

Founder of Blinktroll

Blinktroll will continue to support military units in the field and help shape the next generation of European defense technology. The company recently secured an investment of 1.5 million € to accelerate development, scale production and bring the technology to more of the European defense forces. Even if the company now has left the incubator, they see a value in being close to the network and ecosystem in Odense, and plan to create an impact for the soldiers on the front lines and for the free world from here.

“We feel there is a shared interest in our success, and that gives us a strong sense of support.”

Øystein Hatlestad Hovland

Co-founder and COO of BlinkTroll

Get in touch

Want to leran more about the robotics ecossystem in Denmark?

Invest in Denmark of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides free-of-charge, confidential and tailor-made solutions for foreign companies looking to set up a new business in Denmark or expand an existing one. Please contact one of our experts below.

Copenhagen

  • Sarina Lohmann

    Title: Special Advisor – Maritime and transport – Analysis & Partnerships

    Area: Copenhagen

    Phone: +4533920423

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