CakeUp - Custom Cakes & Events in Copenhagen

CakeUp had the opportunity to attend Bato Summit 2026 in Helsinki, an inspiring gathering of founders, investors, and startup enthusiasts from across the Nordic region.

Traveling from Copenhagen to Helsinki, it was exciting to be part of a community of entrepreneurs who share a common goal, building meaningful ventures and strengthening the Nepali startup ecosystem globally.

The summit brought together 150+ Nepali and international founders, investors, and professionals based in Finland and across the Nordics. Through keynote talks, panel discussions, networking sessions, and startup showcases, the event explored the Nordic investment and innovation landscape while highlighting powerful stories from the Nepali entrepreneurial community.

Building the Nepali Entrepreneurial Mindset

The theme of Bato Summit 2026 was “Building the Nepali entrepreneurial mindset.”

Despite the strong talent and ambition within the Nepali community, the entrepreneurial scene for Nepalese in the Nordics and Europe is still very early-stage and relatively limited. Too few people pursue entrepreneurship, start companies, or actively engage with the startup and investment ecosystem.

Bato Summit exists to change that narrative by encouraging founders to take bold steps, share their journeys, and build stronger connections within the ecosystem.

A Room Full of Ideas, Stories, and Ambition

One of the most inspiring aspects of the summit was the diversity of founders and ideas.

Entrepreneurs from different industries shared their journeys, from early struggles to building scalable startups. Some founders were building technology platforms, others were creating innovative services, while some were exploring impact-driven ventures.

What stood out the most was the honesty and openness in these conversations. Founders spoke about the challenges of starting from scratch, navigating new markets, and building businesses abroad.

The discussions went beyond just business topics. They explored:

building startups as immigrants
navigating international markets
the realities of early-stage entrepreneurship
and the importance of strong communities and networks

These conversations made the summit not only informative but also deeply motivating.

Sharing CakeUp’s Journey

For CakeUp, attending the summit was an opportunity to share our journey as a growing bakery business in Copenhagen.

CakeUp began with a simple passion for baking and gradually evolved into a business focused on custom celebration cakes and desserts designed to make special moments memorable.

While Copenhagen is known for its incredible pastry culture, we noticed that options for custom celebration cakes were surprisingly limited. That small observation became the starting point for CakeUp.

At the summit, CakeUp had the opportunity to present this journey — from a simple idea to a growing bakery serving customers in Copenhagen — and receive valuable feedback from experienced founders and jury members.

Learning from the Startup Community

Another highlight of the summit was meeting Nepali founders building companies across Europe and the Nordics.

Each founder had a unique story, but the determination and ambition were shared by everyone in the room. Listening to their experiences reinforced an important idea: entrepreneurship is rarely a solo journey.

The insights shared by speakers, founders, and jury members on market validation, scaling businesses, and building sustainable ventures were incredibly valuable.

Why Events Like This Matter

For businesses and founders, especially those building companies abroad, community and connection are essential.

Events like Bato Summit create opportunities for entrepreneurs to learn from each other, exchange ideas, and support one another’s growth. They encourage more people within the community to explore entrepreneurship and engage with the startup ecosystem.

Looking Ahead

CakeUp is grateful to the Bato team and organizers for creating such a meaningful platform and bringing together founders from across the Nordic region.

Returning to Copenhagen, we brought back new ideas, fresh motivation, and a deeper appreciation for the founder community.

Experiences like Bato Summit remind us that entrepreneurship is not only about building businesses, it is also about sharing stories, supporting each other, and inspiring the next generation of founders.

- CakeUp