Nordic House Cape Town

13/03/2026

Another Nordic Second Thursdays done and dusted, and possibly one of the hottest ones yet. Literally. ☀️

Despite Cape Town temperatures pushing well beyond 40°C, the Nordic House community still showed up with incredible energy, curiosity, and openness. The result was another vibrant evening of connection and conversation.

It was wonderful to see all Nordic countries represented, alongside a growing international crowd, with a continually growing number of younger professionals (which we love!) and, as always, new faces joining the community for the first time.

As always, the room quickly filled with meaningful conversations, new friendships, and promising business connections beginning to take shape.

This is exactly what Nordic House is all about: bringing people together, creating opportunity, and building bridges between cultures, industries, and ideas.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped create the magic once again.

And of course, a special thank you to the incredible team at Chef's Warehouse Canteen for taking such wonderful care of us.

We are already looking forward to the next one.

12/03/2026

Innovation can come from anywhere. Sometimes, it comes from a 16-year-old in Limpopo.

South African teenager Bohlale Mphahlele has captured global attention after inventing the “Alerting Earpiece”, a safety device designed to alert users to potential threats.

Stories like this remind us that innovation is not only born in laboratories or large companies. It often begins with curiosity, creativity, and a determination to solve real problems.

At Nordic House, we believe strongly in the power of ideas, collaboration, and cross-border innovation between the Nordics and Africa. When young minds are empowered to create solutions that improve safety and quality of life, it shows exactly why investing in talent, education, and entrepreneurship matters.

Africa is full of extraordinary thinkers and builders. The world is starting to notice.

Well done, Bohlale. The future looks bright.

Find out more here - https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/from-schoolgirl-to-safety-pioneer-bohlale-mphahlele-is-building-a-safer-sa/

11/03/2026

Nordic Second Thursdays are tomorrow!

After a busy start to the year in Cape Town, we are gathering again for our monthly Nordic Second Thursdays, this time back in our usual home at Chefs Warehouse Canteen on Bree Street.

These evenings have become a simple but powerful tradition in the Nordic House calendar. Once a month, people from across our Nordic–South African community come together for good conversations, familiar faces, and new introductions.

No panels.

No formal agenda.

Just a room full of interesting people and the kind of conversations that tend to lead somewhere.

- Date: Thursday, March 12th
- Time: From 18:00 onwards
- Venue: Chefs Warehouse & Canteen, 91 Bree Street, Cape Town
- Entry: Free. Simply pay for your own drinks.

You might come to reconnect with someone you met at a previous event, meet new people in the Nordic community, or explore opportunities across business, investment, travel, technology, hospitality, and beyond.

It is relaxed, open, and always a good evening.

Come and say hello, bring a friend, and join us for another Nordic Second Thursday in Cape Town.

27/02/2026

What a few weeks it has been in Cape Town!

The city has been buzzing with creativity, conversation and connection as Cape Town Furniture Week continues to grow into something truly meaningful on the global design calendar.

We are incredibly proud of our founder, Laura Lykkegaard, for her successful engagement at The Sofa Company event last week. The room was full, the dialogue was thoughtful, and the presence of Danish design felt right at home here in South Africa.

There is something powerful about seeing a Danish brand show up locally and nationally. It speaks to long-term commitment, to collaboration, and to the growing relationship between the Nordics and Africa.

Year by year, the energy builds. The conversations deepen. The platform strengthens. And the city continues to prove why it is such a compelling meeting point for global design, business and culture.

Moments like these remind us why Nordic House exists. To connect people. To create meaningful bridges. And to support the individuals and brands who are shaping what comes next.

24/02/2026

2025 Corruption Perceptions Index — Nordic Leadership in Integrity!

The latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025 from Transparency International highlights a remarkable Nordic success story. The CPI assesses perceived levels of public-sector corruption across 182 countries, scoring from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

Despite systemic challenges to transparency worldwide and a global average score that has dropped to 42, the Nordic countries stand out for their unwavering commitment to clean governance and accountability.

🇩🇰 Denmark tops the global ranking with an outstanding score of 89/100, the least corrupt country in the world.
🇫🇮 Finland closely follows at 88/100, securing second place globally.
🇳🇴 Norway ranks among the top performers with 81/100,
🇸🇪 Sweden also sits firmly in the top tier with 80/100,
🇮🇸 Iceland rounds out the Nordic presence in the top 10 with 77/100.

This achievement, all five Nordic nations placing in the top ten globally, underscores the strength of robust institutions, high standards of public accountability, and governance rooted in transparency.

Read the full CPI 2025 report here: https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025

18/02/2026

Join the most valuable (and largest!) Nordic network in Africa.

Nordic House connects Nordic and African business leaders, entrepreneurs, creative thinkers and professionals through meaningful relationships, curated introductions and high-impact events.

As a member, you gain:

- Access to a powerful Nordic–African business network
- Invitations to exclusive events and workshops
- Strategic introductions and enhanced visibility
- Access to our member loyalty programme and community platforms

Whether you are expanding into Africa, strengthening Nordic ties, or building new partnerships, Nordic House provides the platform and the people to accelerate your growth.

We offer Standard and Premium membership options to suit different levels of engagement.

Interested in deeper collaboration? Ask us about our Preferred Partner Programme.

Learn more here and apply via our website: https://www.nordichouse.co.za/memberships

13/02/2026

What an evening at our February Nordic Second Thursday!

Despite the surprisingly chilly Cape Town weather, Incognito was packed to the rafters as members and guests came together to connect, collaborate, and celebrate this incredible community.

A heartfelt thank you to Investec for generously spoiling us with exceptional drinks and delicious food. Your continued support makes these gatherings truly special.

And thank you to Incognito at The Alphen Boutique Hotel & Spa for hosting us in such a beautiful space. It was the perfect setting for an evening of meaningful conversation and new beginnings.

We welcomed wonderful new paying members, sparked exciting collaborations, and saw countless new connections take shape. This is exactly what Nordic House is about: creating opportunities and building bridges between people, ideas and industries.

To everyone who joined us, thank you. Your energy is what makes this network so powerful.

We are already looking forward to seeing you next month, on March 12th!

12/02/2026

Today is a truly proud moment for Nordic House!

We are honoured to share that our Founder, Laura Lykkegaard, has been officially appointed Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Denmark in Cape Town and the Western Cape by HM King Frederik X.

For decades, Laura has been building trusted bridges between Denmark and South Africa through business, diplomacy, and community. This appointment is a powerful recognition of that commitment and of the impact she continues to make across both regions.

With sincere thanks to Ambassador Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone, Ambassador Karin Poulsen, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark for their trust, Laura steps into this role focused on supporting Danes living in the region, welcoming visitors to our remarkable corner of the world, and further strengthening the connection between Denmark and the beautiful tip of Africa.

We could not be prouder.

Read the official announcement from the Embassy of Denmark in South Africa here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUoA6uLjQ9b/?igsh=MXd3ajcwdGNwN3lwMw==

08/02/2026

The Nordic House Preferred Partner Programme.

At Nordic House, our Preferred Partners are not sponsors. They are trusted collaborators.

We partner with carefully selected individuals, scale-ups and established enterprises across a wide range of industries whose products and services we genuinely believe in, actively use, and confidently recommend. These are businesses we fully stand behind, putting our name and brand behind theirs, because we know the value they deliver.

Our Preferred Partners play a meaningful role in helping our members grow, operate better, and exceed their goals. In return, they become part of a highly connected, engaged Nordic and international business community built on trust, quality and long-term relationships.

If you would like to:

- Learn more about Nordic House membership
- Explore our existing Preferred Partners
- Or understand what it means to become a Nordic House Preferred Partner

We would love to hear from you. Meaningful partnerships start with conversations.

Reach out to us to learn more: hello@nordichouse.co.za

05/02/2026

Cape Town on the global sustainability stage!

We are proud to see FYN selected as one of just four restaurants worldwide to participate in a new UNESCO sustainability pilot, highlighting the role of gastronomy in protecting biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Rooted in the Cape Floral Region, the initiative highlights how responsible, regenerative fine dining can drive real environmental impact.

This recognition builds on FYN’s exceptional global track record:

- World’s most sustainable restaurant, Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants held in Copenhagen (2023)
- Consistently ranked on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, placing Cape Town firmly on the global culinary map
- First restaurant in Africa to receive a three-star Food Made Good rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association

Under the leadership of Peter Tempelhoff and Ashley Moss, FYN continues to set a global benchmark for sustainable hospitality.

A powerful moment for Cape Town, and a reminder of how local excellence can shape global conversations.

Read the full article here: https://www.timeout.com/cape-town/news/cape-towns-fyn-selected-for-new-unesco-sustainability-pilot-020326

(Images courtesy of TimeOut and Fyn)

29/01/2026

Major milestone for Africa’s AI and digital future and a proud moment for the Nordic House network!

We are delighted to share incredible news from one of our members, Martin Manniche, CEO and Founder of AXON Networks.

AXON Networks has announced a landmark strategic partnership with Cassava Technologies to co-develop and deploy Africa’s first end-to-end Operator-as-a-Service (OaaS) platform. A foundational leap forward for AI adoption, digital infrastructure, and economic growth across the continent.

Built on Cassava’s pan-African fibre backbone and powered by AXON’s AI-driven Digital Twin technology, this partnership will:

- Enable secure, private, high-speed, AI-ready connectivity at continental scale
- Dramatically reduce network complexity and deployment times
- Unlock new growth opportunities for service providers, enterprises, and digital innovators across Africa

The announcement was made at Counder Conference 2026 in Cape Town, bringing together global investors, family offices, and decision-makers to shape the future of capital, technology, and innovation.

At Nordic House, we exist to connect Nordic and African excellence and this partnership is a powerful example of Nordic innovation helping to build critical infrastructure for Africa’s AI economy, digital sovereignty, and long-term prosperity.

Congratulations to Martin and the entire AXON and Cassava teams on a truly transformational collaboration. This is exactly the kind of leadership, ambition, and cross-border impact we are proud to champion.

https://axon-cassava.axon-networks.com/press-release

(Images courtesy of AXON and Cassava Technologies)

27/01/2026