We live in an age defined by paradox. Technological advancement is accelerating at breakneck speed, and yet when it comes to one of the most essential sectors of human existence – healthcare – we are still playing catch-up. With ageing populations, soaring demand for preventative care and a shrinking pool of medical professionals (about 25% of whom are considering a career change), the global healthcare system is teetering on the edge.

And while many look to Silicon Valley for salvation, an unlikely tech saviour is quietly brewing up north. Enter Denmark. Yes, Denmark is far more than charming bike lanes and pastry-fuelled contentment. It has quietly emerged as one of Europe’s most promising tech hubs, and if you’re looking for examples of the kind of innovation that might just save the world – or at least improve your next visit to the hospital – then you need look no further than Corti.

A Nation of Builders, From Longboats to Language Models

Let’s rewind a bit. The Danes have always punched above their weight. The Vikings weren’t just warriors; they were also designing some of the most effective seafaring vessels of their time. Innovation is part of Denmark’s DNA, and centuries later, that legacy is still alive.

Take a stroll through Copenhagen and you will find world-class institutions like the Niels Bohr Institute, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and Copenhagen University. These aren’t just ivory towers – they are hothouses for deep science, mathematics, physics, and increasingly, AI. Denmark also gave us insulin, Bluetooth, Google Maps (thanks to a Danish acquisition), PHP and some of the most advanced signal processing tech used in hearing aids today. Not bad for a country with fewer people than London.

This unique combination of scientific heritage, export-oriented thinking and a Viking-level ambition to explore and conquer makes Denmark the perfect launchpad for global tech ventures. Which brings us back to Corti.

Corti: Building the AI Enterprise Models Healthcare Deserves

Corti was founded by two Danes, Andreas Cleve and Lars Maaløe, who had a radical idea: what if you built a Generative AI platform specifically tailored for healthcare? Not a general-purpose AI that might help with everything from writing poetry to recommending sushi restaurants, but a tool that actually understands the unique complexity of medicine.

Both founders come from families steeped in medical professions and both have seen first-hand what happens when healthcare systems are stretched too thin. Since 2017, they’ve been developing models trained on real-world medical conversations. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the world may have ground to a halt, but for Corti, it was rocket-fuel.

Their voice-based AI models quickly became more accurate, more responsive and – crucially – more trusted. Corti isn’t trying to replace doctors. It’s trying to make every doctor faster, more informed and more precise.

The Scalpel, Not the Swiss Army Knife

Now, let’s talk about scale. While the big boys – OpenAI, Gemini, StabilityAI etc. – are busy building multi-purpose Swiss Army knives, Corti is building a scalpel. In healthcare, 98% accuracy isn’t good enough. You don’t want a chatbot guessing whether you’re having a heart attack or just heartburn. You want a system trained specifically to know the difference.

That’s the genius of Corti. It doesn’t pretend to be everything to everyone. It focuses on clinical use cases, where the final 1-2% in accuracy can mean the difference between life and death. And unlike general models, Corti’s systems can reuse global medical condition data in ways that scale intelligently across borders. What’s learned in a hospital in Detroit can benefit a clinic in Dakar.

Corti’s API Strategy: If You Build It (Right), They Will Come

Initially, Corti sold products that were built on its foundational model directly to healthcare stakeholders like hospitals, universities, clinics etc. Turns out, that’s like trying to sell a Formula 1 engine to someone who just wants a reliable bicycle. The buyers weren’t quite ready.

So Corti did what smart start-ups do: it pivoted.

In 2025, it launched an API layer that allows existing healthcare software providers to integrate Corti’s specialised AI seamlessly, specialised APIs to software developers rather than an app to the end user. The idea? Don’t change the tools that doctors and nurses already know – just supercharge them. Since launch, there’s now a waiting list to onboard Corti’s API solution. It turns out the world doesn’t just want better AI in healthcare. It needs it.

The model delivers real-time feedback, improves efficiency and enhances accuracy. In other words, it lets medical professionals do what they do best – but faster, with fewer mistakes and more time for patients. Imagine a world where you get the right diagnosis, first time. That’s not science fiction. That’s Corti.

Global Mission, Danish Roots

Corti’s rise is more than just a start-up success story. It’s a lesson in how you can build capital-efficient, highly specialised AI platforms without raising billions of dollars or relocating to the Bay Area. That should be music to the ears to European founders or any founder who’s been told they need a 10,000-square-foot office and a rocket launchpad to be taken seriously.

It’s also a tribute to Denmark’s tech ecosystem. This is a country that supports deep tech innovation, educates top talent and thinks globally from day one. Whether it’s exporting bacon, wind turbines or language models, Denmark knows how to scale.

The Bottom Line

We’re facing a global healthcare crisis. Doctors are burning out, systems are creaking and patients are suffering. But from the quiet streets of Copenhagen, a start-up is showing the world what’s possible when you combine technical rigour, clinical empathy and a laser-focused mission.

Corti may not be a household name yet, but in the world of healthcare AI, it is already making waves. And if you are wondering where the next big leap in med-tech will come from, don’t be surprised if it comes from the country that produced Lego and Bang & Olufsen.

So, to all the founders and investors out there looking for the next frontier: Look north. Denmark isn’t just ready for the challenge – it’s already building the solution.

Forbes article