Ignite Sweden is part of the newly launched cross-border project aiming to connect Nordic startups with public sector organizations in Finland, Iceland, and Sweden.
Societies and the public sector across the Nordics are facing growing challenges in keeping up with societal shifts, from healthcare strains to urbanization and sustainability demands.
Recognizing the potential of Nordic startups to help solve these challenges, Ignite Sweden has joined forces with Fjársýsla (the Financial Management Authority of Iceland), Business Finland, supported by VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland), in the project Nordic Govtech Alliance.
Strengthening Innovation-Driven Public Procurement
Funded by the Nordic Council and supported by Vinnova, the goal of this cross-border pilot project, which will run until summer 2026, is to develop a sustainable process and long-term collaboration model that extends beyond the pilot phase and includes all Nordic countries.
One of the key objectives of the project is to explore a shared strategy and best practices for procuring innovative solutions from Nordic startups. By fostering closer collaboration between public sector need owners and innovative startups, the initiative aims to create a more efficient and scalable model for integrating cutting-edge technology into public services.
“We will facilitate tailored one-on-one meetings between public sector representatives and startups and scaleups with relevant solutions from all three countries. These meetings will be held digitally to ensure cross-border participation, but there may also be opportunities for follow-up meetings in Sweden, Finland, or Iceland if both parties see value in further discussions,” explains Niklas Sikström, Project Manager at Ignite Sweden.
A Unique Opportunity for Startups to Enter the Public Sector
The recruitment of both public sector organizations and startups with solutions to address their challenges is now in full swing across Sweden, Finland, and Iceland.
Public organizations from across the Nordic region, including the Swedish Uppsala Municipality, Norrköping Municipality, HBV, and Region Uppsala, have already joined the initiative and will engage in the matchmaking process.
The initiative is also looking for startups and scaleups with solutions in the following areas:
- Healthcare & e-health
- Proptech & sustainable housing
- Energy & electrification
- Smart cities & urban development
In Parallel with Key Conferences Across the Nordics
To support these connections, Nordic Govtech Alliance will host a series of activities during three high-impact conferences in 2025, providing a platform for key stakeholders to meet, discuss challenges, and explore potential collaborations:
- Iceland Innovation Week (May 11-13 | Reykjavik, Iceland)
- UIC Innovation Night (September 23-25 | Uppsala, Sweden)
- Slush (November 17-19 | Helsinki, Finland)
During these conferences, the initiative will bring together public sector organizations, startups, and key players from the Nordic innovation ecosystem to accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions.
For more information on how to get involved, join the Nordic Govtech Alliance LinkedIn group or sign up for the newsletter.
The first edition of Battery Tech Matchday showcased the power of strategic matchmaking in accelerating battery technology innovation.
Organized by Ignite Sweden in collaboration with the Swedish Energy Agency, Eskilstuna Municipality, Electrification Hub, and MITC – Mälardalen Industrial Technology Center as part of the Swedish Battery Arena, Battery Tech Matchday provided a platform for innovation across the entire battery value chain.
A total of 27 pioneering startups participated in the event, presenting solutions that tackled key industry challenges —ranging from charging optimization and energy storage to recycling and grid flexibility— spanning different stages of the battery lifecycle.
Their cutting-edge technologies captured the interest of 10 leading corporations —including E.ON, Alstom, Epiroc, Toyota Material Handling Europe, and Hitachi Energy— keen to explore potential collaborations and new innovations in the battery sector.
Through Ignite Sweden’s curated matchmaking process, the event facilitated 60 qualitative 1:1 meetings, enabling startups and corporates to engage in targeted discussions on potential collaborations.
Michell Hanna, Project Manager at Ignite Sweden, emphasized the importance of these tailored interactions in creating real collaboration opportunities:
“This event was not just about meetings — it was about creating the right conditions for meaningful conversations between startups and corporates. By ensuring that both parties were well-matched and prepared, we aimed to maximize the potential for real partnerships to emerge.”
Startups Delivering Cutting-Edge Solutions
For startups, the event was a unique opportunity to present their solutions to key industry players. Among them was Bright Day Graphene, whose biobased graphene material could extend battery lifespan by at least three times.
“Even if you have a great technology, you still need to work on the market side,” said Malin Alpsten, CEO & Co-founder of Bright Day Graphene. “Collaborating with corporates is always important for a startup. We need to create the market for our material and the big corporates are the customers.”
Stefano Cucchiella is the CTO and co-founder of CanaryBit, a cybersecurity startup that enables secure AI analytics, ensuring third-party applications can safely process and collect insights from battery data for reuse and optimization while preserving ownership and control over the data.
He emphasized the value of the interactions with potential customers at matchmaking events like Battery Tech Matchday:
“Events like this one are very helpful for us to have close contact with big organizations, build relationships, and then move forward to potential projects. I think our meetings today have been quite successful. We had a few meetings to the point, and we’re going to have follow-ups in the coming days and weeks. So all in all, it’s been a successful day.”
Connecting Startups with the Right Decision-Makers
Another participating startup was Recap Power, which develops an energy management platform that maximizes the benefits from flexible energy resources like battery systems, helping their customers lower their energy costs and creating new revenue streams.
Its CEO, Jonas Thyni, highlighted how matchmaking connects startups with the right decision-makers in large corporations:
“I met with some interesting corporates, and I think we have good potential for cooperation with some of them. One of the biggest values that Ignite Sweden brings is getting the connections with the right people. I had meetings where I finally spoke to the exact person I had been looking for.”
Corporates on the Lookout for Innovation
Battery Tech Matchday was equally beneficial for corporate participants, who gained insights into emerging solutions and engaged with startups driving change in the industry.
Katarina Öquist, Global R&D Technology & Innovation Manager at Epiroc, stressed the strategic advantage of participating:
“We can’t invent everything by ourselves. We need to go out and scout for new technologies, and this was a great way to do it. Events like this give us the opportunity to build relationships and scout for innovation in an efficient way.”
“The meetings we had were really good. The startups were well prepared, and we had really valuable discussions,” noted Katarina.
Laying the Groundwork for Future Collaborations
Electrification Hub is an innovation accelerator driving the transition toward electrified mobility solutions by supporting early-stage technologies and advancing them from prototype to implementation. Its CEO, Mikael Hjorth, actively participated in several meetings between some of its corporate partners— including Hitachi Energy, Alstom, and Harting— and startups throughout the day.
He observed firsthand how well-prepared startups were and how corporates approached discussions with openness and a clear interest in potential collaborations.
“The startups had prepared and looked into use cases or examples where the bigger corporates could use their technologies, and the corporates were open to exploring ways of working together.”
Battery Tech Matchday demonstrated that collaboration between startups and large corporations is key to driving new technologies in the battery sector. The connections made during the event have the potential to spark transformative projects that will benefit the entire industry.
Ignite Sweden has been named one of Europe’s top startup hubs in the Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs 2025 ranking, compiled by Statista, the Financial Times, and Sifted. The ranking highlights the most recommended and top-rated startup programs with the strongest track record.
“Startups play a crucial role in solving global challenges, and we are proud to be recognized as a leading hub that connects them with the right partners to scale their impact. Being included in this ranking is a testament to the strength of our process and the meaningful collaborations we foster,” says Sara Hamlin, CEO of Ignite Sweden.
Ignite Sweden is one of seven startup hubs from Sweden featured in the ranking. The other six are GU Ventures, KTH Innovation, Minc, SSE Business Lab, Sting, and Uppsala Innovation Centre.
“For startups, the right connections can be game-changing. This recognition reaffirms our mission to open doors to new business opportunities and accelerate their growth,” says Yasmine Morrison, Startup Partner Manager at Ignite Sweden.
About the Ranking
Now in its second edition, the Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs 2025 ranking recognizes 150 European hubs across 28 countries.
“Europe’s startup scene is growing. The number of incubator and accelerator programs are also growing. All these programs promise support for people who intend to found a company or provide the relevant means to scale it. Yet accessing information about their quality can be challenging,” explains the team behind the ranking. The goal is to identify and highlight the best-evaluated and most recommended programs across the continent.
The ranking is based on three key criteria: evaluations from alumni, recommendations from external experts, and the track record of each hub, measured by the success of top startups that emerged from its programs.
Click here to explore the Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs 2025
The new release of the curated platform showcases 542 Swedish environmental startups and scaleups.
The latest update of the Swedish Climate Startup Map, released today, features startups and scaleups from across Sweden driving the green transition with cutting-edge technologies, products, and services.
The new 69 climate companies in the platform offer a diverse array of technologies for a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, construction, energy management and storage, food, forestry, industry, manufacturing, recycling, renewable energy, sustainable materials, and water.
“2024 has officially become the warmest year on record, surpassing the critical 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement. The urgency for climate and environmental innovation has never been greater. With this launch, we are shining a spotlight on the latest addition of 69 climate startups and scaleups, along with all the other companies featured on the Swedish Climate Startup Map, driving the transition forward,” says Project Manager Jenny Heden Malm.
About the Swedish Climate Startup Map
The Swedish Climate Startup Map aims to provide a platform for groundbreaking companies driving the green transition, enhancing their visibility and helping them attract investment, customers, and talent to scale their technologies.
The project was initiated by Sting in 2020 as part of Startup Climate Action, funded by Vinnova, to showcase innovative startups working towards creating change and solving our many climate challenges.
The Swedish Climate Startup Map is led by Chalmers Ventures, Dalarna Science Park, Ignite Sweden, LEAD, SISP – Swedish Incubators & Science Parks, and Sting. The initiative was originally part of Omställningslyftet, a project co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Tillväxtverket, and Vinnova. Today the initiative is part of Startup Energy Action, funded by the Energimyndigheten.
Click here to visit the website and explore the Swedish Climate Startup Map
Click here to apply for becoming part of the Swedish Climate Startup Map
These are the 69 startups and scaleups added to the Swedish Climate Startup Map
AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FORESTRY
Agteria Biotech
Aquafood
Casamancéa (CashewMeetly)
Cinis Fertilizer
Envigas
FoodFacts Sweden
Green and Growing
Green City Farming Sweden AB
Green-On
Nordic Forestry Automation
Seaqure Labs
SolEdits
SonicFlora
Svepreg
SweGreen
CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE
Klimatskoga
Korall Carbon Capture
Planboo Eco
CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE
AI Bob
Energismeden Re-eko
IsoTimber
Woodbe
Wood Tube
CROSS INDUSTRY
Avalma (Jubel.ai)
Batixt
ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND STORAGE
ATO Energy
Blykalla
Catator
Comsys
Fifty Holdings
Greenco Tech
NanoScientifica
SaltX Technology
Tech Innovation
TEXEL Energy Storage
Varmi Scandinavia
ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES
Adsorbi
Otag Regenerative Ag (Regensense)
Spritju
INDUSTRY AND MANUFACTURING
Drev
EnginZyme
Syre
MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION
PicApp
Railfinder
RECYCLING AND WASTE
Fiberloop
RecoMended
Recycla
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Caplyzer
Eontra
HyEnGen
Novatron
Trine
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
Biosorbe
Blue Ocean Closures
Bright Materia
Cellufy
Ecohelix
Ekolution
EVLR International
GAIA Biomaterials
Nordic Bio-Graphite
Papershell
WASTEWATER AND WATER
MNH Solutions
Nordic Renew Resource
Swedish Hydro Solutions
OTHER SECTORS
GoClimate
Green Dent
Hypex Bio Explosives Technology
PandionAI
As this year comes to an end, we reflect on Ignite Sweden’s results and achievements from 2024.
2024 was a remarkable year for Ignite Sweden, filled with growth, new opportunities, and key milestones that have strengthened our ability to foster impactful innovation startup collaborations.
Among the most significant achievements was becoming an independent entity subsidiary of SISP – Swedish Incubators and Science Parks. This new organizational structure, complete with a dedicated board of directors, provides a stronger foundation for growth and allows us to focus more sharply on helping startups secure their first customers in both the private and public sectors.
This year also marked the beginning of a new chapter in leadership with Sara Hamlin appointed as CEO. Her strategic vision and fresh energy have already set the stage for an exciting future.
Another major highlight was securing three years of funding from Vinnova through the Ignite Impact project. This critical funding allows us to scale our efforts, facilitating at least 240 new innovation collaborations while continuing to strengthen Sweden’s position as a global innovation leader.
“2024 was a pivotal year for Ignite. Becoming a standalone organization with core funding from Vinnova enables us to think long-term and strengthen our impact. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together with our partners and startups, and I’m excited for what lies ahead,” says Sara.
Connecting Startups to New Opportunities
In 2024, Ignite orchestrated 1,131 one-on-one tailored meetings between startups and more than 130 potential corporate and public customers. At least half of these interactions progressed to further discussions aimed at initiating joint projects, resulting in 105 commercial collaborations between startups, corporates, and public entities throughout the year. This brings the total number of startup partnerships facilitated by Ignite to 710 since the initiative’s inception in 2017.
An impressive 515 startups were matched with potential customers throughout the year, with nearly 50% of them being introduced to potential customers through Ignite for the first time. Notably, 54% of the startups engaged have participated in a Swedish incubator program, reflecting Ignite’s strong partnerships with 33 incubators and science parks nationwide.
The majority of participating startups are driving innovations in the environment and energy sectors (35%), followed by industrial technologies (29.09%) and software/ICT (16.82%), with notable contributions from life sciences (9.09%) and smaller representations in entertainment (3.64%), agriculture (3.64%), and other industries (2.73%).
Supporting Startup Value Creation
This year, we also explored the broader impact of our process beyond measurable outcomes. Through interviews led by our Startup Community Manager, Yasmine Morrison, we uncovered how Ignite has created value to startups at every stage of development.
From early technology validation and first customer relationships to market entry opportunities, the Ignite process has also enabled startups to secure reference customers, enhance internal skills, attract investment, expand networks, drive innovation, and gain critical customer and market insights.
“This year, we’ve seen startups validate their innovations faster, access their first customers, and take steps toward scaling internationally. The Ignite process continues to prove its value as a critical bridge between startups and established organizations,” says Yasmine.
Advancing Startup Internationalization
Ignite continues to pave the way for startups to access international markets, achieving significant milestones in its internationalization efforts and reaffirming our commitment to fostering cross-border business opportunities for Swedish startups.
This year, Ignite facilitated matchmakings with corporates representing 17 countries, showcasing its expanding global reach. This included four digital sessions and a record eight in-person matchmakings, featuring delegations to South Korea (twice), Switzerland, France, Canada, Brazil, and, for the first time, Singapore. Additionally, Ignite hosted the third edition of the European AI Startup Matchday in June, connecting corporates with startups featured on the AI Startup Landscape.
The start of 2024 also marked the first matchmaking events of the ScaleAble Project, a 2.5-year initiative funded by the EU’s Central Baltic Interreg Programme. This year, events were held in Norrköping and Stockholm, with another planned for May 2025 in Tallinn. The project aims to foster cross-border collaborations between corporates and scaling companies in Estonia, Finland, and Sweden, promoting regional innovation and growth.
“2024 marked our most impactful year yet in supporting Swedish startups to bring their innovations to the global stage. Facilitating 453 meetings between 245 startups and 65 corporates across 17 countries is astonishing. In 2025 I look forward to building on the basis we have to create even more strategic opportunities for startups to scale internationally,” says Elijah Aldana, Head of International Partnerships.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we step into 2025, Ignite Sweden is gearing up for another transformative year with ambitious goals and a renewed focus on impactful collaborations.
Our targets include facilitating 800 startup tailored connections through the matchmaking process, creating at least 240 new innovation collaborations, and ensuring that 30% of these involve international partners. Additionally, we aim to increase participation from public sector actors to address critical societal challenges more effectively.
Tailored support for our partners will also take center stage. By refining the planning process, we will better align with their innovation needs, scout the most relevant startups, and ensure every matchmaking session delivers maximum value.
Ignite will continue to prioritize sustainability and inclusive growth, fostering collaborations that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and drive innovation in areas like sustainability, digital transformation, and societal challenges.
With these goals, we look forward to advancing our mission and creating even more opportunities for startups and partners in the year ahead.
Ignite Sweden’s 2024 in Numbers
Commercial collaborations: 105
Tailored meetings: 1131
Startups engaged: 515
Corporates participating: 120
Public organizations: 10
Participating countries: 17
Incubator and Science Parks partnerships: 33
Ignite Sweden in Numbers 2017-2024
Commercial collaborations: 710+
Tailored meetings: 7847
Matchmaking events: 119
Startups engaged: 1775
Corporates: 370
Public organizations: 48
Ignite Sweden Summit 2024 brought together 180 representatives from startups, corporates, incubators, and other key actors of the Swedish innovation ecosystem in Eskilstuna.
The 7th edition of Ignite Sweden’s annual conference focused on addressing tomorrow’s challenges through impactful partnerships and shared expertise. The program was structured into four focused blocks, each highlighting best practices for every stage of the startup collaboration journey. Each block featured a TedX-style keynote, an in-depth panel, and interactive roundtable discussions where attendees exchanged insights and experiences.
Participants also explored local innovation through three tech visits: Cloudberry’s wind farm, ReTuna —the world’s first recycling mall— and two cutting-edge centers driving energy innovation in Eskilstuna: the Swedish Energy Agency’s Test Lab and the Energy Evolution Center.
“Having the Ignite Sweden Summit in Eskilstuna is important, of course, because it establishes that there are a lot of things happening in our region. It is also an opportunity to showcase the potential of working in this region,” says Mikael N. Hjorth, Manager and Founder of Electrification Hub, one of the event partners alongside Eskilstuna Municipality and the Swedish Energy Agency. The Summit was also organized in collaboration with Create Business Incubator, MITC, RosholmDell, and SISP.
Key Takeaways from the Stage
This year’s Ignite Sweden Summit featured a dynamic lineup of speakers who shared their experiences and expertise on innovation and collaboration. These included Anna Olsson (Karlstad Innovation Park), Annika Remaeus (Uppsala Municipality), Johan Almesjö (HBV), Johanna Zechel (Emulate Energy), Karl Eldebo (University of Linköping), Katarina Öquist (Epiroc), Katharina Paoli (Nudgd), Pia Wall (E.ON), Sally Winter (Cellfion), Sami Ahsani (Mölnlycke Health Care), and Steven Perkins (L’Oréal). The event was moderated by Maria Olofsson (Ignite & Uminova).
The conference served as a melting pot of ideas, leaving attendees with actionable insights for successful startup collaborations:
- The key to success lies in adoption and innovation.
- Collaboration goes beyond “just a match” with a startup—it’s about seeing the bigger picture.
- Corporates have a responsibility to support the innovation ecosystem.
- Challenges like cultural clash, speed, goal misassignment, internal resistance and resource allocation can hinder collaborations.
- Think big, start small, act now, and learn in the process.
- Be prepared, build trust, and stay curious.
- See the matchmaking meetings as a learning opportunity
- Don’t be afraid to match startups with other startups or solutions
- Think of the scalability of the solution and prepare a plan for that from the start of the collaboration.
The event also highlighted the importance of trust, openness, and long-term collaboration. As moderator Maria Olofsson emphasized, “the feeling of trust built over time was palpable during the conference. It’s inspiring to see everyone driven by the same mission.”
A Spirit of Connection and Learning
Ignite Sweden Summit 2024 proved that collaboration is key to tackling future challenges. As the event concluded, participants left with fresh ideas, stronger connections, and a shared commitment to drive innovation forward together.
“Working together is the way we can solve things,” said Urban Wikman, Business Director at Algoryx. “When you get to know each other more, it’s easier to solve issues and help each other develop both the companies and their products.”
Attendees echoed the importance of meaningful connections and shared learnings:
“For me, Ignite Sweden Summit was mostly about connecting with people. Meeting new people is what I find the most inspiring. We also made several relevant contacts so it was a great event for us to attend,” shared Malin Alpsten, CEO & Co-founder of Bright Day Graphene.
“I was surprised by the unexpected contacts we made,” said Katarina Öquist, Global R&D Technology & Innovation Manager at Epiroc. She highlighted the discussions around the tables and the connections made during the coffee breaks as her favorite parts of the event. “The coffee breaks are usually where a lot of things happen, and this was no exception.”
The Collaboration Heroes of 2024
The Summit also hosted the 8th annual Ignite Awards, celebrating organizations driving impactful startup collaborations. Winners in 11 categories included startups, corporations, public entities, incubators, and other innovation hubs.
The startup Barnduken won the Ignite Rapid Rollout Award together with Familjens Jurist for their collaboration—a unique solution to support youth emotional well-being during family separations. This partnership progressed from a pilot project to a commercial rollout in just a few months.
“I think my collaboration with Familjens Jurist was successful because we both had a clear idea of what we could achieve from the very first meeting. I have been creating children’s conversation starter products for a while, and it was a great fit with their mission of helping children. This recognition proves that I can work with big companies. It’s also been a great learning experience for me as a small startup to collaborate with a large company like them,” said founder Daniel Målberg.
One of the standout winners at the event was the city of Umeå, with two local startups—LumberScan and Algoryx—along with Umeå Municipality and Uminova Innovation, all receiving Ignite Awards during the ceremony.
“There’s no secret to Umeå’s success in the awards—it’s just hard work,” shared Urban Wikman from Algoryx.
Maria Olofsson from Umeå’s local incubator, Uminova Innovation, reflected on the city’s collaborative spirit: “Umeå is the perfect size to foster collaboration, with a strong drive and willingness to work together across all levels to optimize resources and amplify impact. A key example is our ability to collaborate on regional projects, leverage national initiatives like Ignite and SISP, and even engage internationally, thanks to Uminova Innovation hosting the Enterprise Europe Network in-house, effectively breaking down silos.”
These are the winners of the Ignite Awards 2024:
Ignite Rising Star (Private & Public Sector): Electrification Hub
Ignite Rising Star (Startups): IPercept
Ignite Deeptech Collaborator: L’Oréal
Ignite Rapid Rollout: Familjens Jurist & Barnduken
Ignite Master of Startups: Alfa Laval
Ignite Master of B2B Collaboration: LumberScan
Ignite National Partner Hero: Chalmers Ventures
Ignite Global Partner Hero: Québec Tech
Ignite Ecosystem Collaborator: Umeå Municipality & Uminova Innovation
Ignite Hero of the Year (Startups): Algoryx
Ignite Hero of the Year (Private & Public Sector): Uppsala Municipality, Uppsalahem & Destination Uppsala
With 30 million SEK in funding, Ignite Sweden will run the Ignite Impact project from 2025 to 2027, aiming to foster business-driven innovation collaborations between Swedish startups and established organizations in both the private and public sectors.
“This funding enables us, in close collaboration with our partners across the country, to continue our mission to support Swedish startups in securing their first customers. The strong interest in this funding call highlights the importance of this mission, and we are immensely proud that Vinnova recognizes the quality and potential of our work,” says Sara Hamlin, CEO of Ignite Sweden.
Expanding Ignite’s Proven Matchmaking Process
Ignite Impact will build on Ignite’s proven matchmaking process, which since its launch in 2017 has facilitated over 7,700 tailored meetings between startups and established organizations. So far, Ignite has resulted in more than 715 innovative collaborations.
During the Ignite Impact project period, Ignite sets a target to facilitate over 1,800 tailored connections between at least 600 Swedish startups and 200 established organizations, with a goal of creating at least 240 new concrete innovative collaborations.
The project will have a strong focus on sustainable innovations and inclusive growth, and the startups will meet potential customers from both the private and public sector from Sweden and abroad.
“We don’t just want to create business opportunities – we want to create business opportunities that make a difference. Through Ignite Impact, we will contribute even more to the green transition. We are deeply humbled by this funding and the opportunity it represents, as it allows us to build on the systematic work we have done since 2017 and deliver even greater value to Sweden’s startups,” continues Sara Hamlin.
Making Impact at a National and Global Scale
Ignite Impact aims to engage startups from across Sweden. Through partnerships with innovation hubs and incubators in Sweden, as well as key ecosystem actors abroad, the project will strengthen its capacity to support startups at every stage of their growth journey.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with our national and international partners to create real impact for startups. An important mission for Ignite is also to strive for more collaborations across the Swedish ecosystem. We welcome other actors with similar goals to reach out to explore collaboration opportunities to create even greater impact together,” Sara Hamlin concludes.
About Ignite Sweden
Ignite Sweden is a national, non-profit organization aimed at increasing business collaborations between startups, large companies, and the public sector. Ignite Sweden partners with 33 incubators and accelerators across Sweden. To date, the process has engaged over 1,759 startups and around 415 established companies and public actors, resulting in 715 innovative collaborations.
For more information, please contact:
Sara Hamlin
CEO, Ignite Sweden
sara@ignitesweden.org
+46 702829178
The initiative, led by AI Sweden and Ignite Sweden, has grown to include a total of 210 AI startups in its latest release.
The Swedish AI Startup Landscape aims to showcase innovative AI startups nationwide, with the objective of enhancing their visibility and fostering the acceleration of AI innovation across Sweden.
“We are witnessing a truly dynamic and rapidly growing ecosystem. It’s an exciting reflection of Sweden’s expanding role and momentum in AI innovation,” says Michell Hanna, responsible for the project at Ignite Sweden.
The new companies featured in the Swedish AI Startup Landscape are: Algeno, ATO Energy, Blast Bit Enterprises, CADcog, CuraStream AI, EdTools, Filestar, Find My Factory, GreenMetrica, Heartspace.AI, HughGrants, Indicate me, Interspectral, Klicka AI, LEVTEK, Lightbringer, Motorica, Multiply, Normain, NorthernLight Diagnostics, Paniax, Parsd, Phenaros Pharmaceuticals, PryvX, RECILIO, Sanctify Financial Technologies, and Your Speech Factory.
Their applications were evaluated by a committee of 14 AI experts from investors, large companies, academia, and incubators, based on various selection criteria, including their use of AI, scalability, data access and utilization, and the AI expertise of their personnel.
The new startups showcase a broad range of AI applications that underscore Sweden’s dedication to advancing AI across sectors. They offer innovative solutions in diverse areas such as healthcare, energy, manufacturing, sustainability, and cybersecurity.
“Their work not only strengthens Sweden’s standing in the European AI community but also exemplifies the collaborative energy that’s driving AI’s potential to reshape industries and societies alike,” says Michell.
The Swedish AI Startup Landscape is part of the broader European AI Startup Landscape, featuring over 1,000 companies from Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands. The initiative is a collaborative effort between appliedAI, Hub France IA, The Netherlands AI Coalition (NL AIC), Ignite Sweden and AI Sweden.
Check out the Swedish startups in the Landscape here.
Check out the Swedish startups within the Swedish and the European AI Startup Landscape here.
Startups interested in applying to be featured in the next update of the landscape can read more on how to submit their application here.
These are the 27 startups added to the Swedish AI Startup Landscape
Algeno: Energy optimization for property owners.
ATO Energy: A dynamic rating system that increases grid capacity without the need for new physical infrastructure.
Blast Bit Enterprises: Spearheading the evolution of interactive experiences.
CADcog: An XR platform for creating inclusive & accessible products.
CuraStream AI: Autogenerate clinical notes with AI-powered documentation.
EdTools: AI Math studying site for high schools.
Filestar: An AI powered file automation tool.
Find My Factory: Connects the digital traces around the world for supplier discovery.
GreenMetrica: Offers AI-powered solutions that bridge the gap between sustainability needs and technology solutions.
Heartspace.AI: AI-driven and expert-powered PR on demand.
HughGrants: AI-tool to minimize grant administration.
Indicate me: Empowering customer service with AI-driven insights.
Interspectral: 3D visualization and smart decision support systems for the manufacturing industry.
Klicka AI: AI models to automate human work on computers.
LEVTEK: Software-defined ultralight vehicles and collaborative robots for transportation of personnel, equipment and small goods.
Lightbringer: Automates the patent process using AI, from inception of idea to granted patent.
Motorica: Generative AI for motion synthesis, making AAA animation possible in minutes.
Multiply: A bespoke, no-code AI platform for teams.
Normain: A knowledge work automator for tasks traditionally done manually by specialists.
NorthernLight Diagnostics: Decision support for healthcare professionals of antidepressant treatment.
Paniax: A pioneering data science research lab.
Parsd: Digital end-to-end research for fact-based insights.
Phenaros Pharmaceuticals: Accelerate drug discovery with AI, phenomics, and automation.
PryvX: A platform that enables data collaboration between telecom operators and banks to combat cybercrime.
RECILIO: AI-power virtual wellbeing platform for organizations.
Sanctify Financial Technologies: AI for reading and analyzing news.
Your Speech Factory: AI agent boosts meeting prep with neuroscience.
The evaluation committee
Agneta Jacobson (AI Sweden)
Daniel Gillblad (AI Sweden)
Erik Borälv (Vinnova)
Ingrid Af Sandeberg (Stockholm AI)
Jakob Engdahl (Statistics Sweden)
Patrik Kägu (Almi)
Raoul Stubbe (Sting)
Rebecka Löthman Rydå (Inventure VC)
Rickard Lönneborg (Codemill)
Stina Lantz (SISP)
Vik Li (Ericsson Ventures)
Vishnu Rajanikanth (Volvo Group)
Petra Dalunde (RISE – Connected Societies)
16 startups from Sweden, Finland and Singapore were connected with corporates and investors in 61 curated matchmaking meetings.
Organized by Ignite Sweden and SISP – Swedish Incubators and Science Parks as part of the Nordic Singapore Innovation Days 2024, the event brought together five investors and nine large companies from the Nordics and the APAC region.
The event introduced a 360° matchmaking concept, where Swedish startups met with leading corporates from the APAC region, joined by Singaporean startups for a dynamic matchmaking session. In parallel, SISP organized an investor matchmaking event, connecting Nordic and Singaporean startups with investors and facilitating connections among investors themselves.
The goal was to explore ways to streamline cross-border investments between the Nordic countries and Singapore.
“I have six matchmaking meetings scheduled for today—four with corporates and two with investors. I’ve already had two meetings, one with Siemens Energy, which we’ve collaborated with before, and one with a Singaporean industry leader in lifting solutions. We’ve already scheduled follow-up meetings,” said Johan Hesslind, CEO of the Swedish company Ekkono Solutions, during the event.
Ekkono Solutions is one of the six climate tech Swedish startups participating at the event, together with Graphmatech, Hopsworks, Mimbly, Quandify, and The Train Brain.
“This matchmaking is the best part of this delegation for me, as I’m here to do business for Ekkono,” added Johan.
Shaping a Future Without Boundaries for Innovation
One of the investors participating in the matchmaking was Harry Krkalo, Co-Founder of GLy Capital Management Ltd, who shared his enthusiasm for the innovative startups he encountered.
“I’ve now met one or two startups that I think are eminently investable. They are looking like they’re tackling something big and have already made some traction in that role. So it’s quite, quite exciting!”
Ignite’s Head of International Projects, Elijah Aldana, was satisfied after a fully scheduled matchmaking day.
“This initiative speaks volumes to the want and need of small innovative countries to collaborate together. Taking a unified Nordic front between Sweden and Finland, we saw an openness from key Singaporean actors that I could have never expected. The matchmaking is more than meetings — it’s about creating a future where innovation knows no boundaries”
Nordic Singapore Innovation Days is a collaborative initiative organized by Vinnova, SISP – Swedish Incubators & Science Parks, Ignite Sweden, Business Sweden, Business Finland, Nordic Innovation House – Singapore, SGInnovate, and Enterprise Singapore. This initiative aimed to lead pioneering efforts, create lasting impact, and pave the way for meaningful innovations and a future filled with sustainable solutions.
Learn more insights on the Nordic Singapore Innovation Days here.
The second ScaleAble Matchday in Stockholm connected scaling companies and corporates to drive energy transition across the Central Baltic region.
Organized by Ignite Sweden, Norrköping Science Park, SISP – Swedish Incubators & Science Parks, Tehnopol, and Business Turku, the event’s goal was to foster collaborations between corporates and scaling companies with solutions for the energy and green transition.
The event is part of the Central Baltic Interreg Programme project ScaleAble, aimed at helping scalable companies grow through cross-border partnerships.
“By building strong networks and uniting different areas of focus, the project offers scaling companies the opportunity to scale internationally. A key aspect is the enriching diversity of cultural perspectives, especially during live events, which strengthens cooperation across borders,” says Julia Ekström, Growth Advisor at Business Turku.
Johanna Lindholm-Järvinen, Senior Sales Manager from Rester, a Finnish startup which transforms textile waste into high-quality fibers by mechanical recycling, shared her thoughts on the cross-border collaboration enabled by the project.
“The concept behind the ScaleAble project is great, bringing together scaleups and startups with innovative ideas and new technologies, and integrating them into large companies that have the capability to implement and benefit from them. I especially appreciate the cross-border collaboration because Finland, Sweden, and the Baltic countries are fairly small countries. It’s really important that we don’t let borders limit us but actually foster cooperation across the countries.”
Workshop on Startup Collaboration and Reverse Pitching
The first day of the ScaleAble Matchday began with a workshop on startup-corporate collaboration, where participants explored the common challenges and obstacles in forming partnerships. Liebherr and the startup IPercept also shared their success stories, offering key insights into overcoming the difficulties startups and corporates often face when working together.
The event continued with a reverse pitching competition, where corporates took the stage to showcase why their company is an ideal partner for startups. Stockholm Exergi took home the win, impressing the audience with a compelling pitch.
The energy in the room was palpable, with participants eagerly engaging in discussions and spontaneous meetings.
“I really liked all the networking. People were so interested in understanding each other’s companies and challenges, and there was open discussion everywhere,” says Åsa Lyckström, Head of Sustainability at Siemens Energy.
Matchmaking to Drive Collaboration
The second day of the ScaleAble Matchday was entirely dedicated to the curated matchmaking meetings, where more than 50 scaling companies from Estonia, Finland, and Sweden connected with 15 leading corporations such as Royal Caribbean Group, Fortum, A2A, Elisa, EnBW, and Valmet Automotive, all keen on exploring new technologies to drive innovation within their industries.
More than 100 tailored meetings were held during the day, along with spontaneous in-person connections that added an extra dynamic to the event.
Arwin Zendehrokh, Project Manager at Ignite Sweden, explained the process behind the matchmaking.
“We began months ago by engaging the participating corporates and identifying their technology needs. Then we scout across the ecosystems of Finland, Sweden, and Estonia to find suitable startups. This involves reviewing applications, searching through various databases, and collaborating with incubators to ensure the best possible matches. The meetings during the ScaleAble Matchday are the result of this thorough process.”
Kaisa Einsok, Discovery Manager at Eesti Energia, was impressed by the quality of the companies she met throughout the day.
“All the startups I met were very well prepared and it was very easy to talk to them. They align closely with what we are looking for, so our needs were very well matched with the startups. We had conversations about how we can actually succeed together.”
For Aleksandr Zirk, VP of Business Development for the Baltics and Nordics at Bisly, a startup democratizing building automation, the event presented a crucial opportunity to connect with potential corporate partners and explore new markets.
“Bisly is already well-established in the Estonian and Baltic ecosystems, but now we’re looking to expand into the Nordic region. Finding corporate counterparts to help us penetrate that market is essential.”
Informal Conversations and Strong Connections
One of the standout features of the ScaleAble Matchday was the opportunity to meet in person. Beyond the pre-booked, curated meetings, the event fostered numerous informal discussions and spontaneous interactions that contributed to its success.
For Fusebox Energy, a startup bridging the gap between energy assets and energy traders, the informal conversations began even before the event started.
“For me, the event began at the Tallinn airport when I met local Estonian startups and corporates. I had informal conversations, sharing laughs and getting to know each other better. Sitting down with corporate representatives over a sandwich, cake, or coffee creates a completely different atmosphere compared to meeting in an office and jumping straight into a pitch,” says CEO Tarvo Ong.
With the second ScaleAble Matchday wrapping up, participants left with new connections, insights, and opportunities for collaboration. Basma Lerström, Nordic Sales Manager at Woola, a startup using waste wool to replace plastic bubble wrap, reflected on the value of these face-to-face meetings.
“Through the spontaneous meetings, I’ve managed to gather so many insights into the inner workings of corporates, the concerns and challenges they deal with, and how startups like the one I’m representing today can really address their needs in an innovative and fresh way”
The ScaleAble project will continue with a third matchmaking event on February 12 and 13 in Tallinn, Estonia, this time connecting corporates with scaling companies with solutions within secure tech and dual use. More information about the project here.