Ignite Sweden has appointed a new board to take the next step in scaling collaborations between startups and established organizations.

With members representing the entire innovation ecosystem – from startups and large industry to the public sector and regional innovation environments – the board brings strategic leadership that reflects Ignite’s unique role as a national bridge-builder.

“It’s in the interplay between different actors that future solutions are born. With this new board, we gain both strategic vision and close operational insight into the companies we are here to support,” says Sara Hamlin, CEO of Ignite Sweden.

Since autumn 2024, Ignite Sweden has operated as a standalone company within SISP – Swedish Incubators & Science Parks. The formation of an independent board marks an important milestone in the organization’s continued development.

The new board members are:

• Anders Cronholm, CEO, Blekinge Business Incubator (Chair)
• Isabella Palmgren, CEO & Co-founder, Mimbly
• Liam Hardey, CEO, Cellfion
• Johan Almesjö, CEO, HBV
• Magnus Ahlström, VP Global Innovation, SAAB
• Martina Hegestig, Business Operations Manager, LEAD

Ignite Sweden is a national non-profit initiative that has connected more than 1,800 Swedish startups with corporates and public organizations since its launch in 2017. By focusing on concrete needs, perfect timing, and strategic matchmaking, Ignite has enabled more than 700 collaborations – from pilots and customer relationships to long-term partnerships and international expansion.

“Ignite has been absolutely crucial to our startup growth. They helped us find the right collaboration partner at exactly the right stage – without them, we probably wouldn’t be where we are today,” says Isabella Palmgren, co-founder of cleantech company Mimbly and newly appointed board member.

Ignite’s new structure as an independent entity opens up new opportunities to further focus on supporting startups throughout their journey – from their first customer to global growth. With its new board, Ignite is well positioned to meet future challenges and enable even more transformative collaborations.

“We look forward to continuing to build a platform together with the board where sustainable, groundbreaking innovations can move from idea to implementation – faster and smarter,” concludes Sara Hamlin.

For more information, please contact:
Sara Hamlin, CEO Ignite Sweden
sara@ignitesweden.org
+46 (0)70 282 91 78

Ignite Sweden has officially surpassed 8000 tailored matchmaking meetings, creating real business value for Swedish startups beyond just customer connections.

Since our inception in 2017, Ignite Sweden has been dedicated to bridging the gap between innovative startups and established corporations and public sector organizations. With over 8000 high-quality, one-on-one facilitated meetings and more than 700 commercial collaborations, our initiative has not only opened doors to potential customers but also fostered significant growth and development for Swedish startups across multiple dimensions.

“Through our qualitative matchmaking process, startups have not only secured deals but have also gained invaluable insights, resources, and credibility that propel them toward sustainable growth,” says Yasmine Morrison, Startup Partner Manager at Ignite Sweden.

Driving Startup Growth Through Strategic Business Matchmaking

What happens when a startup meets the right corporate or public sector partner and they develop a collaborative project together? With that premise in mind, Yasmine embarked during the past months in the mission to find out the effects of these collaborations from the startup perspective, beyond the deal itself.

Through a series of interviews with numerous startups over several months, she gathered insights into the real impact of the collaborations initiated through Ignite’s matchmaking process. Her findings reveal that these strategic innovation partnerships often lead to much more than just signed contracts — they help startups refine their internal processes, validate their innovations, attract investment, and gain strategic clarity and credibility.

“What stood out in every conversation was that these collaborations create value in so many different ways,” says Yasmine. “It’s not just about closing a deal — it’s about gaining market insights, validating solutions, securing strong customer references, expanding into new markets, and even growing the team to meet increased demand.”

8 Business Outcomes for Swedish Startups Enabled by Ignite’s Matchmaking Process

The interviews with startups clearly demonstrated that the collaborations initiated through Ignite’s matchmaking meetings generate lasting value in areas essential to startup growth and long-term development.

The following outcomes reflect the tangible value Ignite’s matchmaking process has created for Swedish startups:

Customer Base Growth: The insights and connections gained through Ignite-facilitated collaborations have enabled startups to diversify and expand their customer base. Securing a well-known brand as a customer has also strengthened their market credibility and opened doors to new business opportunities.

Innovation Development and Validation: Collaborations with larger entities have enabled startups to test and improve their solutions in real-world settings, helping to confirm product-market fit. These engagements have also supported teams in refining internal workflows and adapting their offerings to better meet market needs.

Market and Customer Insights: Collaborations have deepened startups’ understanding of customer needs and market dynamics, leading to more tailored and relevant solutions. They have also helped startups identify the most promising and profitable markets and segments, and develop strategies better aligned with market demands.

International Expansion: Ignite’s country-focused matchmaking initiatives have enabled startups to start international collaborations, opening doors to new markets. These partnerships have supported startups in establishing a presence abroad and scaling their operations beyond Sweden.

Investor Readiness: Successful collaborations with large companies or public organizations boost a startup’s credibility and serve as a quality endorsement. This validation enhances their appeal to investors and increases the likelihood of attracting new funding.

Customer-Funded Development: Several deeptech startups were able to fund parts of their product development through these partnerships. This reduced financial risk and enabled faster progress in bringing their solutions to market.

Public Procurement Opportunities: Through pilot projects with municipalities, publicly owned companies, and other public entities, startups gained the opportunity to participate in public procurement processes, unlocking greater business potential and enabling long-term opportunities.

Team Growth: Successful collaborations often lead to increased demand, prompting startups to strengthen their teams with new talent to support delivery and continued expansion. This growth not only boosts the startups’ ability to scale but also contributes to job creation and strengthens Sweden’s position as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

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 Dalarna, 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)