The Nordic hardtech community

For everyone building hard things in the Nordics.

Hardtech is innovative, complex and physical. Nordic Hardtech exists so the people who build it, fund it and enable it can find each other.

175
Investors mapped
1200
Ecosystem companies
37
Podcast episodes
8,000+
Newsletter readers

The funding map

ALL 175 INVESTORS →

Every Nordic investor with documented hardtech investments, plus the grants and public instruments that fund the other half of the road from lab to factory, with their deadlines.

Plug & Play Gothenburg

Venture CapitalINTL

Plug and Play Gothenburg is the Nordic mobility hub of the global Plug and Play Tech Center network, based at The Yard in Lindholmen Science Park with Volvo Cars as founding partner. It runs corporate innovation and accelerator programs connecting startups with mobility and automotive corporates, but no Gothenburg-specific portfolio company list is publicly documented.

Backed:N/A

Navigare Ventures

Venture CapitalSE

Invests in early-stage life science companies, focusing on diagnostics, medtech, and biotech.

Backed:SweGaN, Ligna Energy, TeraSi

Bust

Investment CompanySE

Nordic early-stage investor backing mission-driven founders building global companies.

Backed:Hemla

Vasa Angels

Angel networkSE

Vasa Angels is a Gothenburg-based business angel investment vehicle connected to GU Ventures, co-investing with the state-owned Saminvest and around 22-24 business angels in pre-seed and seed rounds sourced from GU Ventures' incubator.

Backed:NSS Water, Nanolyze

Active Invest

Investment CompanySE

Active Invest Sweden AB is a family-owned Swedish investment group founded by Johan Enocson that combines a wood-industry division, Surewood Industries, with an investment arm holding around 30 companies across various sectors.

Backed:Quantal RF, Sequana Medical, WTS Positioning Solution

Unconventional Ventures

Venture CapitalSE

Unconventional Ventures is a Copenhagen-based venture capital firm founded in 2018 that invests in pre-seed and seed stage startups led by underrepresented founders across the Nordics and Europe. The firm targets companies delivering measurable social and environmental impact and is closing an EUR 80 million Fund II.

Backed:Cellugy, Ocean Oasis, Drev, Visibuilt, Digiclean Solutions, AIRMO

Kost Capital

Investment CompanySE

Kost Capital is a Copenhagen-based venture capital fund investing in early-stage European companies across the food and bioeconomy sector, backed by Denmark's export and investment fund EIFO as sole limited partner. It writes pre-seed and seed checks of 250k to 1M euros into ingredients, nutrition platforms and enabling process technologies, working alongside its sister venture studio Kost Studio.

Backed:Orbisk

Energetik VC

Venture CapitalINTL

Energetik Ventures is a London-based early-stage venture capital fund backing founders building the next generation of energy technologies, with a portfolio spanning computing hardware, battery materials, storage systems, vertical farming and grid/EV software across Europe.

Backed:Vaire Computing, Intelligent Growth Solutions, Puraffinity, Lunar Energy, Moixa, Echion Technologies

Verdane

Venture CapitalSE

Verdane is an independent European growth equity investor that partners with tech-enabled and sustainable businesses to accelerate international growth, with offices in Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, London, Berlin and Munich. Founded in 2003, the firm has made more than 200 investments across digitalisation and decarbonization themes, spanning growth to buyout stages.

Backed:Factbird, Resman, SmartMotor, Åkerströms, Smartbox Group

Spark Capital

Venture CapitalINTL

Spark Capital is a US venture capital firm headquartered in Boston, San Francisco and New York, founded in 2005. It invests across stages from seed to growth in consumer, enterprise, fintech, AI and frontier tech, with holdings spanning software platforms as well as hardware, robotics and aerospace companies.

Backed:Oculus, Cruise, Sesame, CTRL-labs, MatX, Lightmatter, Stoke Space, The Bot Company, Flock Safety, WildType, Lumafield, Enfabrica, Base Power, Inversion, Mirror

Kick Kapital

Angel networkSE

Kick Capital is a Swedish business angel investment vehicle backed by 35 regional business angels and the state venture capital firm Saminvest, run jointly by Blekinge Business Incubator, Kalmar Science Park and Företagsfabriken i Kronoberg. It invests 300,000 to 500,000 SEK via convertible loans exclusively in startups admitted to these three incubator programs in southeastern Sweden.

Backed:Carbo Gaia, Neurawave, Upmanure, Fernandi Innovation, TXG ECOBogie, Guldhov EquiTech

Navigo

Investment CompanySE

Navigo Invest is a listed Swedish investment company based in Gothenburg, building a cluster of independent hub companies through acquisitions in sectors like industrial heat treatment, geotechnics, chemicals handling and finance, plus strategic stakes in listed and unlisted Nordic companies.

Backed:CalorMet, Alelion Energy Systems

The ecosystem

ALL 1200 COMPANIES →

Who builds, supplies and enables hardtech across the Nordics, from garage startups to industrial giants. Browse by role, phase and vertical.

Oplana Resurs AB

SupplierServices & EngineeringSE

Provides consulting services in project management and resource planning for industrial projects.

Dirac

ProductConsumer HardwareSE

Develops digital audio processing technology for enhanced sound experiences in consumer electronics.

Mips

ProductConsumer HardwareSE

Specializes in helmet safety systems that reduce rotational motion, enhancing protection in various sports and activities.

RaySearch Laboratories

ProductHealth & MedtechSE

RaySearch Laboratories is a medical technology company that develops advanced software solutions for improved cancer treatment, specializing in radiation therapy.

Resilco

ProductEnergy & GridINTL

Develops sustainable energy solutions, focusing on renewable energy projects and environmental consulting.

Capra Robotics

ProductRobotics & AutomationMobility & TransportDK

Danish manufacturer of the Capra Hircus, an autonomous mobile robot built to bridge indoor and outdoor logistics with a patented kinematic model and four-wheel chassis for challenging terrain.

Fida Biosystems

ProductHealth & MedtechDK

Fida Biosystems develops the Fida Neo instrument, based on its proprietary Flow-Induced Dispersion Analysis (FIDA) technology, for in-solution measurement of biomolecule size, binding affinity, kinetics and quality.

Azane Fuel Solutions

ProductHydrogen & FuelsNO

Azane Fuel Solutions is a technology company, focused on providing solutions for small-scale ammonia bunkering.

Beamonics

ProductManufacturing & Industrial TechSE

Beamonics develops and manufactures high-performance gas analyzers based on Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) for industrial gas and emissions measurement.

Ependion

ProductComputing & ConnectivitySE

Provides digital solutions for secure control, management, visualization, and data communication.

Amphi-tech

ProductClimate & EnvironmentRobotics & AutomationSE

Amphi-tech is a Swedish company specializing in inspection, cleaning, and maintenance of drinking water reservoirs using proprietary underwater robotics.

Obducat B

ProductSemiconductors & PhotonicsAdvanced MaterialsSE

Provides nanoimprint lithography solutions for advanced micro- and nanostructuring.

One sharp email, every two weeks.

Hardtech news from the Nordics and beyond, new raises, events worth travelling for, and the deadlines you should not miss.

Raising for something innovative, complex and physical? Apply in five minutes. We curate, and your round reaches the readers of the newsletter, including the investors on the map. The list is open for the first entries.

The podcast

ALL 37 EPISODES →

Conversations with the founders and funders of Nordic hardtech.

EP 30

Per Brickstad – Transparent & the Quest for Timeless Tech

#30. The Quest for Timeless Tech Per Brickstad , founder and chief designer at Transparent , joins us in our 30th episode – a milestone worth noting. Transparent is on a mission to become the world’s first circular tech brand, building modular and upgradable audio gear that challenges consumer electronics’ throwaway logic. From a Stockholm design studio to a global hardware company, this is the st

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EP 32

Daniel Wentz – Greenely & the Rise of the Virtual Power Plant

#32. The Rise of the Virtual Power Plant Daniel Wentz , Chief Product Officer at Greenely , joins the podcast to unpack one of the most interesting shifts in consumer energy: the rise of home batteries, intelligent orchestration, and virtual power plants. With a background leading global connected-device software at Electrolux, he shares why trust and control are the foundation of any energy produ

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EP 16

Anders Hässel och Nenda: Streamingrevolutionen för företag [SWE]

#16. Streamingrevolutionen för företag Anders Hässel , vd och grundare av Nenda , gästar podden och berättar hur bolaget utvecklar en modern streamingplattform för företag – med hårdvara, molntjänster och affärsmodeller anpassade för B2B-marknaden. Målet: att ersätta föråldrade TV‑lösningar med smart, skalbar teknik. Nenda grundades med en tydlig idé: att förändra hur företag inom hotell, vård och

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EP 5

Rickard Bröms och Vässla: Full gas till fritt fall [SWE]

#5. Full gas till fritt fall Rickard Bröms , grundare av Vässla , gästar podden och berättar hur bolaget gick från Blockets enda elmoppe till internationell elfordonssatsning – och till slut in i rekonstruktion. Vi pratar om produktstrategi, supply chain, kapitaljakt och vad som händer när verkligheten kör över visionen. Men också om hur en idé kan leva vidare, även efter en konkurs. I det här avs

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EP 22

Christoffer Johnsson: Från stock till kod – hur Taigatech transformerar en miljardindustri [SWE]

Det här avsnittet görs i samarbete med The Yard – en coworkingmiljö och verkstad för hardtech-startups i Göteborg. En kreativ plats med industriell känsla för dig som bygger fysiska produkter. Avsnitt 22. Från stock till kod – hur Taigatech transformerar en miljardindustri Christoffer Johnsson , vd på Taigatech, gästar podden och berättar hur bolaget kombinerar AI och industriell automation för at

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EP 36

Monica Bellgran – Produktionsänglar & Sveriges bortglömda konkurrensfördel [SWE]

36. Produktionsänglar & Sveriges bortglömda konkurrensfördel Monica Bellgran , vicerektor för innovation vid Mälardalen Universitet och medgrundare av Produktionsänglar , gästar podden för att prata om en av hardtech-världens mest underskattade utmaningar: att gå från prototyp till produktion. Från industrialisering och leverantörskedjor till automation, AI och geopolitik förklarar hon varför så m

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EP 11

Staffan Stymne och T.Loop: Spillvirke för AI-eran

#11. Spillvirke för för AI-eran Staffan Stymne , vd och medgrundare av T.Loop gästar podden och berättar hur de bygger datacenter som både driver AI och balanserar elnätet – med återbruk, överskottsenergi och smart lokalisering som kärna. Med 30 års erfarenhet från energisektorn tog Staffan steget in i tech för att visa att datakraft inte behöver kosta klimatet. I dag bygger T.Loop för den nya era

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EP 23

Linda Krondahl från Things: Från hype till handling – hur deeptech blir business [SWE]

Avsnitt 23. Från hype till handling – hur deeptech blir business Linda Krondahl , vd på Things och medgrundare till Ignite Sweden , gästar podden och berättar om sin resa från solenergiprojekt i Indien till att bygga ett nav för deeptech i Sverige. Det här är ett avsnitt om hur affärer slår visioner – och varför svenska storbolag måste vakna. Vi pratar om hur Things blev en katalysator för hardtec

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EP 29

Johan Outinen – Elvy & the Energy Subscription Play: 15 Years of Heat, Trust and Risk [ENG]

#29. Elvy & the Energy Subscription Play: 15 Years of Heat, Trust and Risk Johan Outinen , CEO and co-founder of Elvy Energy , joins the pod to explain why households should lock in their energy for the next 15 years, and how simplicity can unlock the transition. Elvy Energy is rewriting the rules of home energy with flat-rate subscriptions that cover installation, insurance, maintenance, and even

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EP 1

Stefan Ytterborn och Cake: Från hype till haveri

#1. Från hype till haveri Stefan Ytterborn , grundare av elfordonsbolaget Cake , gästar premiäravsnittet av Hårdvarupodden (numer Nordic Hardtech Podcast). Vi pratar om hela bolagsresan – från vision och hype till konkurs – och om vad andra kan lära sig av en resa som gick snabbt, snyggt och slutade tvärt. Cake satte en ny standard för elfordon. Men att bygga hårdvara, skala globalt och finansiera

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EP 17

Alexander Osika om Glorb, SNRGY och att kickstarta hårdvara på riktigt [SWE]

#17.Om Glorb, SNRGY och att kickstarta hårdvara på riktigt Alexander Osika , vd och medgrundare av SNRGY Studios , gästar podden och berättar hur teamet tog Glorb – ett smart ljuskonstverk – från idé till marknad. Med bakgrund från Plejd och Einride, och med en passion för produktdesign, har Alexander blivit en av Sveriges mest spännande hårdvarubyggare. Här delar han resan bakom Glorb – från prot

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EP 33

Leo Ballesteros – Atonemo & When to Ignore the Market (At First)

#33: When to Ignore the Market (At First) Leo Ballesteros , founder of Atonemo , joins the podcast to share a brutally honest take on what it actually takes to build a consumer hardware company from scratch. From feature overload to ruthless simplification, this episode is about learning by doing. Every single day. Atonemo is building consumer electronics at the intersection of hardware, software

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Insights

ALL INSIGHTS →

What we have learned about building, scaling and funding hard things in the Nordics.

INSIGHT

When Hardware Meets Awesome

Johan Ronnestam argues hardtech brands need archetypes and cultural resonance, not just working tech, to survive AI-driven disruption.

READ →
INSIGHT

The Nordic Heat List: Ten Nordic Companies Turning Heat into Hardtech

Profiles ten Nordic companies turning industrial and household heat into hardtech-driven climate solutions.

READ →
INSIGHT

Betting the House on 15-Year Subscriptions

Elvy Energy's CEO explains why flat-rate 15-year energy subscriptions could become the future default for households.

READ →
INSIGHT

Human-in-the-Loop: The Economics of Staying in Control

Argues Nordic automation succeeds by keeping humans in the loop, turning oversight into a strategic economic advantage over full autonomy.

READ →
INSIGHT

Emilia Brandt on Why Growth Needs More Than Grit: and How Recuro Delivers

Recuro's new CEO explains why smart structure, not brute force, is what actually drives hardtech growth.

READ →
INSIGHT

The Hard Way: The Nordic Way

Nordic hardtech founders keep choosing complex, regulated, physical-world industries over easy, fast-scaling opportunities.

READ →
INSIGHT

Print, Charge, Scale: Then Go Again

How Exeger's Giovanni Fili built a flexible solar cell platform and factory from scratch against the odds.

READ →
INSIGHT

Karoly Szipka on Making Machines Talk: and Building a Business Around It

IPercept's founder explains how CNC diagnostics and machine data could save Europe's aging industrial expertise.

READ →
INSIGHT

Built to Endure: How Nordic Hardtech Turns Fear into Function

Explores how fear, war, and geopolitical uncertainty are reshaping Nordic hardtech into a driver of resilience and dual-use innovation.

READ →
INSIGHT

Snart nytt år – vem ska jag prata med?

Hårdvarupodden ångar vidare in i 2025 och stora nyheter utlovas i Q1. Samtidigt söker vi fler som vill intervjuas i podden. Vem ska jag prata med i 2025?

READ →
INSIGHT

Deep Tech Needs to Go Deeper (Except Here)

A guest column argues Europe should focus on defensible niches like physical AI, quantum applications and precision biomanufacturing instead of chasing China everywhere.

READ →
INSIGHT

Vi ses snart!

Hårdvarupodden är under utveckling och de första avsnitten släpps våren 2024.

READ →

Partners keep this open

The funding map, the podcast, the events and the newsletter are free for the whole ecosystem, made possible by partners who build Nordic hardtech with us.

LIGHTBRINGER

AI-driven patent filing for tech companies. Protect what you invent, at software speed.

OFFER: Free intro call with Lightbringer's patent team → LIGHTBRINGER.COM ↗
SISP

Swedish Incubators and Science Parks, the national infrastructure for innovation environments.

SISP.SE ↗
RECURO

Growth partner for tech and media companies, from strategy to execution.

RECURO.COM ↗
PARTNER WITH US

Kept accurate by the community

Anyone can suggest an investor, flag an error, or submit an event, a job or a raise. Every suggestion is checked and prepared before it goes live. Nothing publishes unreviewed.

One sharp email, every two weeks.

Hardtech news from the Nordics and beyond, new raises, events worth travelling for, and the deadlines you should not miss.