Field notes from Nordic hardtech.

The Hard Way: The Nordic Way

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

The game beneath the game

Elite football's technology stack, from smart balls to computer vision, shows how Nordic hardtech is proving itself on the pitch.

Europe Doesn't Have an Innovation Problem

KTH Innovation's Lisa Eriksson argues fragmentation, not lack of innovation, holds back Europe's deeptech scaleups.

Norway Isn’t Loud. That Might Be Its Advantage.

A guest essay on why Norway's understated hardtech ecosystem in defence, robotics and energy is becoming strategically important.

Geography Is Back On The Map

Eight Nordic hardtech firms show that staying close to factories and industry can be a competitive edge, not a limit.

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.

Built in Sweden? Only if you survive the manufacturing gap first

Monica Bellgran explains why Swedish hardware startups bring in industrialization too late and what that risks.

The New Industrial Stack

Nine Nordic startups are building the software layer that lets factories be programmed like computers.

The Validation Economy

Donut Lab's battery claims show how independent validation itself becomes strategic currency in deep hardware.

When policy becomes a product constraint

Industrial policy now shapes hardtech product decisions early, forcing founders to decide how much strategic control to trade for public support.

When infrastructure thinks like nature

Flox's CTO explains how edge hardware, acoustics and AI guide wildlife away from roads, railways and airports.

From Cockpit to Cap Table: Inside Nordic Defense Tech

A fighter pilot turned VC explains why defense tech founders validate with the wrong people.

The Deeptech Funnel: Why European Legacy Industry Must Stop Being a Spectator

Argues European legacy industry must engage deeptech startups earlier, during the demonstration phase, instead of waiting for finished technology.

Predictions for 2026

Nordic and European hardtech voices share predictions on AI, energy resilience, robotics and Europe's push to lead in 2026.

Building Before You Ask for Permission

Atonemo's founder explains how reduction, timing and restraint shape consumer hardware development.

The Hardtech Christmas List: What Nordic Founders Really Want

A December reflection on the unglamorous but essential conditions Nordic hardtech founders actually need to keep building.

The Unscalable Edge: why hardtech wins by starting slow

Argues that hardtech's early, unscalable phase builds the real-world knowledge that later makes scale possible.

Geography Is Now Part of the Product

Asia's rising tensions are turning geography into a core engineering and procurement variable for Nordic hardtech firms.

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.

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.

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.

Matter Over Code: The Nordic Path to Resilient Technology

Nordic hardtech founders are pioneering a material renaissance, shifting innovation from silicon and code to advanced physical materials.

Under the Surface: How the Nordic Blue Hardtech Wave Is Rising

Nordic hardtech founders are turning to the ocean, building autonomous dredging robots, tidal kites and subsea sensors to drive a new blue economy.

Quantum That Counts: 10 Nordic Quantum Pioneers to Watch

A curated look at ten Nordic companies turning quantum research into commercial hardware and software.

From stubbornness to breakthroughs: the case for difficult founders

Industrifonden's Mala Valroy explains why she backs stubborn, bold deep tech founders over comfortable, consensus-seeking ones.

Glasses to ashes: why AR, VR and AI wearables keep failing: until they don’t

A decade of failed AR, VR and AI wearables shows execution, not vision, is hardtech's hardest problem.

Robotics That Count: 10 Bold Builders to Watch in the Nordics

A curated field guide to ten Nordic robotics companies showing where autonomy meets industry today.

When Hardware Meets Awesome

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

Who Makes the Nordic Hardtech Canon?

A playful editorial ranks the inventions and companies that define Nordic hardtech's lasting industrial legacy.

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.

Why IP Is Your First Investor: And Your Strongest Advantage

Dominic Davies argues founders must treat IP as an early strategic asset, not a legal afterthought, to win investor trust.

Print, Charge, Scale: Then Go Again

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

The EU–US Trade Deal has Landed – Why the Nordic Hardtech Ecosystem Must Act Now

A 15% tariff just hit Nordic exports to the US. Here’s why it’s a wake-up call for hardtech — and what we must do next.

Lovable Just Went Unicorn: But Don't Let Deeptech Starve

A Nordic Hardtech contributor warns that Lovable's software unicorn success shouldn't overshadow the need to fund and support slower, harder deeptech innovation.

Congrats Lovable – A Cautionary Tale for Deeptech?

Lovable just became Europe’s latest unicorn – and it’s a win for Swedish innovation. But deeptech founders, take note: speed isn’t everything. If capital keeps chasing AI hype, critical climate and resilience tech may get left behind.

Your product isn’t ready: and Michael Pica knows why

Hardware Velocity's Michael Pica explains why hardtech founders must validate demand before scaling production, not just believe in their idea.

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.

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.

Nordic Hardtech x Lightbringer: IP just got interesting!

Tired of slow, expensive patents? Lightbringer flips the script. Discover how AI-driven IP can help you protect ideas, raise capital, and build real leverage.

Less is More: How Flic Pushed the Button on Scalable Hardware

How Flic turned a simple Bluetooth button into a profitable, VC-free global hardware business.

Gothenburg Rising: where legacy meets innovation

An analysis of how Gothenburg's industrial legacy and collaborative culture are fueling its rise as a Nordic hardtech hub.

Now Launching: Nordic Hardtech

TALES FROM THE TECH HUB: HARDWARE EDITION på The Yard i Göteborg (2 april)

Välkommen till Göteborgs techarena "The Yard" på ett exklusivt event om hur man bygger hårdvarubolag.

Gillar du podden? Betygsätt den!

Hårdvarupodden har funnits sedan juni 2024. Vi kommer fortsätta expandera under 2025 och fler nyheter kommer inom kort. Podden finns för lyssnarna – inget annat. Så, hur kan vi bli ännu bättre?

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?

Höstens åtta avsnitt – här är lärdomarna och råden

Under hösten det släppts åtta avsnitt där jag intervjuat ledare för hårdvarubolag. Det har varit åtta unika samtal, med gemensamma nämnare. Vad kan andra (hårdvaru)bolagsbyggare lära sig?

Livepodd i Göteborg på Evertiq-mässan

Torsdag den 19 september besöker podden Evertiq-mässan i Göteborg för att intervjua två intressanta bolag live på scenen: Airolit och Frontside. Jag (Jonas) står även på mässgolvet för samtal.

Vi är tillbaka – snart!

Efter en framgångsrik beta-period under våren, med massor av positiv feedback, så kommer Hårdvarupodden att återlanseras under hösten. Nya avsnitt inom kort! Vill du hjälpa till?

Beta-perioden är över - vad nu?

Under våren har vi spelat in fem avsnitt av Hårdvarupodden för att testa konceptet.

Vi är live!

På rekordtid (?) har vi gått från idé till handling och skapat Hårdvarupodden.

Vi ses snart!

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