Early moves matter.
So does showing up 10 times in a row. 🤓
This week marks our tenth edition of Nordic Hardtech Weekly, and we’re using the occasion to zoom in on something every founder talks about but few really master: growth.
Emilia Brandt has just stepped in as CEO of Recuro, one of the most active growth partners in the Nordic hardtech scene. In this week’s main feature, she shares her perspective on what scaling actually requires — and why smart structure matters more than brute force.
Nordic Hardtech Partners 🤝
Nordic Hardtech is a community for builders of complex tech companies based on physical products. Here are some of our outstanding partners.
- Lightbringer: AI-powered patent platform helping tech companies protect their edge fast, with in-house legal expertise. Missed our recent IP webinar? Watch the replay!
- Recuro: Growth partner for hardtech and deeptech. Strategy, marketing, and scalable business models that drive real traction. Book an intro.
- SISP (Swedish Incubators & Science Parks): The network for 60+ incubators and science parks in Sweden, powering innovation and scaleups across the country. Find yours here.
- The Yard: Gothenburg’s industrial-chic hub for startups. Co-working, community, and serious hardware energy. Explore their memberships.
Nordic Hardtech Interview 🎙️
This week featuring growth and profits in media and tech.
Emilia Brandt on Why Growth Needs More Than Grit — and How Recuro Delivers
“You can’t tweak your way to traction”
Growth is back on the agenda — but it’s not the same old playbook. For Emilia Brandt, newly appointed CEO at Recuro, effective growth isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about building smarter systems from the start.
Recuro works with some of the most ambitious tech companies in the Nordics, helping them turn go-to-market confusion into momentum. And according to Emilia, that starts with a more grounded approach.
– Growth is no longer just about scale or churn reduction. Companies now realize they need to build forward, and that means efficiency, structure and clarity.
She stepped into the CEO role in June but has been part of Recuro’s core team since 2021, working hands-on with Nordic tech startups and scaleups. With a background in marketing and commercial strategy, she’s led both Recuro’s internal growth and client-facing initiatives across tech verticals.
– We’ve all worked on the client side, and that’s a key strength. Founders often get a deck from consultants or a campaign from an agency — we bridge that gap and work side-by-side to actually make things happen.
One of the most common mistakes Emilia sees in early-stage hardtech companies is skipping the market validation work and going straight to build. In her view, you can’t afford to iterate your way out of a mismatch. Before investing in prototyping, teams need real proof — through demand tests, early pilots and input from both engineering and commercial sides.
– You can’t tweak your way to traction. You need real signals early on, and a team that understands both the product and the market, says Emilia.
Recuro’s approach is built on that balance. The team combines commercial strategy with hands-on execution, using clear frameworks to avoid wheel reinvention. AI now plays a growing role in helping clients move faster, from segmentation to message testing.
– We know what the growth engine needs. With the right tools and structure, we help companies move faster and leaner, without cutting corners.
That also means rethinking how teams use data. Instead of over analyzing, Emilia emphasizes focus: choose the right KPIs, build solid tracking, and align the team around them.
Looking ahead, she sees companies restructuring around smaller, sharper core teams, supported by the right external input.
– You still need to own your customer journey. But AI changes what one person can handle. It’s no longer about building large growth teams, but about enabling the right setup with the right support.
For hardtech founders, Emilia adds, clarity like that isn’t a luxury — it’s a survival skill.
Lately ⏮️
Selected news from the hardtech ecosystem
- Swedish X Shore just raised 50 MSEK in one of the toughest markets out there. With pro-level savings and new regs kicking in, this shift is worth watching.
- Helsing’s Centaur AI recently completed a simulated mission with Saab’s Gripen fighter. Dual-use autonomy is accelerating — and the demo says a lot about what’s coming.
- Sweden has launched a national strategy for tech-driven industrial strength. From advanced manufacturing to dual-use innovation, the ambition level just got an upgrade.
- T.Loop raised 33 MSEK to expand its circular battery systems. With both public and private backing, they’re gearing up for scale. And if you're keen to join the team, there's an opening.
Missed the IP session? It’s still your move.
On Tuesday, we hosted a live session with Lightbringer on how to turn IP into a strategic tool for funding. Founders joined to hear Ola Wassvik share insights from building a 300+ patent portfolio, and why founder-first IP is overdue.
Up next ⏭️
What's brewing in the community?
- Speaking of Recuro: they are now hiring a Head of Commercial Tech to drive AI-powered growth execution. For the right builder, this is a front-row seat to the Nordic hardtech scale-up scene.
- Umeå University Holding is on the hunt for a CEO to lead its incubator arm, driving next-gen startups from research to real-world impact in Västerbotten. A unique chance to shape the region’s innovation engine.
- Grale (formerly PlasticFri) in Stockholm is hiring a Chief Operating Officer to drive scale at a startup tackling plastic pollution. A strategic role with real impact in circular hardtech.
- Meta is hiring a Nordics Country Director to lead policy, partnerships and growth across the region. A senior role with clear influence on AI, infrastructure and the wider tech landscape.
- 👋 Are you OUR next connector? Help Nordic Hardtech grow partnerships and stay close to the people building real stuff — a few hours when it counts. Drop us an email to find out more.
Stay in the loop – follow us on Spotify
Interviews, insights and signals from the Nordic hardtech scene — curated to keep you sharp.
Nordic Hardtech is a platform for the hardtech ecosystem — sharing knowledge, bringing inspiration, and building community through podcasts, newsletters, events, and more.
💸 Fuel up. Scaling takes capital — The Nordic Hardtech Funding List shows you where to find it.
💥Get involved. Pitch a topic. Join the podcast. Get on the investor list–if you're hardtech.
→ Spotify | LinkedIn | nordichardtech.com (beta!)
📩 hello@nordichardtech.com
