Some rooms matter more than others. Mid-April, much of the Nordic startup and investor scene will be in Malmö, focused on conversations, capital and companies in motion. (20% off tickets, plus invite to join the Amyna lunch.)

Nordic Hardtech Weekly will take a short break after this issue and return on April 29. If there’s a company, topic or voice we should cover when we’re back, now’s the time to tell us. Until then, we hope to see you in Malmö. We’ll be on the ground. Details below.

• Lightbringer: AI-powered patent service helping tech companies protect their edge fast, with in-house legal expertise. Book an intro.
• Recuro: Growth partner for hardtech and deeptech. Scale with profit.
• SISP (Swedish Incubators & Science Parks): The network for 60+ incubators and science parks in Sweden. Find yours here.
• The Yard: Gothenburg’s hub for co-working, community, and serious hardware. Explore their memberships.

Welcome to Mashup: Where Physical AI meets capital

Physical AI is moving out of the lab and into logistics, infrastructure and defence. The question is no longer if, but who gets there first. In Malmö, many of them will be in the same room.

Mashup strips away most of what defines a typical conference. No long keynotes. No passive audiences. Instead, a curated, invite-only setup built around meetings, roundtables and side events where things actually move forward.

Roughly half the room is capital. The rest are companies building in categories that are harder to build, but harder to ignore. (You can get your ticket with 20% off here.)

Physical AI gets real

This year’s standout track is Physical AI & Robotics. Not as a concept, but as a deployment layer. Across warehouses, subsea environments, critical infrastructure and defence-adjacent systems.

Expect focused discussions on:

• Humanoids and whether the hype holds
• Sim-to-real transfer and the “last mile” problem
• Dual-use technologies across commercial and military
• Robotics in logistics and industrial environments

This is where software meets physics, and where investors are starting to pay close attention. Join them (and us) in Malmö.

Off-stage is where it happens – get your spot

Beyond the main track, a big part of Mashup happens in smaller, curated rooms.

Nordic Hardtech will be on the ground, co-hosting parts of the Physical AI track and a curated Amyna lunch on April 16. A smaller, invite-style gathering bringing together founders, investors and operators, including voices from the Ukrainian startup ecosystem.

This is a side event with limited spots and a separate sign-up.

If you care about where Physical AI is actually heading, this is one of the better rooms to be in.

👉 Get your Mashup ticket (20 % off!)
👉 Reserve a seat at the Amyna lunch

• Europe is stepping up efforts to counter drone threats without destructive methods. Vinnova and SPRIND back 12 teams building new systems, including one from Sweden.
• While drone threats are rising, real-world use cases are scaling. Everdrone raises €3.3M to expand autonomous drones for emergency healthcare in Sweden.
• Renasens raises €10M to tackle textile waste using a CO₂-based process for blended fabrics, where less than 1% currently becomes new fiber. Full story via Norrsken Launcher.
• The Donut Lab battery story isn’t settled. New clues suggest links to Swedish Holyvolt and a radically different production method, but the core questions remain unanswered.

Nordic Hardtech Weekly #44: Donut Lab and the Proof Problem

Independent tests confirm Donut Lab’s fast-charging performance at cell level, while key claims remain unverified. The story has become a live case study in how deep hardware is validated, funded and scrutinized.

Nordic HardtechJennifer Bark

• GU Ventures is hiring a business developer to work hands-on with deeptech spinouts across AI, robotics and advanced materials in Gothenburg. Apply here.
• Navigare Ventures is hiring in Stockholm to back the next generation of deeptech companies across AI, quantum and automation, bridging research and venture capital. Apply here.
• Defence is opening up for non-defence tech. FMV invites companies to test solutions for protecting critical infrastructure during “Battle Week”. Apply by April 29.

• Looking to fund circular solutions? LOOP Forum in Copenhagen (April 28–29) highlights Nordic and EU financing, with a growing focus on resource security.
• For more hardtech events across the Nordics and beyond, check out our Nordic Hardtech Event Map for 2026. The list is continuously updated — feel free to send in tips if there’s an event we should include.

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
📩 hello@nordichardtech.com

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