Eight startups, investors from across the country, and meetings that could lead to future business opportunities. Dalarna Startup Arena featured compelling presentations and generated significant interest in the companies. But just as important were the meetings with potential customers, investors, and strategic partners that could open doors to pilot projects, investments, and new business partnerships.
On October 21, startups, investors, and business leaders gathered at Dalarna Science Park in Borlänge. Eight companies presented their solutions in areas such as AI, digital healthcare, and industrial technology. It was a day filled with questions, lively discussions, and one-on-one meetings.
One of the companies that gave a pitch was Syntes AB, which makes corporate data easier to understand and use through an AI-based platform.
“We received a fantastic response, new opportunities, and concrete follow-up meetings with both investors and large companies. This really reinforces our belief that we’re on the right track,” says Victor Lissola Nilsson of Syntes.
Investors were impressed by the companies
When the pitch panel summarized the presentations, the investors highlighted the companies’ strong business concepts, industry knowledge, and potential for growth. The panel particularly appreciated the fact that several of the entrepreneurs themselves have experience in the industries where they are now developing new products and services.
Alexander Hjertström from BackingMinds was impressed by what he saw.
– Very good presentations. But I’d like to add that you should dare to look beyond the immediate and think even bigger.
Among other things, he referred to how much capital the companies plan to raise. Other panelists also saw opportunities for the entrepreneurs to pursue larger funding rounds and thereby give their companies a better chance of reaching the market.
Alexander also highlighted how rapid technological advancements are changing the possibilities for building businesses. Today, it’s just as easy to build an international business from Dalarna as it is from a major city.
“Take your ideas and run with them, but think big,” he urged the entrepreneurs.
The panel also offered concrete advice on testing products early on, charging for pilot projects, and having the courage to keep going even when faced with rejection.
Three companies attracted interest
Anette Nordvall, a partner at Butterfly Ventures, attended the Dalarna Startup Arena for the first time. Earlier that day, she had already made contact with three companies that had piqued her interest. For her, these in-person meetings are an important part of the process of finding companies to invest in.
“We’re still human beings, after all,” says Anette Nordvall.
She believes it’s just as important to visit Borlänge as it is to visit Oslo or Copenhagen. There are interesting companies in many places, and it’s important to be where they are.
More opportunities for in-person meetings
Dalarna Startup Arena brings together participants from all over Dalarna, as well as a growing number from other parts of the country. This year, the program was expanded to include a new feature that gave investors, business leaders, and the pitching companies better opportunities for in-depth discussions.
Mona Dalmats, who participated as an investor, appreciated the new format.
– I really appreciated the new feature this year, where investors could sit down around a table and discuss things with the companies giving their pitches. That’s when we investors can really dig deep and see what exciting opportunities there are to pursue.
She also points out that the event has evolved into a gathering place that attracts participants from both northern and southern Dalarna, as well as from other parts of Sweden.
When a Meeting Leads to Something More
The importance of personal connections became clear when Svepreg and Södra talked about their relationship, which had developed, in part, through a meeting at the Dalarna Startup Arena a couple of years ago.
Svepreg is developing technology to measure lumber directly as it is loaded onto log trucks. The companies had been in contact previously, but the meeting helped foster continued dialogue, which, among other things, led to a demonstration of the technology.
On stage, they talked about how a partnership between a smaller and a larger company can develop. It’s about finding the right people, understanding each other’s needs, and giving new solutions the opportunity to be tested in real-world situations.
It is also a key part of the mission of Dalarna Startup Arena: to facilitate meetings between startups and potential customers, pilot customers, and strategic partners that can lead to concrete business opportunities.
More Entrepreneurs Strengthen Dalarna
During the day, the audience also got to try their hand at being investors by allocating fictitious capital among the eight companies. Stackship, which is developing a cloud platform that allows companies and organizations to retain control over their data, received the most votes.
“Last year, Marcus and I were sitting in the audience. We had just started the company and were watching everyone give their pitches, thinking: ‘What if we get to stand up there someday?’ Now, a year later, we’re standing here as the winners of the vote. It feels absolutely amazing,” says Pontus Hjort of Stackship.
Dimitri Haid of the Clas Ohlson Foundation, a partner of Dalarna Startup Arena, emphasized the importance of creating more opportunities for entrepreneurs.
“Days like these are needed to foster more entrepreneurship and innovation, especially in Dalarna,” he says.
He believes that more growing companies can help retain talent and create more jobs in the region.
Many new and valuable contacts
After the presentations on stage, discussions continued among entrepreneurs, investors, and companies. For Combly, which is developing an AI assistant for administrative tasks, this was its first time at the Dalarna Startup Arena.
“We’re impressed by the event. The mix of startups, investors, and partners was well-balanced and felt relevant to us. We’re heading home with many valuable contacts,” says Johan Emius of Combly.
Fixkod, which helps real estate companies digitize the monitoring of their suppliers, participated for the third year in a row. But this year marked its first time pitching from the stage.
“It was a fantastic event, just like in previous years. We now hope that more people have taken notice of us,” says Stefan Hvalgren from Fixkod.
By the end of the day, new connections had been made and several investors had found companies to follow up on. As the example of Svepreg and Södra shows, a meeting at the Dalarna Startup Arena can be the start of something bigger, even if it sometimes takes time to see where it leads.
Dalarna Startup Arena was organized by Dalarna Science Park as part of Dalarna Innovation Days, in partnership with the Clas Ohlson Foundation.
