Startup Company of the Year
by Techarena
3-4 February 2027
Strawberry Arena, Stockholm
TECHARENA CHALLENGE
The entrepreneur competition for the Nordics' best startup & growth companies
WINNERS 2026
Meet the winners of 2026
Growth Company of the Year
by Techarena
Meela
Audience Award
by HPE & NVIDIA
Intric
Social Impact Award
by Nordea
Seapattern
Industrial Award
by Teknikföretagen
Seapattern
Dream Award
by SPP
Meela
International Expansion Award
by Business Sweden
Intric
TECHARENA CHALLENGE
The entrepreneur competition for the Nordics' best startup & growth companies
Since 2014 Techarena has organized an annual entrepreneurial competition that’s open to all Swedish and Nordic companies scaling a unique innovation or business idea with the potential to be commercialized on the global market.
All 20 finalists will receive an exclusive package, including:
• Exhibition space at Techarena in Almedalen
• Accommodation in the Founders Village
• Access to Networking events like TechMingle
• Ferry travel to and from Visby
• Marketing exposure through Techarena’s channels
What’s the most prominent startup and scale-up in the Nordics?
Awards
Startup Company of the Year
Growth Company of the Year
Audience Award
Social Impact Award
Industrial Award
Dream Award
International Award
Criteria
The competition is open to all companies, regardless of company form, business area of phase.
The company must:
- Be entrepreneurial
- Have an unique technology, concept or business idea.
-Be located in the Nordics/ Baltics
Assessment
The jury assesses the company and business idea based on:
- Scalability
- Uniqueness
- Market potential
- Global applicability
- Competence within the team
Some words from our previous finalists
I spent a couple of years in the US, and when I came back to Stockholm I kept hearing about Techarena. The ecosystem the event has built didn't exist when I left, and winning it with Brickanta in our very first year gave us momentum we're still riding.
Lucas Otterling
CEO & Co-Founder Brickanta
Changing Economy
Changing Economy
Changing Economy
I loved pitching at Techarenan. There is something special about standing on that stage in the middle of Almedalen, surrounded by founders who care deeply about what they are building, plus the investors and policymakers who can actually move things forward. Winning the Dream Award and Growth Company of the Year was the cherry on top, but honestly the experience alone would have been worth it. Thank you to the Techarena team for being absolute legends!
Amalie Marie Angelskar
CCO & Co-Founder, Meela
Changing Economy
The Techarena Challenge during Almedalen was a great experience and one of the highlights of our week. It gave us a great opportunity to meet highly relevant industry leaders, sharpen our story, and have a couple of genuinely exciting days surrounded by ambitious founders and companies!
Elias Afrasiabi
CEO & Co-Founder Dentio
Changing Economy
Winners of TECHARENA Challenge
Startup Company of the Year: Brickanta
Growth Company of the Year: Meela
Audience Award: Intric
Social Impact Award: Seapattern
Industrial Award: Seapattern
Dream Award: Meela
International Expansion Award: Intric
Startup Company of the Year: AI BOB
Growth Company of the Year: Magma
Audience Award: Talentium
Social Impact Award: Magma
Industrial Award: Embedl
Dream Award: Alba Health
Startup Company of the Year – MediTuner
Growth Company of the Year – NorNorm
Public Choice Award – Vidde Snow Mobility
Social Impact Award – Hormona
Industrial Award – iPercept
Business Award – AI Medical Technology
Startup Company of the Year – PlasticFri
Growth Company of the Year – Platform24
Audience Award – Adverty
Industrial Award – Ferroamp
Social Impact Award – Quizrr
Business Award – Skyqraft
AI & Technical edge award –ClimateView
Startup Company of the Year – Grace Health
Growth Company of the Year – Dynamic Code
Audience Award – Nectarine Heath
Industrial Award – Climeon
Social Impact Award – Grace Health
Business Award – Exeger
AI & Technical edge award – Sana Labs
Startup Company of the Year – Elypta
Growth Company of the Year- Too Good To Go
Audience Award – The Humble Co.
Industrial Award – Sentina Bay
Social Impact Award – TrusTrace
Startup Company of the Year – Kognity
Growth Company of the Year – Matsmart
Audience Award – PantaPåsen
Industrial Award – Swedish Algae Factory
Social Impact Award – Moving Floor
Startup Company of the Year – Sprinklebit
Growth Company of the Year – SaltX
Audience Award – Prindit
Industrial Award – SaltX
Social Impact Award – Coala Life
Startup Company of the Year – Cellink
Growth Company of the Year – Min Doktor
Audience Award – Cellink
Industrial Award – Cellink
Startup Company of the Year – Furhat Robotics
Growth Company of the Year – Visiba Group