Nordics at SXSW 2026 While SXSW is a remarkable tech event, having approx 300.000 visitors over the event week, the amount of people has decreased from the pre-pandemic by numbers. So has the Finnish presence become slightly smaller, but perhaps more focused. Nordics used to be better glued together, and showed up with bigger, more coordinated delegations. Often with Nordic …

The funding raised by Finnish startups has reached historic levels, according to the latest impact report from the startup hub Maria 01. Sarita Runeberg, CEO of Maria 01, points out that economically challenging times have historically been the birthplace of many successful companies. She remains confident about the future. Finnish startups succeeded in raising capital in record-breaking fashion last year. …

The Polar Bear Pitching event, held for the tenth time, drew a significant number of international startups and media film crews to Oulu. The presentation by the Swiss company Ionic Wind was chosen as the best “ice hole pitch”—appropriately featuring modern cooling technology.Polar Bear Pitching is a business event where the main attraction is a startup pitching competition held in …