Nordic Hardtech Podcast (formerly Hårdvarupodden)

#31. Industrifonden & the State of Deep Tech 2025Mala Valroy, Investment Manager at Industrifonden, joins the podcast to share her journey from biochemistry and startups to leading investments in deep tech. With Industrifonden’s unique evergreen model, she breaks down what it really takes to earn a term sheet in 2025, why relationships matter more than pitch decks, and how resilience and sustainability are inseparable in building the future.This episode is sponsored by our partner Lightbringer, the AI-powered platform simplifying the patent process.In this episode:✅ Mala’s path from the lab bench to VC boardrooms✅ Industrifonden’s evergreen take on deep tech✅ Why the best founders are often “difficult”✅ Building long-term relationships – before fundraising✅ Why sustainability and resilience are two sides of the same coin✅ Quantum, AI, and the technologies redefining the next decadeConnect & ContributeHave a guest we should feature? An idea worth exploring? Feedback you’d like to share?Reach out at hello@nordichardtech.com, connect with us on LinkedIn, or visit nordichardtech.com.Spread the wordTell a colleague. Tag a friend. Let’s build the Nordic hardtech community together. For more insights, knowledge, and inspiration, visit nordichardtech.com.

#30. The Quest for Timeless TechPer Brickstad, founder and chief designer at Transparent, joins us in our 30th episode – a milestone worth noting. Transparent is on a mission to become the world’s first circular tech brand, building modular and upgradable audio gear that challenges consumer electronics’ throwaway logic.From a Stockholm design studio to a global hardware company, this is the story of how passion for music, sustainability and design became an international business.In this episode:✅ Why industrial design must enter early✅ How Transparent’s first concept went viral and launched through crowdfunding✅ The challenge of building timeless, modular hardware that lasts for generations✅ Growing globally via design retail rather than tech press✅ Why long-term investors matter more than quick VC moneyThis episode sponsored by our partner Lightbringer, an AI-powered patent platform helping tech companies protect their edge fast, with in-house legal expertise.Connect & ContributeHave a guest we should feature? An idea worth exploring? Feedback to share?📩 hello@nordichardtech.com | LinkedIn | nordichardtech.comSpread the wordell a colleague. Tag someone in your network. Let’s keep building the leading Nordic hardtech community.

#29. Elvy & the Energy Subscription Play: 15 Years of Heat, Trust and RiskJohan Outinen, CEO and co-founder of Elvy Energy, joins the pod to explain why households should lock in their energy for the next 15 years, and how simplicity can unlock the transition.Elvy Energy is rewriting the rules of home energy with flat-rate subscriptions that cover installation, insurance, maintenance, and even market trading. From the cold reality of –46°C in northern Sweden to contracts stretching into the 2040s, Johan shares why trust is the real bottleneck — and how Elvy plans to overcome it.In this episode:✅ Why Elvy believes 15-year energy contracts are the future✅ How to build customer trust when the stakes are survival✅ The financial engineering behind $165M in credit facilities✅ What expansion in Germany and the UK could look like✅ Why “don’t build for subsidies” is a mantra worth repeatingConnect & ContributeHave a guest we should feature? An idea worth exploring? Feedback you'd like to share?Reach out at hello@nordichardtech.com, connect with us on LinkedIn, or visit nordichardtech.com.Spread the wordTell a colleague. Tag a friend. Let’s build this community together.

Episode 28: From Legal Grind to Founder SpeedDominic Davies, co-founder of Lightbringer, joins the pod to talk patents, automation and founder-first IP. With a background in both software and patent law, he’s now building a system that aims to replace the traditional patent firm entirely — starting with the needs of deeptech startups.From knowledge graphs to GPT-3, Lightbringer was born out of frustration with how things work, and belief that IP doesn’t have to be a bottleneck. This is the story of how AI can rebuild trust, speed and strategic value into one of tech’s most painful processes.In this episode:✅ Why the traditional patent process is broken — and what founders can do instead✅ How Lightbringer turned AI into a full-stack IP engine✅ When to file (and when to definitely not rely on that NDA)✅ Why investors care more about your patent strategy than you think✅ What happens when AI outpaces the knowledge workers who thought they were safe✅ Building fast teams in Sweden, and why the ecosystem is shiftingConnect & ContributeHave a guest we should feature? An idea worth exploring? Feedback you'd like to share?Reach out at hello@nordichardtech.com, connect on LinkedIn, or visit nordichardtech.com.Tag a friend. Share with a founder. Let’s build the Nordic hardtech scene together.More insights at nordichardtech.com.

Episode #27 – IPercept & the CNC Whisperers: From PhD to Predictive PowerKaroly Szipka, founder and CEO of IPercept, joins the podcast to share how a research project on machine efficiency became a fast-scaling deeptech company with some of Europe’s largest industrial players as customers. With AI, patented hardware, and a “fitness tracker” for CNC machines, IPercept is redefining predictive maintenance for modern manufacturing.Born out of KTH and backed by years of R&D, IPercept is a case study in how Swedish academia, industry, and startups can collaborate – and why solving Europe’s industrial skills gap starts with data and smart tools.In this episode:✅ How IPercept is creating a new category in predictive maintenance✅ Lessons from scaling a hardware-based B2B deeptech solution✅ Why CNC machines deserve more attention than music✅ How deep partnerships with machine builders drive growth✅ Why the future of European manufacturing is powered by people – and factsConnect & ContributeHave a guest we should feature? An idea worth exploring? Feedback you'd like to share?Reach out at hello@nordichardtech.com, connect on LinkedIn, or visit nordichardtech.com.Tag a friend. Share with a founder. Let’s build the Nordic hardtech scene together.More insights at nordichardtech.com.

Episode #26 Build, Share, Repeat: How Makerspace and ihopa Enable Hardware for the MassesAlexander Engl joins the pod to talk about Stockholm Makerspace – a member-run 24/7 creative hub that empowers hardware builders, tinkerers and early-stage founders to bring physical ideas to life, without public funding or gatekeepers. We explore how the space grew to 1000+ members, how it's staying independent in a soft money ecosystem, and why shared tools are critical infrastructure for Nordic innovation.Alexander also shares lessons from ihopa – a startup built around shared product access – and what it taught him about scaling physical systems in a world still wired for ownership.In this episode:✅ How ihopa is reshaping access to high-quality tools and gear✅ Why physical tech needs physical infrastructure✅ The underrated power of maker communities✅ Why most public innovation funding is missing the point✅ What Sweden’s startup ecosystem can learn from Berlin, Vienna and beyondConnect & ContributeHave a guest we should feature? An idea worth exploring? Feedback you'd like to share?Reach out at hello@nordichardtech.com, connect on LinkedIn, or visit nordichardtech.com.Tag a friend. Share with a founder. Let’s build the Nordic hardtech scene together.More insights at nordichardtech.com.