koja.works challenges slack, finnish unicorn(!) and 2 arch-rivals merging 👾
*TGI(m)F. edition 146. i’m kay, and this is your 360º-view of the nordic startup ecosystem. covering culture + growth on a weekly basis, delivered to your screen for easy reading every sunday 💌
notices
‣ call incoming 📞 📞 📞 ! drop your dilemmas or questions into the after-the-beep hotline and we (me and nico) will get back to you. new episodes come out last wednesday of the month!
nordic pov
‣ Denmark
NanoGuard Crop Solutions, the protein-based pest control company, is awarded the Heyfunding Grant (powered by Antler).
Ugly Duckling Ventures hire Sabrina Højbjerg Bokhari as their Director of Operations.
Clever, the EV-charging startup have officially removed all hierarchical titles from employees at the company.
Tempty Foods launch a new product across 30 select 7-Eleven stores in Copenhagen.
BlinkTroll, the defence-tech company building an autonomous moving target system has raised a €1.5 million round led by Nordic VC Final Frontier.
Minerva Imaging, the company specialising in the development of targeted radioligand therapies, has strategically partnered with Nordic Capital and receives undisclosed funding.
‣ Sweden
Ecohelix, the biotech company developing wood-based biopolymers, secures €2.2m in funding through the EU LIFE Circular Economy and Quality of Life programme.
node.vc (amongst others) named on Sifted’s list of most active investors in Europe + Stockholm.
Koja.Works, the remote-work platform to challenge Slack, raises €90k in funding from a list of influential tech profiles including Daniel Ek + Caroline Farberger.
Engrate, the energy integration platform, raises a €2.5 million seed round led by global mobility and energy-focused VC Maniv.
Ivy Interactive, the startup helping companies create internal tools based on their data, raises €917K in a round led by Luminar Ventures.
Wave Ventures are backing Natively.dev, a tool that enables users to build real mobile apps using natural language.
DynamicTime AB, the startup developing a solution for automated time reporting receives investment from DalaCapital.
Read into the debate in Sweden right now on “996” ‘vs’ work-life-balance.
Lisa Åberg, Frederic Ljung and Vincent Touati-Tomas are the 3 latest operation advisors to join the Paebbl crew.
‣ Norway
Sparebank 1 Sogn og Fjordane and Sparebankstiftelsen Sogn og Fjordane merge to form The Drivkraft Foundation with €8.7 million to support entrepreneurial activity and business development in the region.
Impact StartUp Norge launch an accelerator program for companies solving social or environmental challenges and earmark €86.000 for each startup.
LegalTech company, Lexolve, raises roughly €900k after organising to pitch to 1 big room of investors, as opposed to going through a series of 1-1 meetings.
Good Game and Skagerrak Technologies, two leading e-sports players in Norway (and competitors) are merging with aims of capturing Nordic market.
Jeta SB wins “best student company award” in event organised by Ungt Entreprenørskap Norge
‣ Finland
Issue tracking and project management tool, Linear, raises a €71m Series C round at a €1B valuation (new unicorn!) from Sequoia Capital, 01 Advisors, + more.
Origin by Ocean, the company turning harmful algae in useful ingredients, secures a partnership with the German chemical manufacturer CABB Group.
FinanceKey, the real-time cash management & payment automation solution has secured €3 million in a round led by Maki.vc.
Cajo Technologies, the company providing manufacturers with sustainable product marking solutions, raises a Series B round from Emerald Technology Ventures.
Agenton.ai, the startup offering voice AI and conversational AI solutions has raised an undisclosed amount of capital from Gorilla Capital Fund III.
job board
☺︎ Antler, Northzone + Dreamcraft are all hiring (VC).
☺︎ Happy Socks are hiring a Brand Voice & Community Strategist
☺︎ No Isolation are hiring a Sales Manager
dates and action points
→ VC Platform Pre-Summer Meetup, 2nd of July at La Banchina in CPH.
→ Read the DLA Piper first ever Nordic VC Report 2025.
Thank you for tuning in! i’m always on the hunt for newsworthy content to bring to the mondayfriday audience. and, if you ask me, the best place is from the community itself. so, please drop your updates above and fill me in on any startup related news in the nordics. additionally, please leave me some feedback so i can keep improving ✨
yours weekly,
kay
* thank god it's (monday)friday
