GoWest — Nordic Venture Capital Forum GoWest is one of the Nordics’ leading venture capital forums for startups, scale-ups, investors, and ecosystem leaders focused on the future of innovation and industry. Hosted in Gothenburg, Sweden, GoWest brings together founders, venture capitalists, angel investors, corporations, universities, policymakers, and talent from across Europe to accelerate the growth of ambitious technology companies — from pre-seed to Series A and beyond. At the intersection of deep tech, industrial transformation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, GoWest reflects the unique strengths of West Sweden: a region shaped by world-leading industry, engineering excellence, and an increasingly dynamic startup ecosystem. A MEETING PLACE FOR FOUNDERS, INVESTORS AND FUTURE INDUSTRIES GoWest exists to create meaningful connections between startups and capital. Over the course of several days, we facilitate high-quality matchmaking between founders and investors while also creating a platform for discussions around the future of European innovation, competitiveness, and technology leadership. The conference focuses especially on sectors where Europe — and the Nordics — have the potential to lead globally: Deep tech Climate tech Mobility and automotive innovation AI and emerging technologies Life science and health innovation Energy and electrification Industrial transformation Space and frontier technologies University spinouts and research commercialization GoWest is designed not only as an event, but as a catalyst for long-term collaboration between startups, investors, universities, corporations, and public stakeholders. WHAT HAPPENS AT GOWEST? GoWest combines structured investor matchmaking with inspiring stage content, networking opportunities, curated side events, and ecosystem-building activities.The conference includes: Startup-investor matchmaking Pitch sessions and founder showcases Investor programs and LP activities Keynotes and panel discussions Policy and innovation forums Workshops and breakout sessions Community gatherings and side events Networking experiences across Gothenburg Every year, hundreds of startups and investors participate in curated meetings designed to create real business opportunities and long-term relationships. A PLATFORM FOR THE NORDIC INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM GoWest is built around collaboration. We work closely with incubators, science parks, universities, accelerators, investors, corporations, and public organizations across the Nordics and Europe to strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem. The conference is founded by Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg and developed together with ecosystem partners who share a vision of building globally competitive technology companies from Europe. WHY VOLUNTEER AT GoWest? GoWest is powered by people who are passionate about innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and building meaningful experiences. As a volunteer, you become part of an international community working at the center of the Nordic startup and investment ecosystem. This is an opportunity to: Build experience in event production and international conferences Meet founders, investors, and industry leaders Expand your professional network Gain insight into startups, venture capital, and innovation Develop communication, coordination, and operational skills Work alongside an ambitious and welcoming team Get behind-the-scenes access to one of the Nordics’ leading tech events We welcome students, young professionals, international talent, and anyone curious about startups, innovation, events, and community building. Whether your interests are within business, tech, operations, communication, hospitality, partnerships, or entrepreneurship, GoWest offers a dynamic environment where you can learn, contribute, and grow.

PayiQ supports companies and cities in their aim to become carbon neutral. PayiQ’s cloud-based mobile fare collection platform enables easy and seamless payments for public transport for both corporate and end users. At the same time, it measures the CO2 footprint of various mobility choices and offers a gamification tool which helps nudge users towards carbon neutral mobility and living. PayiQ’s platform gathers valuable data on movement and public transport usage. This real-time data can be utilized to improve customer experience and meet evolving reporting needs of companies and cities. https://payiq.net

............................................................. SecondShopper is the app that makes secondhand shopping easy, smart, and inspiring. We bring together thrift stores, vintage shops, and flea markets into one curated, location-based platform - connecting conscious consumers with local gems

2DAYS OF BEAUTY was created with a clear mission: To create a beauty universe where visitors meet as much of the industry as possible, experience, learn and become equipped to choose what is right for them. That is why 2DAYS OF BEAUTY brings the entire beauty industry together under one roof at FORUM Copenhagen in September 2026. Today, consumers are navigating a jungle of products, clinics and treatments — and it can be almost impossible to know what is truly right for you. With 2DAYS OF BEAUTY, we are creating a two day universe where knowledge, inspiration and experience come together. A place where brands, practitioners and visitors meet at eye level and are inspired through experiences, insight and dialogue. We want to be the place where consumers can see, try and understand what really works and where professional players get a unique opportunity to build relationships, trust and visibility.

Risustudy er et AI-baseret softwaresystem udviklet til den danske folkeskole. Platformen er bygget op omkring tre centrale brugergrupper: elever, lærere og forældre. Vores mission er at løse nogle af de største udfordringer i folkeskolen – blandt andet mangel på tid, differentieret undervisning og manglende støtte til elever med forskellige behov. I dag oplever mange danske folkeskoler de samme problemer: lærere har for lidt tid til den enkelte elev, undervisningen bliver ofte for “one size fits all”, og mange elever føler sig overset eller tabt i systemet. Det er netop de udfordringer, vi vil være med til at løse gennem teknologi og AI. Idéen bag Risustudy kommer også fra personlige erfaringer. Jeg har selv haft en svær tid i folkeskolen, hvor jeg ikke passede ind i den traditionelle måde at lære på. Jeg er ordblind og har ADHD, og mine udfordringer blev ofte håndteret ved, at jeg blev sat til side i stedet for at få den støtte og forståelse, jeg havde brug for. Det gjorde, at jeg mistede motivation og ikke fik det fulde udbytte af undervisningen. Med Risustudy ønsker vi at skabe et værktøj, der hjælper elever med at lære på deres egne præmisser, giver lærere bedre muligheder for at differentiere undervisningen, og samtidig inddrager forældrene mere aktivt i elevens udvikling. Målet er at skabe en folkeskole, hvor flere elever føler sig set, forstået og støttet i deres læring.

Crowdsorsa is a fast-growing mobile app startup on a mission to save the environment. What are we about? Crowdsorsa is a mobile game where people earn money by collecting data or doing micro-tasks that help cities improve the state of the built and natural environments. You can learn more about us at https://crowdsorsa.com/. Our application has been featured in over four hundred news articles and acknowledged by an international innovation award. We currently operate in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Canada.

BRANDT Copenhagen er et dansk, ejerledet designbrand skabt med stor passion for materialer, kvalitet og tidløst design. Vi designer og producerer eksklusive kollektioner af greb, belysning og accessories i messing, marmor og træ, hvor materialitet og et raffineret formsprog går hånd i hånd. Vi samarbejder med både arkitekter, designprofessionelle og projekter i Danmark og internationalt. Virksomheden er bygget på en entreprenant tilgang, en stærk designforståelse og en klar tro på, at selv de mindste detaljer er med til at definere helheden. Samtidig er vi en mindre organisation med korte beslutningsveje, tæt samarbejde og en kultur præget af ansvar, tillid, høj grad af involvering og en uformel, god stemning. Vi arbejder ambitiøst, men jordnært, og tror på, at de bedste resultater skabes i et miljø, hvor ordentlighed, engagement og fælles ansvar er en naturlig del af hverdagen – og hvor der ikke er langt fra idé til handling.

RestfulBlanket is a Danish company that runs social projects while developing and producing organisk weighted blankets and sensory weighted products designed to create calm in the body and improve sleep. We work at the intersection of mental wellbeing, social responsibility, and practical solutions for people whose nervous systems do not easily settle. Our focus is on people living with anxiety, ADHD, trauma, stress, and sensory overload, as well as families supporting children with similar challenges. For many, sleep is not just a routine, but a daily struggle shaped by a body that stays in alarm. That is the problem we exist to address. Our products are developed from lived experience and built around natural materials. Each blanket is filled with heat-treated rapeseed and sewn in breathable cotton, creating a quiet, formable, and temperature-regulating pressure that adapts to the body rather than resisting it. The goal is not just weight, but a specific kind of grounded, even pressure that helps the body feel safe enough to release tension. The result is a sensory experience often described as a calm, steady embrace rather than a heavy object. At the same time, RestfulBlanket is a registered socialøkonomisk virksomhed. Our production takes place in a small, structured workshop in Denmark, where we create meaningful employment and training opportunities for people with psychological vulnerability or neurodivergence. The work is organised with high predictability, low sensory load, and strong relational support, allowing individuals to contribute in a real production environment while building stability and confidence. Beyond our workshop, we run social initiatives such as collaborations with crisis centres, where weighted blankets are used as a practical tool to support women and children after violence. In these contexts, the blanket is not presented as a product, but as a simple, physical anchor that can help the body find a first sense of safety and rest. Our mission is to build something more than a product range. We are working to establish a trusted Danish reference point for natural, body-based calm. That means combining material quality, transparent communication, and real-world impact. We do not position ourselves as a quick fix or a medical solution, but as a grounded, evidence-aware alternative that supports the nervous system in a way people can actually feel. By connecting production, people, and purpose, RestfulBlanket exists to create more ro, more tryghed, and more sustainable ways for individuals and families to live with less internal pressure and better sleep.

MOSSYFROG is a modern print-on-demand platform for personalised cards and invitations. We combine unique designs from independent creatives with technology and AI, making it easy for customers to create something personal, visually strong, and meaningful for life’s special occasions. MOSSYFROG is built for customers who value unique design, quality, and personality. Our ambition is to make MOSSYFROG Denmark’s preferred platform for personalised cards and invitations — known for design quality, innovation, and a modern customer experience that makes it easy to create something truly special. The platform is built on Shopify and integrated with one of the market’s most distinctive online design tools, making it possible to personalise designs directly in the browser.

Landjord converts farmland into wild nature and private camping sites. We solve the lack of authentic, quiet nature experiences with comfort, while creating new income for farmers. Campers get access to secluded, well-designed spots, and their stay supports biodiversity and green transition. It’s a scalable model combining tourism, nature restoration and agriculture.

Hive Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a premium BJJ gym in Copenhagen built on two things: world-class instruction and a community that takes the sport seriously without taking itself too seriously. We train kids, adults, and a fast-growing group of women who are finding their footing — and confidence — on the mat. Our members come from all over the world, which means Hive is as international as the city it sits in. We've grown through reputation and word-of-mouth, and we're now building the brand infrastructure to match the quality of what happens inside the gym. If you're looking to work on something with a real identity, a real community, and real room to make your mark — this is it.

NextLab Ventures blev grundlagt med én simpel overbevisning: De bedste ventures bygges ikke af kapital alene, men af mennesker der tør handle hurtigt, fejle smart og iterere konstant. Vi er seks partnere med forskellige ekspertiser – teknologi, marketing, vækst, kommerciel strategi og investering – der har valgt at samle vores kræfter i ét venture studio. Vores tilgang er hands-on. Vi investor ikke bare. Vi bygger med. Vi koder. Vi designer. Vi sælger. Vi skalerer. Side om side med vores portfolio-virksomheder.

Mini Motto er en virksomhed dedikeret til at designe, producere og udvikle tillidsskabende, sjove og dekorative elementer til børn og forældre. Mini Motto er skabt med et kærligt ønske: at styrke børns selvværd, trivsel og indre ro gennem positiv selvforståelse og selvkærlighed. Mini Mottos produkter er skabt til at styrke børns selvværd og hjælpe både børn og voksne med at finde et fælles sprog for følelser, styrker og indre ro. Vores affirmationer er opstået ud af et konkret behov: Jeg manglede selv et værktøj til at støtte min datter i at opbygge en sund og kærlig opfattelse af sig selv. Med Mini Motto ønsker jeg at gøre det lettere for forældre, pædagoger og andre voksne at støtte børn i deres følelsesmæssige udvikling – og at skabe små øjeblikke af nærvær og selvkærlighed i hverdagen.

Spoilme er en digital platform, der forbinder behandlere og kunder inden for beauty- og behandlingsbranchen. Vi gør det nemt for kunder at finde, booke og opdage behandlinger – særligt last-minute tider og eksklusive tilbud – mens behandlere får mulighed for at øge deres synlighed, optimere deres kalender og skabe mere omsætning. Vi er en ambitiøs startup / scale-up med fokus på teknologi, AI og automatisering, og vores mål er at blive den førende platform for beauty- og behandlingsbranchen

Qfix offer a digital platform that seamlessly integrate the local tailors with e-tailers, advertising platforms and logistics providers, which have an enormous potential to enable circular business models while creating efficiency in the entire process. The textile industry is one of the most resource-intensive sectors globally and accounts for approximately 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. EU has identified textiles as one of the seven key product value chains that require increased circularity. Circular business models for clothing, such as secondhand sales, rental models, repair of worn garments, repair of reclaimed products, adjustments for better fit have been shown to significantly reduce environmental impact. The aims is to make the local tailors the hub of the circular transition by making existing repair services more accessible.