Day One - CET (Central European Time, GMT+01:00)
- Lars Gredsted - Senior Principal, Lundbeckfonden BioCapital
- Lene Gerlach - Venture Partner, Hadean Ventures
- Milla Koistinaho - Partner, Innovestor
- Carsten Borring - Head of Listings & Capital Markets, NASDAQ
- Alexandra Gylfe - Founding Partner, Nordic Science Investments
- Ekaterina Gianelli - Venture Partner, Calm/Storm
- Ari-Pekka Laitsaari - Life Science & Biotech, Equity and Growth Capital, European Investment Bank
- Anette Steenberg - CEO, Medicon Valley Alliance
- Ebba Fåhraeus - Executive Advisor & Former CEO, SmiLe Venture Hub
- Sana Alajmovic - Co-Founder & CEO, Sigrid Therapeutics
- Annette Säfholm - CEO, Gedea Biotech
- Diana Arsovic - CEO, Danish Life Science Cluster
- Claudio Costa-Neto - CSO, Jeito
- Willem van Weperen - CEO, Pluvia Biotech
- Antti Vuolanto - CEO, Herantis Pharma Plc
While Nordic countries lead in healthcare innovation and digital infrastructure, clinical AI adoption remains frustratingly slow despite countless successful pilots across the region's healthcare systems. This panel brings together innovators. digital leaders, and decision makers to share practical strategies for breaking through adoption barriers and building sustainable AI businesses.
Breaking through the pilot-to-production barrier in healthcare systems
Navigating Nordic procurement and reimbursement for AI solutions
Generating real-world evidence that convinces healthcare administrators
The post-hype funding environment has fundamentally changed what makes a medtech startup investable, with investors now demanding robust business models and clear paths to profitability over flashy technology demos. This panel features active Nordic investors, successful founders to decode exactly what separates fundable medtech startups from the 90% that struggle to raise capital.
Business model fundamentals that convince investors in today's market
Regulatory pathway planning and de-risking for investors
Common pitch deck mistakes that immediately disqualify startups
- Renee Aguiar-Lucander - Chief Executive Officer, Hansa Biopharma
- Claus Andersson - General Partner, Sunstone Life Science Ventures
- Hans T. Schambye - Chair of Dansk Biotek, CEO & President of Galecto, Galecto
- Colleen Acosta - CEO & Co-Founder, Freya Biosciences
- Johanna Roostalu - Director, Human Health, Venture Creation, BII
- Sofie Lorentzen - Chief People Officer, BII
- Kristofer Klerfalk - Entrepreneur, Managing Partner, Life Science Invest
- Agnė Vaitkevičienė - Vice President, LithuaniaBIO
- Gražina Mykolaitytė - CEO, VUGENE
Reimbursement remains the ultimate make-or-break factor for medtech and digital health startups, with Nordic healthcare systems offering both unique opportunities through universal coverage and complex challenges through centralized decision-making. Our panel will discuss strategies for effective reimbursement in the Nordics with real-life case studies.
Health Technology Assessment requirements across Nordic countries
Building compelling health economics cases with limited real-world data
Timing reimbursement applications with clinical evidence generation
EUMDR was designed for traditional medical devices, but AI and software-driven medtech are pushing regulatory frameworks to their breaking point with adaptive algorithms, continuous learning systems, and unprecedented innovation cycles. This panel brings together regulatory experts, AI medtech founders navigating MDR compliance, and investors to examine whether current regulations can handle the AI revolution, and what needs to change.
Software a medical device and clinical decision support classifications
Continuous learning algorithms and post-market surveillance under MDR
Clinical evidence requirements for AI systems
Harmonization challenges across EU member states for digital health
Unlock new possibilities for accessing the US public markets, and in particular, US Nasdaq. Join Mintz for a workshop exploring innovative routes beyond the conventional IPO. Gain valuable insights into alternative strategies to fuel your company's growth and expansion.
- Explore strategic alternatives to the traditional IPO process
- Learn how to navigate different pathways to the US public market
- Understand how these routes can help you achieve your financial objectives
- Gain valuable knowledge for your company's public market journey
- Christina Takke - Managing Partner, V-Bio Ventures
- Bill Hicks - Partner, Co-Chair of Securities & Capital Markets Group, Mintz
- Thomas Thestrup - Senior Principal, Angelini Ventures
- Ivan Burkov - Partner, INKEF Capital
- Giovanni Rizzo - Partner Biotech Fund, Indaco Venture Partners
As the Nordic region continues to attract global attention, 2026 presents a dynamic environment for deal-making, with companies seeking innovative ways to drive growth and create value. Beyond traditional M&A, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and licensing agreements are becoming critical tools for companies to achieve their objectives in a competitive global market. This panel will explore the evolving deal-making landscape in the Nordics, the trends shaping strategic collaborations, and the approaches companies can adopt to unlock long-term value through innovative agreements and partnerships.
What trends are shaping the Nordic deal-making landscape in 2026, and how can companies adapt their strategies to stay competitive?
How can Nordic companies leverage strategic partnerships and collaborations to drive sustainable growth and global market access?
What lessons from recent successful deals can inform effective negotiation and execution strategies in 2026?
- Nuno Alves - Business Development Lead, Astellas Pharm
- Rasmus Just - Global Head, Business Development, M&A, Licensing, Search & Evaluation, ALK
The graveyard of failed medical devices is littered with brilliant technologies that never integrated into actual clinical workflows. While technical innovation captures headlines, the real success factor lies in understanding the human side of healthcare delivery, something only clinicians truly grasp. This panel features entrepreneurs, implementation experts, and investors to reveal why clinician involvement from day one isn't just helpful, it's essential for sustainable adoption.
Designing tech for real-world healthcare delivery
Building physician champions and overcoming clinical resistance
User experience design for time-pressured healthcare environments
Measuring implementation success beyond technical metrics
The Nordic medtech funding landscape differs drastically from Silicon Valley, with fewer mega-funds, longer decision cycles, and unique regional dynamics. But this creates opportunities for alternative funding strategies that many founders overlook. This panel explores the reality of raising capital in the Nordics, from government grants and corporate partnerships to revenue-based financing and strategic investors, revealing how successful founders have navigated limited local VC pools while building sustainable businesses.
Fund sizes, investment criteria, and decision timelines of Nordic VCs
Utilising government funding ecosystems
The mindset shift of Nordic CEOs, becoming more entrepreneurial
Alternative funding sources, including venture debt and crowdfunding
