Winter Pitch Highlights the Next Wave of Startups

The event was organized as part of Science Park Skövde’s startup program and gave companies the chance to refine their pitches, validate their ideas, and receive feedback from experienced stakeholders.

“This year’s Winter Pitch demonstrated the incredible level we are currently seeing in our tech and game companies. Thirteen strong pitches were met with qualified and constructive feedback from our expert panels. It’s inspiring to see how the work within Science Park Skövde’s startup program strengthens the companies’ quality, business focus, and maturity — crucial factors in taking the next step toward capital and sustainable growth,” says Anna Emanuelsson, Business Developer at Science Park Skövde.

The participating companies are in the so-called formation phase - an early stage where the business idea is shaped, tested, and developed.

During the morning session, BioGO, Coratech, and Co2Check presented their solutions to a panel consisting of Kajsa Q Phalén from Drivhuset, Fredrik Tidholm from Almi Väst, Johan Ahlgren from Skaraborg Invest, and Pär Gustavsson from Force HT.

In the afternoon, the game studios took the stage. BRYGD INTERACTIVE, Frantic Ego, Hangout Crew, Caps Lock Interactive, Second Signal, Imperial Playgrounds, Räfven, Elva Entertainment, Studio Downstairs, and Cactile Games pitched their game concepts to a panel consisting of Louise Buller from Weird Little Games, Lukas Freijd from F*MAD, Tim Browne from Bright Gambit, and Binni Erlingsson from Behold Ventures.

Svava Björg Ragnarsdottir from Coratech, which is developing a platform for consulting firms, emphasized the value of testing their pitch in a real setting like Winter Pitch.

“It’s important as part of the validation process — to receive questions, respond to them, and get feedback on how we can improve. That’s valuable both in our continued discussions with customers and investors.”

From the investor perspective, the impression was equally positive. Fredrik Tidholm from Almi Väst, who served on the morning panel, was clear in his assessment of the companies’ level.

“High — higher than I’m used to. These companies have come much further. I think the pitches and the supporting material were very strong.”

Winter Pitch is a recurring milestone within Science Park Skövde’s startup program and aims to give entrepreneurs a concrete opportunity to practice their pitch, meet relevant stakeholders, and take the next step in their development. By bringing together investors, publishers, and industry representatives, the event creates an environment where ideas can be challenged, strengthened, and grow.

The day concluded with a networking session where conversations continued and new connections were made. The next pitch event will take place this summer, with new teams ready to step onto the stage.