The Slush conference in Helsinki showcased the growing power of the European ecosystem. The Nordic region is leading this growth, with Sweden’s Lovable being a standout example. Other successful names include Klarna and Spotify. We spoke to Dennis Green-Lieber, founder of Propane, an AI company based in Denmark.
Green-Lieber attributes the ecosystem’s success to social safety nets allowing young people to take risks without fear. “Newer founders are more bullish and taking ownership,” he said. The Nordic ecosystem is becoming a hub for deep tech and AI, valued at half a trillion dollars. Government funding also plays a role, supporting startups like Green-Lieber’s.
While some say the ecosystem is behind schedule, Green-Lieber disagrees, saying they’re moving “tremendously fast.” He expressed optimism about AI opportunities, despite the risk of investing in bad ideas. “There are tons of unexplored opportunities,” he said.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/26/breaking-down-the-boom-in-the-nordics-startup-ecosystem