Kveikjan - Ignite Nordic in Iceland
Kveikjan is the Icelandic arm of Ignite Nordic, a Nordic platform connecting established companies and public organizations with entrepreneurs and startups. Companies and public organizations bring real-world business challenges, and we find entrepreneurs in Iceland and across the Nordic countries who can solve them.
The methodology was developed in Sweden, where Ignite has been connecting startups with large companies and public-sector organizations since 2017. Today, Ignite operates in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.
Drift EA runs Ignite in Iceland.
Ignite in numbers
- 2,000+ connected startups
- 450+ companies and public-sector organisations
- 8,800+ matchmaking meetings
- 788+ business agreements
- 6 out of 10 meetings lead to further discussions
Participants
in Iceland
Drift launched the project in Northeast Iceland in 2024 with 10 companies
Drift EA launched Kveikjan in Northeast Iceland in 2024 in partnership with the Association of Municipalities and Economic Development in Northeast Iceland (SSNE). Companies including Samherji, Rafeyri, Frost, Sæplast, Slippurinn, Höld and Stefna took part in workshops to identify challenges and map opportunities for collaboration with entrepreneurs.
In 2026, Kveikjan is expanding to South Iceland in partnership with the South Iceland Academic Center and to West Iceland in partnership with the West Iceland Association of Municipalities. The same proven methodology used in the north is now being used to connect businesses and entrepreneurs across the country.
The following companies are already participating: Samherji, SS, Rafeyri, Bílaleiga Akureyrar, Frost, Límtré Vírnet, Sæplast, Holta Kjúklingur, Stefna, Slippurinn, Húsheild Hyrna, Nortek, SS byggir, Rotovia.
Kveikjan - For entrepreneurs
Get a meeting with decision-makers, not just a name in your contacts.
- Connections with companies across the Nordic countries
- An opportunity to test the solution in a real-world setting
- Find customers
- 20-minute matchmaking meetings with companies and public sector organisations
- Meeting preparation and access to NDA and POC agreement templates
- Participation is free for entrepreneurs
Kveikjan - For businesses
Save your company years of innovation work.
We identify the challenges with you, find the right startups to address your needs, and arrange the meetings.
- A workshop to map key challenges, needs and opportunities
- Handpicked startups from Iceland and the Nordic countries
- Follow-up that turns meetings into real projects
- At least three matchmaking events per year
Partners
Ignite Nordic is funded by the Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education, Drift EA, the Association of Local Authorities in West Iceland (SSV), the Association of Local Authorities in Northeast Iceland (SSNE) and the South Iceland University Network (HFSU).
Kveikjan is built on strong partnerships with players in the innovation ecosystem across the country: SSNE, SSV, Háskólafélag Suðurlands, KLAK – Icelandic Startups, Sjávarklasinn, IceBAN and Fjársýslan.
