Scaling an event organization is a balancing act—staying true to your origins, while also attracting prominent speakers and achieving sustainable business growth. Techarena has successfully navigated this challenge, growing from a Nordic startup competition into an event platform featuring global figures like Sir Richard Branson and connecting thousands of founders, investors, and industry leaders annually.
While some have doubted that event platforms can attract venture capital, Techarena demonstrated otherwise: it has secured €1.1 million from Stockholm-based VC firm BackingMinds to fund its expansion.
To understand what this investment means for Techarena’s next chapter, we caught up with journalist-turned-CEO Omid Ekhlasi. He shared insights on the critical role events play in building the innovation ecosystems Europe needs, and how BackingMinds’ support will accelerate Techarena’s international growth.
Sesamers: What’s Techarena and what is your plan for the next 5 years?
Omid Ekhlasi: Techarena is a Nordic-born platform for innovation and entrepreneurship that gathers thousands of founders, investors, business leaders, and policy-makers annually. Through our international events, accelerator programs, and channels our goal is to bring together all key players who can support the growth of companies creating high impact solutions. In the coming five years we want to bring our platform to the world by entering new markets.
Sesamers: How did the event/platform evolve over the years? How’s your role changed?
OE: 11 years ago, we started off with a startup competition in a small town in Sweden, and now we gather 18,000 participants across our events and programs around the year. Our core mission has always been to support founders in building better and faster. As founders grow and their needs change, we’ve also grown with them to make sure we can help on their journey in different stages. Our platform continues to scale with the ecosystem.
Sesamers: Why is Stockholm/Sweden so special for tech startups?
OE: Stockholm/Sweden is special for tech startups because as a small nation, we proved that great innovations and solutions can come from anywhere. We have the infrastructure, the talents, the urge to solve global challenges, we have the role models, all in all a great melting pot for entrepreneurs. Swedish tech has become synonymous with quality and credibility on the global stage.
Sesamers: What will you use the money for; why these VCs?
OE: We’ve known BackingMinds since the early days, they have been part of our community for as long as we have existed as a company. Our values are aligned and we love working with amazing entrepreneurs who understand the founder journey. With their support, we’ll scale to new cities and bring our signature Nordic-style events and programs to more global communities.
Sesamers: What would you say to people who think organizations like yours aren’t venture-backable?
OE: I believe today’s VCs are looking for founders who build companies that create real impact and value across industries, with scalable business models and global potential. Over the past few years, we have grown substantially, built a strong presence, diversified our revenue streams, and established a clear product-market fit.
Sesamers: Anything else you’d like to share with our community?
OE: Platforms, events, and local communities will become more and more essential in building strong national and international ecosystems and hubs. To all the creators and facilitators behind these important efforts, keep going. You are playing a key role in driving Europe’s future success in tech.
Save the date: on 11 and 12 February 2026, more than 10,000 people will gather in Stockholm for Techarena 2026, under the theme ‘New Era, Next Mindset.’