Connect Resilience Tech-X Day | Fall 2026 Edition

Welcome to Connect’s Resilience Tech-X Day (Fall 2026)

Join us for an afternoon with startups, investors, and organizations across Defense, Dual Use, Cybersecurity, Space, and Infrastructure Resilience – organized as part of our Connect X initiative and powered by our ecosystem partners SweBAN – Swedish Business Angel Networks, and Stockholm Business Region.

The Fall 2026 Edition of Resilience Tech-X is happening under the umbrella of Stockholm ImpACT Days that bring together companies, innovators, investors and decision-makers to develop solutions to the biggest challenges facing cities. This year’s theme, Re:think Cities, focuses on how we can work together to create more sustainable and future-proof cities.

AGENDA

• 12:00 Noon – Arrive & Mingle
• 13:00 Welcome from Stockholm Business Region
  • Ariane Bucquet Pousette, Project Manager Startups | Stockholm Business Region
  • Konrad Szczęsny, Business Development Manager | Stockholm Business Region
• 13:05 Connect Resilience Tech-X and Strategic Plans
  • Naimul Abd, CEO Connect Öst & CEO SweBAN – Swedish Business Angel Networks
• 13:15 Keynote Fireside Chat: Building Resilience in Turbulent Times: From Geopolitics to Technology
  • Tobias Billström, Head of Government Relations and Compliance | Nordic Air Defence, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden
• 13:35 Panel Discussion: Building a Stronger Resilience Ecosystem for Startups
  • Alexandra Kafka Larsson, Founder & CEO | Parsd, ex- Swedish Armed Forces
  • Jens Holzapfel, Director of Public Affairs and Policy | Nordic Air Defence, Board Member | Investor | Veteran
  • Karin Bengtsson, CEO | Kista Science City
  • Per Björklund, Founding Partner | Further Than Capital, Angel Investor
  • Ted Elvhage, Founding Partner | Expansion Ventures, Founding Partner | Rymdkapital
• 14:05 Short break
• 14:10 Fireside Chat: Insights from Nordic Space and Defense Summit
  • Magnus Melander, Co-Founder | THINGS, Advisor | Deep Tech Alliance
• 14:20 Fireside Chat: From Battlefield Needs to Rapid Innovation
  • Fabian Duke, Deputy Director | STRILAB – War Lab, CEO | Gremlin Robotics, Plutonchef | Försvarsmakten
• 14:30 Startup Pitches & Jury Feedback
  • Gustaf Wilhelm Hellstedt, Board Member | SACS – Swedish Association of Civil Security | Startup Advisor & Angel Investor
  • Jasper Nordling, Head of Berghs Studio, Early & Growth Stage Brand Builder and Angel Investor
  • Jonas Åström, Founder & CEO | Freya Industries, Founder | Longswan Ventures
  • Ludvig Nauckhoff, Board Member and Co-Founder | E14 Invest
  • Maximilian Seeburg, Principal | AI.FUND
  • Sakarias Strand, Program Manager Cybersecurity & Defence, Kista Science City
  • Jens Holzapfel, Director of Public Affairs and Policy | Nordic Air Defence, Board Member | Investor | Veteran
  • Per Björklund, Founding Partner | Further Than Capital, Angel Investor
  • Ted Elvhage, Founding Partner | Expansion Ventures, Founding Partner | Rymdkapital
• 15:30 Mingle & Extended Networking
• 16:00 Close

PITCHING 

Do you have a startup raising €100K – €1M+ in Defense, Dual Use, Cybersecurity, Space, or Infrastructure Resilience? The event will feature pitches from 5-7 vetted startups on stage. Send in your application ASAP via our startups page (select: Resilience Tech-X when prompted on the pitch application form).

INVESTOR NETWORK

Connect invites business angels, startup advisors, angel networks, venture studios, family offices, VCs / CVCs to apply to our growing Connect Investor Network to get:

• Access to 100-150 high-potential Nordic startup cases each year coming out of our processes
• Opportunity to attend our startup, ecosystem, as well as special Investor Circle events
• Invitation to our  startup preparation processes and our nationwide Investor Deal Room

ABOUT PARTNERS

Resilience Tech-X Day (Fall 2026) is powered by …

• SweBAN – Swedish Business Angel Networks is Sweden’s non-profit branch organization with a mission to build, connect, and accelerate business angel networks.
• Stockholm Business Region – the official business and destination agency of Stockholm, showcasing one of the world’s most innovative, sustainable and creative capitals. The European Commission ranked Stockholm as Europe’s most innovative region in 2025.
  • Discover Stockholm’s renowned business climate at: stockholmbusinessregion.com
  • Explore what’s going on in Stockholm: visitstockholm.com
  • For companies operating in Stockholm (in Swedish): stockholmbusinessregion.se

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The Connect Öst community is built on a code of conduct based on Trust, Professionalism, and Respect. Startups pitching at our events are advised not to share confidential information. At events, photos and videos may be taken by Connect Öst, its partners, and participants and shared publicly. Online events may also be recorded or livestreamed. Attendees may receive future communications from Connect Öst and its partners. Connect Öst reserves the right to modify, postpone, or cancel an event or any part of it at any time.