We welcome Startups and Investors to an afternoon designed for dealflow at Smart Innovation Arena in Halden:

AI+ Investor & Startup Arena is built for AI startups and Investors to meet and connect to create new relations and real investment opportunities. The program combines phase-matched group sessions – based on investment goal, a Key-note from a leading Nordic AI startup, the Fishbowl – two interesting investment topics, and pre-matched 1:1 investor meetings + drop-in opportunities.

Agenda

13:00 – Arrival & mingle / set-up stands
13:20 – Welcome & “How it works”
13:30 – Part 1: Phase-matched group sessions
14.20 – Coffee break
14:30 – Part 2: Keynote + Fishbowl
15.30 – Refill coffee
15:40 – Part 3: 1:1 meetings + drop-in & stands
16:30 – Closing mingle & next steps
17:00 – Transport to Investor Dinner & Startup Social

What investors gain

• Phase-matched dealflow: Meet startups grouped by investment stage, so conversations start at the right level.
• Efficient meeting flow: Pre-booked 1:1s + drop-in meetings facilitated
• Easy follow-up: Pitch deck distribution before and after the event, to request selected introductions

What startups gain

• Investor time – matched your stage: You’ll meet investors aligned with your current investment phase
• More shots on goal: You get both structured interactions and open networking / drop-ins.
• Better investor understanding: The Fishbowl gives concrete insight into what gets funded, why, and how decisions are made.
• Warm follow-ups: After the event, investors can request intros to startups they met—so the momentum continues.

The day in 3 parts

Part 1: Phase-matched group sessions (60 min)

To create the best conversations from minute one, we divide startups into four groups based on investment stage, and match investors based on their ticket size and mandate. Each group is facilitated and designed for quick introductions and early-fit discussions.

The groups

• Group 1: Idea / Establishment
• Group 2: Pre-seed
• Group 3: Seed
• Group 4: Series A and above

Part 2: Keynote + Fishbowl (60 min total)

A short keynote sets the tone, followed by a Fishbowl where investors and founders share candid insights, patterns, and practical examples—so everyone leaves smarter and better prepared for real fundraising conversations.

• Fishbowl A: “Founder Challenges & Momentum”
• Fishbowl B: “AI Moats: Why You Win” (competitive advantage, traction, distribution)

Part 3: Curated 1:1 meetings + drop-in & mingling (60 min)

This is where we turn conversations into opportunities.

Investor-selected 1:1 meetings

• Before the event: Investors receive all startup pitches and select 3 startups they want to meet.
• During the event: Selected startups meet investors in facilitated meeting rooms.
• After the event: We resend the pitch collection and investors can request introductions to startups they want to continue with or new ones they did not get thew chance to meet.

Drop-in meetings + stands – Turn serendipity into opportunity
Not every valuable connection comes from a pre-booked slot. Startups not in a 1:1 at any given time can still meet investors through:

• 15 min Drop-in sessions “SLUSH-style” – stands – open mingling