Finalists 2026
Dream 2026 features the most competitive startup lineup ever seen in the event’s history. From a record 59 applications, 10 startups and 5 student teams earned their place in the finals.
Get to know the finalists below and hear their inspiring pitches live at Malski, Lahti, on October 9, 2026. The startups and student teams are presented below in the order in which they will pitch on stage.
Main track finalists
1. Woamy
Woamy is transforming packaging with patented, high-performance biofoam made from 100% cellulose. Recyclable with paper, compostable and built for industrial scale, it helps brands replace plastic without compromising performance or cost.
Pitcher’s Name: Susanna Partanen, CEO & Co-founder
2. Ionic Wind
Winner of Oulu Polar Bear Pitching 2026! Ionic Wind is a Swiss ETH startup building solid-state cooling systems for AI computers. With their hardware, customers can finally cool high-density chips reliably, without moving parts, noise or vibrations.
Pitcher’s Name: Jules Eschbach, CTO & Co-founder
3. Bark & Root
Bark & Root is a Finnish pet care startup creating natural dog chews from responsibly sourced True Ceylon Cinnamon Wood, combining sustainability, transparency, and premium pet care.
Pitcher’s Name: Pasan Dissanayaka
4. Referenssipalvelu.fi
Referenssipalvelu.fi is a scalable B2B SaaS platform turning customer references into powerful sales and marketing assets. We help companies build trust, increase visibility and win new business – with a simple solution designed to scale internationally.
Pitcher’s Name: Karri Naakka
5. Voltria
“Heating is the biggest expense in most Finnish properties. Voltria helps reduce that intelligently, without any upfront investment.”
Pitcher’s Name: Lauri Toikka
6. Ventura
Ventura The most founder-focused platform to connect with mentors, coaches and angel investors based on weekly dynamic data provided by the startup.
Pitcher’s Name: Moksh Chheda
7. Sansaino
A platform for hiring Data center and IT professionals
Pitcher’s Name: Donna Bernabe
8. Agronomy Oy
Agronomy digitizes local farms and brings their products into one platform, making fresh, traceable farm food easier to buy while helping farmers manage sales, inventory, demand and distribution.
Pitcher’s Name: Kalle Rantti, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer
9. Kokit
Kokit is an AI-native platform for food creators where they can create, grow, and sell.
Pitcher’s Name: Hussain Shaikh
10. TrustNow
TrustNow is a Finnish B2B AI SaaS that helps media companies turn trusted journalism into faster workflows, stronger audience engagement, greater visibility and sustainable revenue through AI-powered trust infrastructure.
Pitcher’s Name: Asutosh Hota
Student track finalists
1. Lunera
Lunera a simple daily hygiene product that quietly checks in on women’s intimate health and with the help of an application , turns everyday care into early awareness.
Pitcher’s Name: Pegah Morovati
2. AinoClub
AinoClub is a mobile app for pen-and-paper learning. Children complete math and language quests by handwriting on real paper, while Ms. Aino – our Virtual Mentor – reviews photos of their work to give positive feedback and guidance.
Pitcher’s Name: Van Nguyen
3. ainoo.
Understand every letter you get from the authorities. ainoo. summarises the jargon, highlights exactly what you must do, warns you before the deadline passes and answers your follow-up question in your own language.
Pitcher’s Name: Alex Nieminen
4. Rosa Lin
Rosa Lin is a circular design brand that transforms textile waste into unique fashion pieces and innovative wall coverings. Through upcycling and original design, we give every piece of fabric a new story — sustainable, meaningful and beautiful.
Pitcher’s Name: Azam(Rosa) Tavakkoli Moghaddam
5. NeoPerforma
NeoPerforma is the AI marketing manager that automates optimization and growth for your business. It connects your ads, analytics, search and sales data, finds exactly what to change to grow revenue, and makes each change for you once you approve it.
Pitcher’s Name: Afshin Hosseingholinezhad