Techarena is one of Sweden’s leading platforms for innovation and entrepreneurship. It brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and politicians to discuss the future of technology and society. It’s a dynamic arena where startups, scale-ups, and global companies meet to drive growth and address global challenges through technological advancement.
So, what made the biggest impression on me during these days?
1. AI is No Longer a “Feature” – It’s the Foundation
It was impossible to walk three meters without hearing the word “AI.” It was present in every booth and every panel discussion. But the most interesting part was the shift in the conversation: we’ve moved beyond “what is it?” and into “how do we scale it?”
As a digital partner, this means we can no longer view AI merely as a tool to write code faster or generate images. We must challenge ourselves to build solutions where AI is at the core of the user experience.
2. Technocratic Optimism: “We’ll Fix It”
There was an incredible energy and an almost unshakable belief that technology can solve major societal challenges, from climate change to improving the efficiency of welfare systems. There is a clear “scale-up” mentality, where the lines between startups and heavy industrial giants are increasingly blurred.
For those of us working with digital development, we need to embrace this fearlessness. We shouldn’t just be executors who deliver what users or clients ask for. From now on, we must have the courage to say:
“This is how we solve this problem with tomorrow’s technology, not yesterday’s.”
3. International Pressure and Capital
Techarena demonstrated that while Sweden is a strong player, capital and innovation are global. When we, as a digital partner, compete for client projects, we are not just competing with “the agency around the corner,” but also with global players scaling at breakneck speed.
This means that we—like everyone working with digital solutions in one way or another—must raise our baseline even further. It requires continuous learning and staying relevant in an international context. Being good by Swedish standards is no longer enough.
I therefore want to challenge everyone to reflect on three key questions when approaching a digital project:
- Can this be done smarter with AI? (And I mean fundamentally smarter, not just a minor adjustment.)
- Do we dare to challenge our own worldview? If we see a more progressive technical solution, do we seriously evaluate it as a viable alternative?
- How do we scale our own knowledge? How do we ensure that an insight one of us gains at our desk on Monday becomes the whole team’s new strength by Tuesday?
There is a tremendous sense of optimism out there, and after these days I am more convinced than ever that those of us working daily with digital services are in the driver’s seat. We are the ones actually building what politicians and CEOs talk about on stage (if we dare and choose to).
Finally, Zlatan Ibrahimović was there to close the conference. It was interesting to hear him in that setting, even though much of it focused on his career and life before, during, and after football. But his mindset is fascinating. Nothing is perfect in every situation (far from it), something he himself has become aware of later in life. However, his willingness to go further, to learn new things, to push boundaries, never give up, and remain determined to win are qualities we can all draw inspiration from in our work.
Let’s play ball!
