BLING Incubator

Supporting great founders from day zero.

We offer capital, networks, support and knowledge to help your business succeed faster.

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Applications for the spring program close on 19 January.

Join our 5-month program and take your startup to the next level – whether you’re testing your first prototype or already on the market.

What is included in our program

Our program is designed to provide resources and support that make a real difference.

Program at a glance
  • Opportunity for a SEK 500,000 investment – join a 5-month intensive program with tailored support
  • Coaching, workshops, and lectures tailored to grow your business
  • Access to a vibrant founder community and professional network
  • Investor connections and mentorship
  • Credits worth over SEK 2M from Google, Microsoft & Amazon, plus additional perks
  • Benefits worth 1M+ SEK
  • Opportunity to work from our hub in Stockholm & Malmö

  • Areas of support include: Business coaching & CEO guidance, Marketing, PR & branding support, Recruitment & team building, Legal, Finance, and more

INVESTMENT

As part of the program, selected startups may be offered an investment opportunity of SEK 500,000. Investment is not guaranteed and is assessed individually based on progress, potential, and fit with the program.

For those who receive an offer, the investment typically corresponds to a valuation of SEK 5–15 million and can provide a significant boost to accelerate growth and scale.

COACHING

Each startup is assigned a dedicated coach with long-standing experience supporting entrepreneurs at different stages. Our coaching focuses on helping startups develop their business to the next level, providing guidance and a consistent point of contact throughout the program.

GOOGLE FOR STARTUPS

  • First year of Google Cloud and Firebase usage covered with credits up to $100,000
  • 20% of the cost of using Google Cloud and Firebase is covered in year two (up to an additional $100,000 in credits)
  • Connect with Google experts, exclusive events and networks
  • Guidance from a dedicated Startup Success Manager and Google Cloud engineers
  • Extended access to Google Workspace discounts, Google Maps Platform credits, skills development opportunities and more.

MICROSOFT FOR STARTUPS

  • All companies get free access to leading AI models via Azure, including OpenAI GPT-4, Llama 2 from Meta, and more. Get up to $150,000 in Azure credits plus $2,500 in OpenAI credits.
  • Additionally, gain access to 30 more free or discounted tools, technologies, and services from Microsoft and our partners, including M365, GitHub, LinkedIn, as well as expert support and more.

AMAZON FOR STARTUPS

  • The AWS Startups team consists of experts from across the global ecosystem, including former founders and CTOs, venture capitalists, angel investors, and mentors who help founders navigate challenges and opportunities.
  • Access to up to $100,000 in AWS credits through AWS Activate. AI startups building foundation models may be eligible for up to $300,000 in credits to test AWS Trainium and AWS Inferentia.

Investors' network

Startups gain exclusive access to BLING’s extensive network of investors and the opportunity to pitch their idea to our broad community of investors. This is a unique chance to make valuable connections and secure the capital needed to take the company to the next level.

TEAM DEVELOPMENT

We support startups in building and developing high-performing teams, providing guidance on recruitment, leadership, and team dynamics.

EXPERT ADVICE & MENTORSHIP

Our network of industry experts, successful entrepreneurs, and investors provides guidance tailored to your specific challenges. For example, our partner law firm provides both expert-led workshops and one-on-one legal guidance to support on contracts, compliance, and investor readiness. We also offer an optional personal mentorship program.

Community

Join a vibrant group of founders who push forward side by side throughout the program – and beyond!

Together, you’ll tackle challenges, share learnings, and gain the support and energy to take your startup to the next level.

RECRUITMENT

Gain access to a network of talented professionals to help grow your company with the right people in place.

WORKSPACE

Startups get a complimentary workspace at BLING’s co-working hub in Stockholm and Malmö during the program, providing a productive environment to collaborate, focus, and grow your company.

Partners & benefits

We have negotiated a range of special offers worth over 1 million SEK that companies can access when they are accepted.

Apply now

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Do you invest in the companies that join?

Companies accepted into the incubator have the opportunity to receive an investment of SEK 500,000.
Investment is not guaranteed for all participants and is evaluated individually based on progress, potential, and overall fit with the program.

For companies that may receive an investment, the valuation will typically fall in the range of SEK 5–15 million.
Valuation is primarily guided by the level of market validation — such as early signs of customer demand, initial revenue, or other indicators of traction. Each company is assessed individually.

The incubator is a 5-month intensive program, designed to help startups take the next step in their development.
Each startup is assigned a dedicated coach who works closely with the team throughout the program. Coaching focuses on building the business to the next level, including strategy, market approach, product development, pitching, and preparation for future fundraising. Progress is tracked continuously based on goals set together with the coach.
The program concludes with a Pitching Day, giving participants the opportunity to present their business to potential investors, partners, and industry leaders.
Throughout the program, participants also have access to the resources, mentorship, and expert networks described earlier.

No, you can participate physically or digitally. Startups from anywhere in Sweden are welcome to apply.
However, we recommend attending our full-day sessions in Stockholm (3-4 during the program), as these are valuable opportunities to connect with other founders, engage with guest speakers, and fully benefit from the program. Most standalone lectures and workshops can be attended digitally if you cannot make it in person.

We don’t have a specific industry focus, but to be eligible for the program, at least one of the founders in a team must come from underrepresented groups in the startup ecosystem (for example founders with immigrant background outside Sweden, founders raised in socially challenged areas, women, etc.).

No, participation in the program is completely free of charge.

You can use the potential investment for anything that helps your startup grow. For many founders, the first priority is to secure income, which often means using the funding to pay salaries so they can work full-time on their company.

Beyond that, the investment can be used to cover travel expenses, purchase necessary equipment, pay for services, or access other resources your startup needs to take the next step. We support you in making the choices that will best drive your growth.

Less than many participants might expect – usually just a few hours per week if you take part in all recommended activities. The program is designed to be flexible, and all sessions are optional.

As a founder, we expect you to decide how to spend your time to maximize your startup’s chances of success. Your time is valuable, and your focus is key to achieving your goals. We do recommend, however, that you attend our full-day in-person sessions in Stockholm, as these are important for networking, learning, and connecting with the other startups in the program.

Absolutely! The incubator is designed for early-stage companies, but we welcome teams at different stages of their journey – whether you’re just starting out with a well-thought-out plan or already have customers and initial revenue. Our goal is to help you accelerate growth, refine your strategy, and take your startup to the next level. We value ambition, potential, and the drive to make real progress – if you’re ready to move forward, this program is for you!

Yes, you can still apply. However, our program is designed primarily for early-stage startups, as we invest 500 KSEK.
If you’ve already raised capital, you’re welcome to submit an application, but please note that we typically prioritize teams that are earlier in their journey, where our hands-on support can have the strongest impact.
If you’re a more established startup or have already raised significant funding, our incubator may not be the best fit. In those cases, we recommend exploring other funding opportunities within the BLING ecosystem, such as the BLING Capital fund.

Yes, absolutely! There’s no downside to applying more than once. Even if you’ve been declined in the past, you may be accepted in a future round. We encourage persistence and continuous improvement – each application is evaluated on its current potential and progress.

Yes, solo founders are welcome to apply. That said, running a startup alone can be challenging, and we strongly encourage solo founders to find a co-founder to increase their chances of success.

If you’re looking for a co-founder, we recommend checking out our Founder Matching tool – a free platform where entrepreneurs can connect and build teams together.

We receive a large number of applications for each program, which unfortunately means we cannot provide individual feedback to everyone. We truly appreciate your interest and encourage you to keep developing your business and reapply – each application helps us see your progress and potential!

If you’re looking for more capital or at a higher valuation, the incubator might not be the right fit. In that case, we recommend exploring our BLING Capital fund, which is designed for startups with diverse founders seeking larger investments.

No worries – if you’re accepted, we’ll help you with company registration to ensure everything is set up correctly from the start.