Global Entrepreneurship, Tech’s Role in Europe’s Competitiveness and Security in focus at Techarena 2025

​Techarena 2025, held at Stockholm’s Strawberry Arena, brought together thousands of business leaders, founders, investors, and policymakers under the theme “Becoming the Best in the World.” The event featured more than 300 speakers, including Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph, and skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.

The conference’s agenda was diverse, encompassing over 100 side events and four main stages that delved into topics like innovation, sustainability, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Attendees consisted of 125 different nationalities.

During the inauguration, Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized the importance of education, deregulation, and a global mindset in Sweden’s tech success, stating, “A strong defense secures the very foundation of prosperity and freedom.”

​World-class Speakers on stage

In a Fireside Chat, Sir Richard Branson emphasized the essence of entrepreneurship, stating, “You’re only going to be successful as an entrepreneur if you are able to create something that makes people’s lives better.”

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk reflected on the event’s energy, remarking, “The atmosphere was electric!”

Main Topics of Discussion

Techarena 2025 also emphasized the need for Europe to enhance its innovation ecosystem. Discussions highlighted that “Europe has the talent, innovation, and ambition—but to scale, it needs capital, deregulation, and strategic global partnerships.”

Another centerpiece topic was pressing global events and security concerns.

Former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin emphasized Europe’s need to take decisive action in response to geopolitical tensions, stating, “We can no longer remain passive and rely on global agreements to protect small countries: we must take significant steps forward. Europe cannot stand by and watch. We must act. The best way to maintain peace is to prepare for war.”

Marin highlighted the importance of technological innovation in bolstering Europe’s resilience, noting, “Tech will become the biggest issue in the future. And the more digital our societies become, the more we need to secure our resilience and autonomy. We need to prepare for the future and not repeat past mistakes.”

Energy Tech Startup Awarded

Additionally, the Top 46 Startup Competition showcased emerging companies across various sectors, providing a platform for startups to present their innovations to potential investors and partners. The winner of the competition was energy tech company Vesiro, receiving the award at the main stage from Steven Bartlett, global entrepreneur and podcast host of “The Diary of a CEO”, one of the world’s largest podcasts.

Vesiro has developed an innovative solution aimed at reducing the energy consumption of data centers, addressing a critical challenge in the tech industry.