Three participants and their ideas from in the Krubi idea sprint They were selected for the Norðansprottinn innovation competition and achieved remarkable success there!
Norðansprotinn is an innovation competition which aims to bring out the most interesting ideas from the North and support early-stage entrepreneurs. The competition took place from 15th–22nd April and is part of the so-called Northern Innovation Journey, where entrepreneurs get the opportunity to develop their ideas from the initial stages to a potential investment.
The competition final took place at Messanum in Drift EA on Wednesday, 22nd April, where seven teams presented their projects to a panel of judges and guests. The project 'Þurrlýsi' was chosen as the Norðansproti 2026 and received a prize fund of 1,000,000 króna from Landvættir, an investment fund managed by Axum Securities.
Strong connection with Krubb
It is particularly pleasing to report that of the seven teams that reached the finals, three had recently taken part in Krubbi, Hraðinn's idea accelerator. There, the teams received support from mentors and coaches to further shape and develop their ideas.
This success highlights the importance of Krubb as the first step in the entrepreneurial journey and shows how targeted training and support can result in stronger projects and a robust network.
The projects from Krubbi that reached the finals were:
🟡 Whale Sound Trail, or Echoes of the Deep, an idea by Lara Schmitz, Julie Boesen and Antonia Assler. The project involves a walking trail from Húsavík to the Sea Baths, with three stops where sculptures, inspired by whale species in Skjálfandi, create sound with the help of the wind.
🟡 Hi, a concept by Aniu Wójcik, which involves the design of souvenirs that raise awareness of the ocean and are connected to the unique character of Húsavík.
🟡 Plan it, An idea by Elías Óli Tinnuson Björnsson. It is an app that connects secondary school students based on their interests and events.
An important platform for innovation
Norðansprotinn is a collaborative project between the University of Akureyri, Háskólinn á Hólum, SSNE, SSNV, Drift EA and Hraðinn, with support from the Landvættir Investment Fund. In a short time, the competition has established an important place in the innovation ecosystem of the North of Iceland.
Stefán Pétur, Innovation Manager at Hraðinn, was on the judging panel for the competition at the final event, along with other members. According to him, the people behind the Accelerator are extremely proud of the teams that took part in Krubbi and achieved this fantastic success. It will be exciting to follow their continued journey.
