The blockathon in Stockholm now has six partners in place. They come from different corners: technology and infrastructure, learning, responsible AI and Swedish industry organisation.
Caption: The first six partners behind FirstBlock-athon. Top row from left: AI Institutet, Blockchain Sweden and HyperMind. Bottom row from left: Neuro, Sullis and BloXcel.
Partners are joining FirstBlock-athon one by one, announced as they come on board ahead of September. The first six are drawn from different parts of the technology scene: Sullis, Neuro and BloXcel have a described function in running the event, while AI Institutet, HyperMind and Blockchain Sweden are presented as ecosystem partners.
Sullis is an AI-based platform for company building and runs the application and assessment process. The registration page sits on the company's own domain. Through automated screening, an overview of the applicant pool, analytics and collaboration tools, organisers and jury members are meant to work through applications faster and assess them more consistently. For participants, the platform is also used for market analysis, competitor analysis and business model validation along the way.
Neuro works on secure digital systems and describes itself as a provider of infrastructure for digital trust. Its business spans digital identity, payments and digital asset infrastructure, with secure data exchange and transactions that can be verified. That places the company close to several of the areas participants will be working on.
BloXcel is a distributed company-building platform that develops and scales new ventures across fintech, AI, blockchain, cloud and deep tech. What it brings to the event is experience in taking ideas from an early stage to something that can be sold.
HyperMind Network provides an AI-based learning infrastructure connecting students, educators and employers. The platform is built on tailored learning paths, mentorship and knowledge sharing, and lets subject experts develop and deliver teaching at scale.
The link to the event runs through skills. As AI and blockchain change what employers ask for, training people for those roles becomes part of the same problem participants are set to solve.
AI Institutet works on what it describes as responsible AI and broad AI literacy. The ambition is to connect fundamental research to rapid innovation, and to give researchers and entrepreneurs a place to develop solutions together.
AI Institutet will take an active part during the event and says it is bringing something with it that will be presented later.
Blockchain Sweden differs from the other five. It is an industry association rather than a company, and works to increase the use of blockchain in Sweden by connecting businesses and building expertise. Among other things, the association is developing a national platform for blockchain innovation.
It differs on another point too. The association has a stated role towards policymakers and regulators, arguing for clear frameworks in Sweden and the EU. It is the only partner with a direct link to regulatory work, and therefore the only one connecting the event to the part of the industry that decides what can actually be built.
FirstBlock-athon is an initiative from the consultancy FirstBlock, which works on AI and blockchain for corporate clients. Founder Fati Hakim initiated the event.
More partners have been signalled ahead of September. With six in place the direction is clear enough: the event is not only bringing in suppliers, but building a team around itself meant to give it weight beyond the four days.
Sources: FirstBlock-athon on LinkedIn, FirstBlock-athon registration page
You have read what you can read for free. With an account you get unlimited access to all news and articles on kaupr.io — and become part of the network of investors, professionals and builders following onchain finance.
