The winner of Nature and Forest Startup Pitching Competition is HYGRON!

Viikki Wood & Forest Innovation Hub and the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) challenged future shapers of the forest and nature sector to join a two-stage pitching competition earlier this year. Eight brilliant teams – Laukansaari Giants, , , , , FireSafe and Carbon Twins, took on the challenge and stepped on the Forest Industry Days stage on October 2025. Four of the teams were qualified to the final at the official Slush side event, Y Science, on 19th November. Our honorable jury members , , and made the tough choice and Laukansaari Giants, LignoSphere, KOKO Forest and HYGRON continued in the competition as finalists.

The final took place on Nature and Forest session of Y Science 2025. The session beginned with two keynote speeches from merited experts in the field. (Luke) spoke about innovations in Nature and Forest tech innovations  and (Firewood) spoke about the entrepreneurial path through challenges and growth in science-based innovation. Pitching competition followed with four pitches from , , and .

Thanks for the organizers, collaborators and supporters! HiLife did once again amazing job with organizing the Y Sience event. All of the teams developed marvelously during the competition in the coaching of and .

The collaboration with Natural Resources Institute Finland is a part of our broader goal to bring Viikki Campus actors closer together to pursue multidisciplinary science-driven societal impact in wood and forest sector, and beyond.

Until next year!