Arktinen Hehku 2026
Event information
Time
Thu 09.04.2026 06:30 - Fri 10.04.2026 22:00
Venue location
Linnanmaa - Salla
Location
Welcome to Arktinen hehku!
Keynotes from some of Finland's sharpest entrepreneurial minds, hands-on workshops, two panel discussions, a startup pitching competition with €1,000 in prizes, and a 12-hour hackathon, also with €1,000 in prizes. Whether you're here to pitch, build, or learn, there's a place for you at Hehku! The event is completely free, and even traveling & accommodation are covered for the students of the University of Oulu.
Speakers
Peter Vesterbacka · Aki Kangasharju (ETLA) · Juhani Honkala (IkonAI) · Emmi Keskisarja (Emmi Ventures) · Zachary Burda · Ida-Maria Tyyskä & Timo Vanhapiha (Knitgrammer) · Satu Laiho (Salla) · Timo Tuuha · Leena Lundell
Programme
Thursday 9 April
6:30 Bus starts at the Linnanmaa campus
7:00 Bus leaves from the Oulu Bus Station
11:00–12:00 Arrival, registration.
12:00–13:45 Opening session & keynote speeches
13:45–14:30 Coffee break & expo area
14:30–16:00 Parallel workshops — pitching fundamentals, design thinking, startup ideation
16:00–17:00 Panel A: Future Entrepreneurship in the Arctic · Panel B: Entrepreneurship in Salla
17:00–18:00 Dinner Break & networking
18:15–Hackathon kickoff — challenge reveal, team formation, overnight work begins
Expo area open 10:00–17:00 · and coffee at 13:45
Friday 10 April
08:30–09:00 Welcome coffee & expo area
09:00–09:30 Keynotes — Peter Vesterbacka & Juhani Honkala (IkonAI)
09:30–11:30 Pitching competition — 3–5 min pitches + Q&A
11:30–12:00 Wellbeing session — Glow and Success Come from Well-being
12:00–13:00 Lunch & expo area
13:00–13:15 Pitching competition — winner announced on stage
13:15–16:00 Hackathon finale — team presentations, winner announced
Expo area open 08:30–16:00 · Complimentary coffee in the morning
17:30 Return trip starts
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The event is organized by OuluES, Oulu Entrepreneurship Society.