Home of the Home Lab

Hem
Sverige
Älmhult
Home of the Home Lab

Welcome to a community where ideas grow and curious minds gather to reimagine life in and around our homes. Welcome – and make yourself at home!

Twice a year we welcome startups to join our incubation programme in Älmhult, Sweden – the heart of IKEA. If you’re passionate about life in and around the home and have a great idea you’d like to develop into a successful business, you’ve come to the right place. Twice a year we welcome up to 10 startups to join our incubation programme here in Älmhult, Sweden – the birthplace of IKEA. We offer o

ne-to-one coaching, practical workshops for building your idea, a network of experienced specialists, and a dedicated space where ideas can take shape and grow. We also arrange inspiring events and activites for a wider business community in Älmhult.

14/06/2026

Entrepreneurship that touches people
Everyone has a story. A reason for doing what they do. A moment when they discovered a problem they wanted to solve, or the solution itself. Some stories stay with you more than others. This is one of them. 💛

Johanna Forsmans journey began with her beloved grandmother, who wanted to move to a new home better suited to her needs. The right size. The right number of rooms. All on one level. A place for better quality of life. But things didn’t turn out the way she had hoped.

Inspired by her grandmother’s story, Johanna is now working on a service that gives older people a clearer picture of costs, housing options, and care support. The aim is simple. When a move becomes relevant, whether by choice or necessity, it should be possible to do it in a structured and dignified way, and on the individual’s own terms.

Curious to learn more about this important challenge, and the real difference it could make, both for individuals and for society? 🌱

Come by Demo Days and meet Johanna, together with the other participants at Home of the Home Lab.
🗓️ WHEN: 18 June
🕙 TIME: 11:00–14:00 (drop-in)
📍 WHERE: Formhult, Norra Esplanaden 7, Älmhult

12/06/2026

Have you met a “cat-trepreneur”? 😻 Now’s your chance!

Being able to present your idea is one of the most important skills you have as an entrepreneur. One of the participants who received the strongest feedback on her pitch from the panel the other week was Stefania Santagati.One comment from the panel said, “I’d buy everything from you and I’m actually a dog person.” That says a lot about her pitch.

Stefania’s idea starts from the belief that pets are co-inhabitants, not an afterthought. The furniture needs to adapt and move alongside the people and cats who use it. The concept challenges the assumption that cat furniture has to be ugly, disposable, or fixed. Instead, it proposes a timeless, reconfigurable system that belongs in a well-designed interior and lasts through multiple moves, apartments, and life changes.

Are you a crazy cat person? Or maybe a dog person who still got a little curious. Either way, we warmly recommend meeting Stefania and the other participants in the incubator at our Demo Day mini fair.

📆 When: 18 June
🕰️ Time: 11:00–14:00 (drop-in)
📍 Where: Formhult, Norra Esplanaden 7, Älmhult

11/06/2026

Ideas that give us time 🕰️
We all wish we had more hours in the day. One way to get “more time” is to use the time we already have in a more meaningful way. And that is exactly what Julieta wants to help us do.

Soon it is “graduation time” for the first group of participants at Home of the Home Lab. One of the ideas developed during the programme is a ritual lamp that helps you put your phone away and be more present. Created by Julieta Talavera and Malva Lava.

Julieta has tested her idea step by step. Prototype after prototype, the feedback she received led to new insights and directions. The very first prototype, shown in the picture, was an altar where you placed your phone to spend less time on screens and more time without digital distractions.

The latest version we saw had evolved in a creative way. The focus is still the same, to help us put our phones to one side, but the value and the feelings it creates have grown into something much more. 🌱

We will not reveal more than that. Instead, come and visit our mini fair on Demo Day to see how the idea has developed and to talk with Julieta about her solution.

🗓️ WHEN: 18 June
🕙 TIME: 11:00–14:00 (drop-in)
📍 WHERE: Formhult, Norra Esplanaden 7, Älmhult

On Demo Day, you will meet everything from new textile materials made from seaweed and solutions that extend the shelf life of fruit, to self-driving vehicles and new ways of designing furniture to reduce material waste in production.

09/06/2026

Ideas are growing – come and take a look!
Join us at Demo Day and get a glimpse of new materials, smart solutions and fresh thinking from our future entrepreneurs. 💫

Are you curious about how the participants in Home of the Home Lab’s incubator programme are doing? Come by and say hi when these future entrepreneurs share their ideas at Demo Day, a mini fair.

You will find everything from brand-new textile materials made from seagrass and solutions that help fruit last longer, to self-driving vehicles and new ways of designing furniture to reduce material waste in production.

Practical details
📆Date: 18 June
🕰️Time: 11:00–14:00 (drop-in – come and go as you please)
📍Location: Formhult, Norra Esplanaden 7, Älmhult

08/06/2026

When LEGO inspires self-driving vehicles
How can one of the world’s most iconic toys help create smarter, more sustainable city deliveries?

At Home of the Home Lab in Älmhult, Tom Tunbis and Dipak Surie have spent six months in our incubator programme developing a modular, self-driving vehicle for last-mile logistics.

The idea is simple, but powerful. One shared base can do many different jobs. By switching modules, the vehicle can deliver parcels, transport meals, or even carry passengers.

This kind of flexibility opens up new possibilities for both businesses and cities. Several actors can use the same platform instead of investing in separate solutions. That can mean lower costs, less traffic, and a lighter use of resources. At the same time, existing transport providers can build on the solution rather than compete with it.

The inspiration comes from LEGO, and the idea of building with interchangeable parts. Thinking in building blocks makes it easier to adapt the vehicle to different needs and uses.

Curious to learn more?

Meet Tom and Dipak at Home of the Home Lab Demo Day on 18 June in Älmhult. All nine teams from the incubator will be there, sharing their prototypes and what they have developed during the programme.

🗓️ WHEN: 18 June
🕙 TIME: 11:00–14:00 (drop-in)
📍 WHERE: , Norra Esplanaden 7, Älmhult

On Demo Day, you will meet everything from new textile materials made from seaweed and solutions that extend the shelf life of fruit, to self-driving vehicles and new ways of designing furniture to reduce material waste in production.

04/06/2026

Changing the textile industry, one fibre at a time
One of the most classic Swedish sports quotes has to be “Jag vet ingenting om tur. Bara att ju mer jag tränar desto mer tur har jag” by the legend Ingemar Stenmark.

And that idea, that the more he trained, the more luck he seemed to have, can also be applied to the life of an entrepreneur. Of course, you can’t prepare for everything. But with a clear plan, solid preparation, and structure, you can handle most situations. Even when things don’t go as planned. And that is very much part of everyday life as an entrepreneur 🌱

One entrepreneur who has shown clear focus throughout the programme, working step by step with structure and always with a clear sense of “what’s next”, is Annika John and her company Salt & Fiber that develops sustainable textiles made from seagrass. Changing the textile industry one fibre at a time 🧵

A clear goal along the way has been to move on to the next incubator after Home of the Home Lab, Borås INK. Based in Sweden’s textile capital, Borås INK supports startups with business development, financing, and networks, helping them establish themselves faster and with lower risk in the market.

So we would like to say a big congratulations to Annika and Salt & Fiber on taking this next step. And congratulations as well to the team at Borås INK, who will now get to follow a committed, inspiring, and exciting entrepreneur.

Take the opportunity to meet Annika and talk with her about how Salt & Fiber wants to change the textile industry at our mini fair during Demo Day.

📆 WHEN: 18 June
🕰️ TIME: 11:00–14:00 (drop-in)
📍 WHERE: Formhult, Norra Esplanaden 7, Älmhult

03/06/2026

Two founders, one shared idea – meet Annika and Elisabeth 💡
Starting something new and daring to invest in what you believe in is a brave decision. One that often feels a little easier when you have a partner by your side.

One of the things participants have appreciated most about Home of the Home Lab is being able to share their journey with others. Having a network of people who have also taken the step towards becoming entrepreneurs.

Some of the ideas in the programme are built by teams. One of these is Annika Lindberg and Elisabeth Marttala. With clear focus and determination, they have driven their idea forward in an inspiring way. Developing compression garments designed to support the lymphatic system.

They combine their knowledge, skills, and strengths in a way that keeps them moving forward. A teamwork that has been inspiring to follow from the very beginning. 👏

Curious to learn more about how Annika and Elisabeth’s idea has evolved?

Come and visit our mini fair during Demo Day, where all participants will showcase their ideas, prototypes, and the development that has taken place during the programme.

📆 WHEN: 18 June
🕰️ TIME: 11:00–14:00 (drop-in)
📍 WHERE: Formhult, Norra Esplanaden 7, Älmhult

02/06/2026

Meet Agnes – a designer rethinking how furniture is made
When Agnes Sahlberg applied to the Home of the Home Lab incubator, her ambition was clear. She wanted to take responsibility and learn how to become a more sustainable designer. Not only in terms of material choices, but more importantly how sustainability can be applied within the furniture industry as a whole. 🌱

Throughout the programme, Agnes has challenged herself. Not only in her design language, but also in her role as a business owner. How do you find customers? Not the people who will eventually sit on the furniture in their homes, but the brave, curious, and forward-thinking companies willing to invest in a young designer. Someone who wants to challenge the status quo and contribute to sustainability across an entire industry. An industry that is also under significant economic pressure.

So how did it all turn out?

Visit the Home of the Home Lab mini fair on 18 June, to find out. All nine different ideas from the incubator will be showcased.

🗓️ WHEN: 18 June
🕙 TIME: 11:00–14:00 (drop-in)
📍 WHERE: Formhult, Norra Esplanaden 7, Älmhult

01/06/2026

Letting go of an idea and starting again 💡

Daring to challenge yourself, your idea, and your solutions is an important skill for any entrepreneur.

One person who has truly embraced this during her six months at Home of the Home Lab is Jeannette Endt. She joined the programme with a clear problem in mind: many people are living in smaller and smaller spaces, and our furniture needs to do more than just one thing.

With a strong love for creating and designing in wood, Jeannette has explored the problem from different angles. She has turned it around, tested her ideas, let some of them go, and thought again. Just as a designer’s journey often looks.

Throughout the programme and the development of her idea, Jeannette has also received support from people who know exactly what it feels like to dare to test design ideas, and just as importantly, to rethink, redo, and start again. One of these people is Ricardo Vazquez Campo. A big thank you for all the support along the way. 🙏

Are you, like us, curious to see where Jeannette’s idea finally landed?

Come and visit the Home of the Home Lab mini fair during our Demo Days.

📆 WHEN: 18 June
🕰️ TIME: 11:00–14:00 (drop-in)
📍 WHERE: , Norra Esplanaden 7, Älmhult

29/05/2026

Testing, getting hands on, and most of all seeing results!
How do you know if your thoughts and ideas can actually become real? As an entrepreneur, you simply have to test and try. And test and try some more.

One person who has truly explored her ideas during the Home of the Home Lab programme is Clare McNally. She loves fruit but hates food waste. 🥝 🍏 She has measured distances between fruits, grouped them in different combinations, and placed fruit in almost every room of the house. That curiosity, and that willingness to test things out, has paid off.

Curious to see how far Clare has come in creating a fruit bowl that helps fruit last longer? Come by our Demo Day and mini fair on 18 June and discover Clare’s prototype, along with ideas from the other participants.

🗓️ WHEN: 18 June
🕙 TIME: 11:00–14:00 (drop-in)
📍 WHERE: Formhult, Norra Esplanaden 7, Älmhult

Come as you are. Say hej. Meet the entrepreneurs at and get inspired.

Adress

Södra Torggatan 2
Älmhult
34334

Webbplats

http://homeofthehomelab.com/

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