Karin Björk, Marika Nyman and Linn Backman are the three entrepreneurs from Umeå who have been accepted into the NEST Katapult business development programme. Together with 25 other companies, they will take part in business coaching, a lecture by Science Park Borås and networking. The programme ends with a pitch event where the winner has the chance of a scholarship and further development of the company.  

NEST Catapult participants are part of the race to create a sustainable textile and fashion industry. They will have access to models and tools to help them see how their business model fits into the consumption pyramid of the future where sustainability is profitable in multiple ways - ecologically, socially and economically. 

Through the company Marika Nyman Design Marika Nyman in NEST Catapult. Marika designs expressive and relevant fashion for a slow wardrobe. The starting point is digital design and textile printing based on images, experiences and stories that can invite conversations and unexpected encounters. Karin björk runs the clothing company Design by Björk which designs and sells adaptive fashion for wheelchair users, focusing on function and sustainability. Behind the company S.L.O.W are Linn Backman together with Anneli Hidalgo, Josephine Stevens, Karin Staberg and Nina Garp. S.L.O.W is a strategic design and innovation agency focusing on sustainable transformation for companies operating in the textile and fashion industry.  

The accepted companies choose whether they want to take part in digital coaching or participate in a physical group coaching that will take place on 4 May in Borås. They will also have the opportunity to meet Ola Bringle for a digital lecture and workshop on 24 May.   

As part of the NEST Catapult programme, there will also be a pitch event on 31 May, which will be held digitally. This is a unique opportunity for the accepted companies to showcase their companies and present their business ideas to a panel of experts and investors. 

On 9 June, the winner of the pitch event will be announced. The winner will receive a grant of SEK 75,000 from TEKO, which can be used to further develop and scale up their business. 

17 companies participate physically: 

Attáge AB 

Add New Design 

Design Alvardotter 

Elobina AB 

Freelayer AB 

Irmas Fabric 

Itfitsu AB 

MĀDI 

Maria Westerberg Design 

Marika Nyman 

PG Creative studios AB / Recut The Label 

Reconomy 

Rhiz 

S38L Fashion Solutions AB 

Sirge AB 

United Needles 

West&West 

11 companies participate digitally: 

Adaptive fashion design by björk 

Equie Eco 

Memorise 

GEZAIMAN 

Great Garden 

HURRA PANGx2 (HURRA PANGPANG) / The GREEN WASH 

Linly AB / Sew Linly 

S.L.O.W 

SAGE WINTHER 

Sporthäst Vanblom AB 

To Be Made / Studio Heijne 

NEST is created by the incubators Borås INK, Sting, X-Plot and eXpression Umeå.