Hringiða 2026 kicked off on April 7th with a strong first week focused on presentations, team building, and next steps in shaping the startups. Seven teams are participating in this year's accelerator, working on developing innovative solutions with a focus on the circular economy and sustainability.
The week began in Gróska where the teams introduced themselves and their projects with elevator pitches and got a first glimpse into the structure and focus of the accelerator at KLAK – Icelandic Startups.
The group then went on a team building trip outside the capital area. First, they went to the Hellisheidi power plant, where Orka Náttúrunn and Carbfix welcomed the participants. There, the teams gained insight into geothermal energy production and carbon sequestration, learned how innovation is being used in the energy industry, and visited boreholes in the area.
Afterwards, they went to Laugarás Lagoon and the day ended in Hveragerði where participants learned about the innovative activities of Ölverk Pizza & Brewery and continued to build relationships with each other.
Wednesday
On Wednesday, the work on the business model started in full swing. A lecture on Lean Canvas laid the foundation for continued work, followed by a review of the accelerator's mentoring system at KLAK. Ásthildur Otharsdóttir discussed Startup Boards and the importance of good board membership in the development of startups.
The day ended with a review of Jobs to Be Done, a methodology that helps teams understand their customers' needs and motivations in a deeper way.
On Thursday, the first workshop in the Impact Business Modelling System (IBMS) program took place, held in collaboration with Richard Georg Engström. IBMS is a methodology and tool that enables entrepreneurs to define and evaluate the impact of their solutions in a clear and measurable way, and is equally useful for policymaking, financing and stakeholder relations.
The beginning gives a clear indication of the ambition and quality of the projects that will continue to develop in the coming weeks of the accelerator.
About Hringiðu
Hringiða is a six-week business accelerator tailored to the needs of startups with green solutions. The goal of Hringiða is to create strong companies in Iceland that work on green solutions and create valuable and interesting jobs that are effective in environmental and climate issues in Iceland.
Hringið's sponsors are: the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate, Orkuveitan, the City of Reykjavík, Faxaflóahafnir, Terra, and the Confederation of Icelandic Industries.
