Denmark’s Stykka announced as Nordic Region winner at ULI's PIC

ULI PIC is a new, Young Leaders-led annual competition for entrepreneurs from across real estate, technology, and start-ups. The goal is to identify game-changing, scalable, competitive solutions that aim to enhance how we live, work, and play within our urban environment. Solutions must also reflect ULI’s mission priorities: decarbonisation and net zero, increasing housing attainability and affordability, and educating the next generation of leaders, all underpinned by a commitment to DEI.
 
Stykka’s solution is focused on a more environment-friendly building industry, introducing furniture products with a circular lifecycle that are modular, customisable, re-usable, durable, and which reduce carbon footprint and operational costs, all managed across portfolio via a digital operations platform. The platform connects all components used across a given portfolio, introducing efficiencies in operating, repairing, and upgrading inventory, and access to complete 3D models and operational and climate data, while digital twins contain complete specifications and product data. The product addresses the traditionally short life expectancy of kitchens, the most expensive to operate and most frequently disposed elements of building interiors, with products designed to be used for as long as possible and then repaired, refurbished, or recycled.
 
Commenting on their success, Jarl Engelbrecht Vindnæs, founder of Stykka, said: 'We offer a tangible and physical solution for the building industry. Our mission is to eliminate all waste from building operations, a global problem that contributes to million tons of waste every year. Our solutions replace single-use furniture through the use of technology, durable materials and by embracing a circular business model.'
 
Stykka was declared Nordic regional winner from finalists that also included R8 Technologies (AI driven solutions for decreasing energy consumption and emissions) and Chaos (AI driven location intelligence solution) from Finland; and Plant (software for reducing climate impacts) and Myrspoven AB (energy optimisation in buildings using AI) from Sweden.
 
Karoline Garder (DEAS), PIC Nordics Champion (coordinator), commented, 'Stykka impressed the Nordic PIC Selection Committee with its focus on the future of construction, its resource efficiency, long-life design and adaptability, and minimised environmental impact, as well as the efficiencies introduced by technology in managing these components across portfolio. However, the competition was extremely tough between the five finalists, with less than a quarter point separating our winners from the joint second placed competitors, Chaos, and Myrspoven AB.'
 
Six regional (in-country) competitions, for France, Germany, Iberia, the Nordics, Switzerland, and the UK, form the first phase of ULI PIC, with start-ups invited to apply and to present in front of a local ULI PIC Selection Committee composed of diverse industry experts from across the built environment. The regional winners will then participate in the second phase, a European final, and present in front of a ULI Europe PIC Committee. The final winner will be announced at the ULI Europe C Change Summit in Copenhagen on 11 October 2023.