Incubator
Our six-month programme in Älmhult is all about nurturing your idea: shaping it, testing it, and getting it ready for the world. Throughout, you’ll be part of a supportive community rooted in the entrepreneurial spirit of Älmhult, Sweden – the heart of IKEA.
A place for ideas to take root
We’re passionate about spotting creative ideas and letting them grow, together. You don’t have to have it all figured out – sometimes, a rough sketch and a little curiosity are the perfect start.
We’re looking for ideas that can make life in and around people’s homes better and for people ready to join us on-site in Älmhult. If you’re grounded, globally minded, and ready to roll up your sleeves, we’d love to hear from you.
Hear it from the ones who took the leap
Every idea has a starting point. In this film, our incubator participants share what the programme has meant to them, and why they think more people should apply.
What we're looking for
At Home of the Home Lab, we care about brave ideas – future products and services – for life in and around our homes. We focus on sustainable and smart living, home as a sanctuary, afforable and timeless design, and life beyond the walls.
Our offer to you
- Personal guidance: Get tailored coaching and mentoring from experienced, down-to-earth experts.
- Skills growth: Take part in hands-on workshops and activities to shape your idea.
- A supportive community: Connect with IKEA folks, local businesses, and organisations who share their wisdom in inspiring sessions and friendly gatherings.
- A creative hub: Enjoy a warm, energetic space to work, meet, and let new ideas bubble up.
One day together, every week
We meet in Älmhult one day a week. It helps you get to know the place and the people here – and it often makes the ideas flow more easily. Small conversations happen, things move forward, and it becomes easier to take the next step together.
How the programme supports your idea
Twice a year, we welcome up to ten ideas to spend about six months with us in Älmhult. During that time, you’ll have the tools, support, and space to understand the challenge your idea tackles and why it matters.
You’ll get to explore your users and their needs, build your first prototype, and imagine what the next step could look like. You’ll try things out with real people, learn what works, refine it further, and get a feel for the financial basics and the measures that matter. Along the way, you’ll also practise presenting your idea and learn how to talk about it in a clear, confident way.
Need-to-knows
- We speak English as our shared language.
- Home of the Home Lab is here for the early sparks – not the companies that are already up and running.
- In the incubator, we meet in Älmhult one day a week during office hours.
- Participants support themselves during the programme, or apply for grants if they need to.
Application and selection process
Our programme starts each January and September. If you’re considering the autumn 2026 round, here’s the timeline:
- Apply between 30 March and 19 April.
- We carefully review applications as they come in.
- Shortlisted candidates have on-site interviews with us between 11 and 29 May.
- You’ll hear from us no later than 12 June.
The programme runs from 7 September, 2026, to 5 March, 2027. Holiday break over Christmas and New Year's (week 52–01).
Questions and answers
Contact
If you want to know more about our incubation programme, send us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.