Nicklas Bergman

  • Serial Entrepreneur and Technology Investor
  • Futurist Researcher and Writer

Nicklas Bergman has for more than 25 years worked as a serial entrepreneur, technology investor and futurist focusing mostly on investments and business development in emerging markets, web services, nanotechnology, computing, new materials and new media art, currently through around 15 direct and indirect investments.

He lectures on how to navigate and survive the upcoming techstorm, and how individuals and businesses can gain a competitive edge by staying informed on emerging technologies and the ongoing transformation of society.

Where will technology take us? Are we ready for what the future may hold? The possibilities are endless. We’re witnessing the dawn of an era. An era where technology will redefine who we are, and it’s no longer just a question of what technology can do for us, but also what should we allow technology to do. With vast experience from navigating through turbulent and uncertain technology environments, he is the perfect guide when you are trying to understand what the future will bring.

 


Nicklas Bergman headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • Smart Engines Summit, France
  • Swedish Venture Capital Association
  • National Institute for Nanotechnology, Canada
  • Panasonic SVP North America
  • National Institute for Nanotechnology
  • Stockholm School of Economics
  • Stockholm Innovation and Growth
  • Magnus Lindkvist, trend-spotter and futurist, TED-speaker 2010
Rave Reviews About Nicklas Bergman as a Speaker
Nicklas is a futurist of highest rank. With a combination of intellectual elasticity and futurological curiosity, he weaves a tickling portrait of how the technologies of tomorrow will affect our way of life and business. That he also as an investor 'puts his money where his mouth is' makes him one of our most credible guides to the possibilities and challenges of the future. As a conference junkie I see hundreds of speakers every year, and Nicklas is by far one of the best.

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Talks & Conversations with Nicklas Bergman
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Surviving the Digital Tech Storm

In a time when established businesses are under constant pressure to innovate and stay ahead of the competition, it’s vital to understand that with technological development comes the need for business innovation. In this keynote, I’ll provide insights and tools for conquering the digital world, exa ...

In a time when established businesses are under constant pressure to innovate and stay ahead of the competition, it’s vital to understand that with technological development comes the need for business innovation. In this keynote, I’ll provide insights and tools for conquering the digital world, examples of how to identify opportunities and challenges in the rapidly changing technology landscape. This presentation is filled with examples of emerging technologies relevant to the audience, case studies from some of the best tech companies in the world, as well as tools for analyzing technologies, assessing the business implications, and adapting to a new uncertainty.

Key takeaways:

  • Overview of the latest digital development which all come from a perspective of business opportunities and challenges.
  • Inspiring examples of the use of technology from some of the most successful companies in the world.
  • Hands-on guide and tools so that the attendants can make their own technology and business assessments right after the event.

The Tech Storm 42 Briefing

Aided by images, graphics, and video clips, and based on my constantly updated list of the 42 most interesting emerging technologies to keep an eye on, I’ll present examples of the latest research, innovation, and business trends. Depending on the agenda, I’ll present as many graphics and videos as ...

Aided by images, graphics, and video clips, and based on my constantly updated list of the 42 most interesting emerging technologies to keep an eye on, I’ll present examples of the latest research, innovation, and business trends. Depending on the agenda, I’ll present as many graphics and videos as there’s time for either picking the ones the audience wants to hear about or the ones I find the most relevant for you.

Key takeaways:

  • Overview of the most interesting, challenging, and thought-provoking emerging technologies that’s out there.
  • New perspective on how technology gets accepted into society.
  • Understanding how to relate to these technologies from a business perspective.
  • New insight on the ethical aspects of emerging technologies, and how to relate to these issues.

 

The Tech Storm Workshop

A deep dive into emerging technologies, the challenges and opportunities and the tools for analyzing technologies, assessing the business implications, and adapting to a new uncertainty is what I speak about in the Tech Storm Workshop. Based on the methodology of my most recent book “Surviving the T ...

A deep dive into emerging technologies, the challenges and opportunities and the tools for analyzing technologies, assessing the business implications, and adapting to a new uncertainty is what I speak about in the Tech Storm Workshop. Based on the methodology of my most recent book “Surviving the Tech Storm– Strategy in Times of Technological Uncertainty" this workshop is aided by the creative use of decks of cards and other tools for emerging technologies as well as for new business models.

Key takeaways:

  • An understanding of how new technologies are being accepted into society and adopted by businesses.
  • Tools for spotting emerging technology trends and understanding the time perspective; i.e. when a technology will break through.
  • Tools for assessing and understanding the business implications and acting on this new information.
  • Tools for looking at uncertainty in new ways, being comfortable with increasing change of pace and identifying opportunities in an ambiguous world.

The Tech Storm Paradigm

A thought-provoking, philosophical, and entertaining journey into the world of emerging technologies is where I challenge the audience to think about the future in new ways, consider where we want technology to take us, and whether or not we’re ready for the approaching storm of technology. Key take ...

A thought-provoking, philosophical, and entertaining journey into the world of emerging technologies is where I challenge the audience to think about the future in new ways, consider where we want technology to take us, and whether or not we’re ready for the approaching storm of technology.

Key takeaways:

  • What can we learn from history when looking at the rapidly changing world around us.
  • A deeper understanding of technology’s role in the development of our society.
  • A deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges of technological development.
  • New insights on the ethical aspects of emerging technologies, and how to relate to these issues.

 

Strategy Under Technological Uncertainty: How the Techstorm is Disrupting Business

The increasing rates of innovation and scienti?c development are affecting all aspects of running a business today. As information technology matures, new disruptive technologies are emerging that will ultimately change the way we conduct business. How should a company act in times of great technolo ...

The increasing rates of innovation and scienti?c development are affecting all aspects of running a business today. As information technology matures, new disruptive technologies are emerging that will ultimately change the way we conduct business. How should a company act in times of great technological turbulence to avoid being eliminated by a ”Kodak Moment”?

Ignorance is bliss but not a viable approach to the ongoing techstorm. Instead, it’s important to understand what level of uncertainty you are facing. Then, assess different strategies based on whether you want to try to shape the potential future or if you would rather stay more agile and adapt to changes in the competitive landscape.

In this talk, Nicklas presents a technology perspective on corporate strategy and uncertainty ?lled with examples from his investments and entrepreneurial ventures as well as from the cutting edge of emerging technologies. He is also focusing on how you identify and bene?t from opportunities arising in the ever changing technological landscape.

Will Robots Steal My Job?: How the Techstorm is Disrupting Your Life

Computers outclass humans in Jeopardy and outperform lawyers in case preparation. Robots excel over humans in various agriculture, healthcare and transportation applications. A recent study from Oxford University suggests that almost 2/3 of the U.S. workforce has a medium to high risk of job destruc ...

Computers outclass humans in Jeopardy and outperform lawyers in case preparation. Robots excel over humans in various agriculture, healthcare and transportation applications. A recent study from Oxford University suggests that almost 2/3 of the U.S. workforce has a medium to high risk of job destruction because of automation. Is the human workforce an endangered species? Are we moving towards a jobless society?

When a technology matures and a new emerges, you can identify a number of traits that are crucial for making it in the upcoming era. In this talk, Nicklas presents an in-depth view on vital prerequisites for individual success in this ongoing techstorm. To stay competitive, you must learn to prepare for ambiguity, rather than plan for the future. It’s also crucial to value skills that are harder to automate. Work on your creative, innovative as well as social and emotional skills. In times when information is instantly available, you should focus on asking the right questions, not giving the right answers.

Embrace Ambiguity

What is ambiguity? Is it the same as risk? No, uncertainty and ambiguity is the inability to calculate risk. The difference between them is a matter of knowledge. If you gather information in a situation of great uncertainty, you are able to make an accurate risk assessment. With an information or e ...

What is ambiguity? Is it the same as risk? No, uncertainty and ambiguity is the inability to calculate risk. The difference between them is a matter of knowledge. If you gather information in a situation of great uncertainty, you are able to make an accurate risk assessment. With an information or experience advantage, you can stay ahead of the competition, also in a highly ambiguous situation.

Nicklas Bergman has lived his whole life facing situations of great ambiguity, whether is is when drift diving with hundreds of reef sharks in French Polynesia, camping among wild camels on the Mongolian tundra or starting a business in Romaina in 1990, only months after the execution of head of state Nicolae Ceausescu. In ”Embrace ambiguity”, he elaborates on entrepreneurship and business development in situations of great uncertainty, based on his 20+ years in emerging markets and investments in emerging technologies.

The Future is Not What It Used to Be: How the Techstorm is Disrupting Society

Where will technology take us? Are we ready for what the future may hold? The possibilities are endless, and we’re witnessing the dawn of an era where technology will rede?ne who we are. It’s no longer just a question of what technology can do for us, but also what should we allow technology to do. ...

Where will technology take us? Are we ready for what the future may hold? The possibilities are endless, and we’re witnessing the dawn of an era where technology will rede?ne who we are. It’s no longer just a question of what technology can do for us, but also what should we allow technology to do.

In the coming decades society will go through a painful and challenging transformation due to the ongoing techstorm. With automation comes unemployment and a smaller tax base. Increased longevity means greater pressure on the pension systems. Easy access to our genetic information raises ethical issues of what we want to know about ourselves, and also what we want to share with others.

In a multimedia presentation ?lled with colorful examples, Nicklas presents a future outlook on trends based on emerging technologies and their impact on society. He is also covering ethical aspects on technology, preparing you for the times to come.

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Biography

Nicklas Bergman is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist and futurist. He has worked as an entrepreneur and technology investor for more than 25 years. For most of these years, the primary focus has been on investments and business development in emerging markets, web services, nanotechnology, computing, new materials, and new media art. Currently, he is close to around 15 direct and indirect investments.

A couple of years ago, he got tired of endless meetings with bankers, lawyers, and boards of directors. He decided to take the technology bull by the horns, and find another approach. He therefore cleared his schedule, and embarked on this journey to understand where technology is taking us and if we are truly ready. Today, his time is divided between existing and new technology investments, a couple of his own skunkworks projects, and speaking and writing on the future of technology and business.

He is the strategic adviser to European Commissioner and to the European Institute of Technology on issues related to science, innovation and the commercialization of technology. He is also a Scandinavian representative of the TechCast Technology Think Tank in Washington DC, and member of both the World Future Society and the Long Now Foundation.

As a writer, he is very interested in the merger of technology, society, and business. He published a book on how to deal with new technologies from a business perspective called Surviving the Tech Storm – Strategy in Times of Technological Uncertainty. The book is about technology being, probably, the strongest driver of change today and that anyone in a management position, or anyone with aspirations to eventually be in that position, must understand how technology is changing business from the ground up.

He is also part of “Nordic Ways”, the 2016 key project at the SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins University in Washington D.C., USA. The final result of the project was a book of essays on how Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden are facing economic and social challenges through what has been known as the “Nordic Model”. Authored by people from all the Nordic countries, all the writers have backgrounds in politics, academia, design, arts, industry, and civil society. This game changing book was released in October of 2016.