Snjallræði

Snjallræði is a 16-week growth space (e. incubator) that supports powerful teams that are passionate about solutions to contemporary challenges and support the United Nations' global goals. There may be solutions related to healthcare, welfare technology, improved education systems and equality issues, for example.

Snjallræði was founded by Höfða Peace Center in 2018 and has been run seven times since the beginning. The growth space is in collaboration with MITdesignX, and is the focus of workshops where experts from MIT come to the country and share their knowledge. Participants get access to education and training from national and foreign experts in the field of social issues and innovation and meetings with experienced mentors.

The goal of the growth space is to promote innovation that tackles contemporary challenges and is thus an important platform for social start-ups. The focus is on promoting sustainability in innovation and building startups that directly support one or more of the United Nations' global goals from the very first steps.

The program is built around 4 workshops, in addition, participants meet mentors three times over the course of the period and participate in various events.

September 5 - 6: Understand

What problems are being solved and who will benefit from the solution?

Emphasis on:

• Needs analysis
• Market segmentation
• Stakeholder map
• Deconstruction

September 13: Group work and meeting with mentors

September 26 - 27: Solve

What is the solution and what are the benefits of it for stakeholders?

Emphasis on:

• Mission design
• Value proposition
• User journey
• Rapid prototyping

October 10: Group work and meeting with mentors

October 24 - 25 : Envision

What do we want to achieve, and what values are the basis for decision-making?

Emphasis on:

• Vision design
• Founder’s values / negotiations
• Sustainable business model 
• People and partners

November 8: Group work and meeting with mentors

November 21-22: Execution

What is the best way to implement, scale it and finance it?

Emphasis on:

• Action plan
• Budget
• Financing History
• Pitch

December 6: Group work and meeting with mentors

December 12: Final event of Snjallræði

Snjallræði supports teams that place sustainability and social impact at the heart of their mission.
We welcome innovation at all stages — from early-stage ideas to mature ventures — including research-driven initiatives and university-based projects with the potential for large-scale societal impact.

Snjallræði is open to diverse participants — from NGOs and companies to academic teams — who are developing ideas with the ambition to create meaningful change.
We offer a space for bold concepts that may need time to mature, helping teams refine their vision, explore sustainable pathways, and turn complex ideas into real-world solutions.

• 16-week program in collaboration with MIT designX
• Access to networking and advice from a strong team of mentors and experts in the field of social affairs, the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and Innovation
• Facilities in Gróska, a welder of innovation in Vatnsmýri
• Training from foreign and domestic experts in social innovation, e.g. from MIT, University of Iceland, Reykjavik University, University of Akureyri and the City of Reykjavík

The teams involved in Snjallræði get to participate in four two-day workshops in Iceland based on a design-thinking based framework developed by MIT designX. The workshops take place every four weeks, but in between, the teams are guided by skilled experts in Iceland to further develop the solutions. The workshops are thematic and address different aspects of the development process, from needs and stakeholders analysis, design of a sustainable business model and budgets to networking and conduct.