Swedish entrepreneurs in NYC!

If Silicon Valley is the hub of IT and technology innovation, New York is the hub of media and design innovation. This was clear this week when we, together with Business Sweden (formerly the Swedish Export Council), organized a seminar for Swedish IT companies that want to establish themselves in the United States. The seminar took place in New York. Attendees included Minister for Trade Ewa Björling, Lars Björk, CEO of Cliktech, representatives of Nasdaq, venture capitalists and a number of smaller Internet companies with their sights set on the US.  

The aim of the event is long-term: to make it easier for Swedish IT start-ups to establish themselves in the US and thereby increase Swedish IT exports. "IT is a Swedish specialty and I feel that there is great interest in Swedish IT skills and Swedish IT companies in the USA. Establishing a presence there means gaining access to a large and unified market - unlike the fragmented market for digital services in Europe. 

"Think big" and move management to the US was the advice from Lars Björk, who very captivatingly told about Qliktech's journey from a Lunda startup in 1993 to a global company with customers in 100 countries, 1500 employees and a listing on Nasdaq.

It is important that Swedish companies follow Qliktech's lead. Too often we see the big IT giants buying up small innovative companies and incorporating technology and people into their own organization. Of course, this is good for the entrepreneurs - to secure money for their innovation, which can then hopefully be used for new innovations. But from a national perspective, it's better if companies are given the opportunity to grow in their own right and create growth and jobs in Sweden. It turns out that all the Swedish companies we met in New York have large development centers in Sweden. Simply because we in Sweden have good skills and a culture that promotes creativity and development.

We have been working for a couple of years to increase the commitment of Business Sweden to our industry. Something that I now feel is underway; Business Sweden now has a clear commitment and a clear organization for the IT sector and during the autumn several IT events are planned. Among other things, a trip to the US for startups with arranged meetings with various venture capitalists. More information about this and initial seminars at home will come in our newsletters in the future.

For me personally, one of the highlights of the visit was when Ewa Björling opened this week's trading on Nasdaq. A symbolic act that resonated not only in the Swedish media but also on several US TV channels. And the Americans really know how to put on a show - it was a very well directed and professional show where the minister and the ambassador and the rest of us Swedish extras were shown on the big billboards in Times Square together with an excellent commercial about Sweden and our innovative strength. Great job by everyone at Business Sweden, the Swedish Consulate and everyone else who was involved in the organization!