Hello CEO: Helena Åsberg, Unicorn

The coronavirus crisis has had a profound impact on our society - how do you see the role and contribution of the tech industry in these challenging times?

- IT&Telekomföretagen made a fantastic effort with #vitecherup to highlight and highlight the members who made good efforts for many. An effort that could have been a talking point around coffee tables in other industries to inspire and gather strength. Our own contribution, the Baraprata.se line, was well visible in #vitecherup and we at Unicorn were even more motivated to put energy into the project during the current storm in the spring of 2020, says Helena Åsberg and continues:

- Hopefully, the tech industry has sharpened its knives for the next likely crisis and put in place mobilization plans and also found opportunities for new revenues or learned how to retain existing ones. If not, now is the time to plan for the future.In times of crisis, the best ideas are born as customer and internal needs become clearer. In this hotchpotch, I hope that intrapreneurship flourishes, especially in larger companies with a lower level of innovation. It strengthens the Swedish tech market and is good for all of us in the industry.

Looking ahead, how do you see the near future; what are your priority issues/focus areas?

- Unicorn's co-funding and mobilization gave us a boost and proved that we as an organization could stand the test of time. That we can still gather the team, external resources and very quickly deliver in an emergency. We are now developing a white label platform for both web and telephony that can use existing resources such as internal media production and ad buying, as well as call centers, support and administration, etc.

- If we reach our milestones, we will need to recruit and raise capital before the summer of 2022 and expand all areas of the company. Even before covid, the entire team was digital nomads, which suits us well given that one of our goals is international expansion.

What are the two most important messages you want to send to our policymakers ahead of the 2022 elections?

- Since the issue of integration is high on the wish list, the first suggestion is to reward companies that open up various forms of internship for all ages. You can always find something that needs to be done, albeit initially simpler tasks. The important thing is to have a purpose and to belong to a group, something that trains languages and brings out an individual's qualities and talents. Learning by doing. Hand out awards at a widely publicized gala for an integration IT industry award. A good way for companies large and small to be seen where the efforts in reality have a ripple effect and make a difference for many.

- Many companies in the IT industry are in urgent need of trained staff. Sow seeds in companies today and reap the rewards in a few years. 300 years ago, people planted oaks to build ships - today.

- The second suggestion is for politicians to engage seriously with our industry and plan for the next crisis as if it were already here. The goal could be to mobilize with the same force and efficiency as the government did before 1993 when the municipalities took over responsibility. Back then, seven million Swedes knew where to go if the alarm went off and mobilization supplies were well stocked. Contingency farms existed, trucks and airplanes etc. were stationed for war. The organization would perhaps look different today. But what about for us Swedes?

- Since its inception in the spring of 2020, Unicorn has participated and been active in all PTS #brytisoleringen meetings. 66 proposals have been highlighted by PTS, companies, municipalities and organizations and presented to the government. What we in the industry and the relevant authorities can contribute to strengthening preparedness in addition to what is already being done is an important issue.