Why Did Spotify, Skype, and Klarna Start in Sweden?


Sweden is a growing epicenter of technology and innovation, with an increasing number of startups generating great excitement in the industry.

Not only is the country producing startups, but it’s also producing ‘unicorns’ – startups valued at over a billion dollars. [1]

Spotify, Skype, and Klarna started in Sweden because of the government’s early investment in education, internet connectivity, social welfare, and a sense of entrepreneurship.

These offered a fertile ground for entrepreneurs to take risks and allowed companies to develop and grow.  

The people of Sweden trust each other and their government to support their ideas, leading to incredible productivity.

This article explores the factors that contributed to the development and growth of companies like Spotify, Skype, and Klarna.

It also examines why Sweden is a tech hub and why the country is so innovative in greater detail. 

Also, see Why Are Swedes So Quiet? to learn more.

Why Does Sweden Have So Many Startups?

Innovation and development are prized in Sweden – a direct result of the country’s investment in education.

Naturally, Sweden has been churning out some of the most successful startups in the industry. 

Sweden has so many startups because of the government market reforms, its home computer drive to ensure computer access and available grants for businesses.

The sheer amount of governmental support has ensured a boom of innovative thinking that fosters even more development. 

In the 1990s, Sweden implemented a series of business sector reforms. These reforms encouraged private entrepreneurs to develop businesses in industries that the government previously controlled. 

The reforms also restructured the business sector and removed barriers to transform it into an open-market system, increased transparency, and supported investment in labor. [2]

Monopolies were discouraged, and smaller businesses had a chance even when they were up against older, more established businesses.

In the late 1990s, the government ran a home computer drive that ensured everyday Swedes had access to a home computer.

This, combined with an investment in high-speed internet connectivity, supported the country’s overall digital literacy, giving them a headstart in the upcoming tech industry. [3]

The government also rewards investments in business and people by offering grants to businessmen and investors alike.

These grants, when combined with the support of the robust social welfare program, allow entrepreneurs to come up with fresh ideas. [4]

These programs allow Swedes to trust the government to make decisions that support organizational welfare.

It also allows people to work together harmoniously, leading to true collaboration and a culture of helping each other. [5]

As a result, successful startups lead to more innovation and the development of even more startups in the country. 

Other Notable Unicorns From Sweden

New businesses have been developing rapidly in Sweden, where the number of startups has only increased since the economic reforms in the 1990s.

“We have become a bit of a startup nation in Sweden,” says Pontus Braunerhjelm, a professor at the Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden. [6]

Several “unicorns” have originated in Sweden apart from Spotify, Skype, and Klarna. Here are some notable unicorns from Sweden.

  • Mojang, makers of Minecraft.
  • Epidemic Sound, an online music production platform. 
  • Northvolt, lithium battery manufacturer. 
  • Kry, an online healthcare platform. 
  • Trustly, financial technology. 
  • Einride, autonomous shuttles, and mobility provider. 

Is Sweden a Tech Hub? 

Sweden has produced many innovative technological giants that are far ahead of the times, including Spotify and Skype.

A focus on education and technological advancement for all its citizens has led to a significant technological boom in Sweden. 

Sweden is a tech hub and is considered a new “Silicon Valley” because of the volume of tech startups that it produces.

A majority of Sweden’s startup unicorns are tech-based, including the music streaming platform Spotify and the fintech provider Klarna. 

With growing concerns over climate change, the country’s technological leaders are increasing their focus on green technologies.

One of the unicorns in Sweden, Northvolt, is focused on developing batteries for electric vehicles to help reduce fossil fuel use. [7] 

Other fields where Sweden has seen significant technological innovation are finance, i.e., fintech, and the healthcare sector.

Klarna and Trustly are leading fintech providers, while companies like Kry and Cellink function in the healthcare sector. [8] 

Today, Sweden is only second to Silicon Valley when it comes to producing tech startups.

The country’s capital Stockholm is one of the most successful tech hubs in the world, with the southern city of Malmo slowly growing into itself as the second tech hub in the country. 

Why Is Sweden So Innovative? 

Sweden is known for being the center of innovation in Europe. However, the country doesn’t just produce its unicorn startups out of thin air.

Creativity, resourcefulness, and home advantage go a long way. 

Sweden is so innovative because of government spending on research and education, making education compulsory and increasing overall literacy.

Up to 3% of the country’s GDP is invested in research. The government also built communications infrastructure, leading to collaborative growth.

Research and education are key to Sweden’s innovation, as people became literate and also learned to make informed decisions after intensive research and testing.

Research and development have contributed to the success of Sweden’s startups. 

Communicative infrastructure ensured that people living across the isolated pockets of Sweden could come together to communicate and innovate collaboratively.

Successful startups inspired and supported other entrepreneurs, leading to more startups. 

The social safety net offered by governmental policies includes everything from healthcare to childcare.

This safety net plays a significant role in ensuring that entrepreneurs can focus on their businesses without having to worry about survival. 

Entrepreneurs find it easier to take risks with the social safety net in place since they don’t have to worry about being homeless or hungry if their business idea doesn’t pan out. 

The smaller home market in Sweden forces entrepreneurs to think bigger and wider to attract a global audience right from the beginning.

This, combined with the unique circumstances of the Swedish market, forces entrepreneurs to be creative.

They need to be clever in the way that they approach and solve problems in the market, leading to innovation. [9]

References:
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Christian Christensen

Christian started Scandinavia Facts to explore his family heritage, raise awareness of one of his academic interests as a professor, and civilly promote the region. Please see the About page for details.

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