“33 companies that can lift Sweden into the future”

LEADER

Ny Teknik today presents Sweden’s 33 most promising young technology companies that we believe will amaze the world. Seventeen years in a row, Ny Teknik has published the list that we unashamedly call Sweden’s best startup list.

As usual, the editors have done an incredible job reviewing all the nominated companies. Over 300 startups have been seen in the seams for several months. To be placed on the 33 list, companies must be a maximum of seven years old, build on their own technical innovation and have international potential.

A current example from the list’s history is Yubico, which was listed 33 already in 2009, when the company had only existed for two years. Today, Yubico is listed on the stock exchange and is valued at SEK 23 billion. The founders Jakob and Stina Ehrensvärd received the Polhem prize the other week for their secure login technology.

Of course, not all 33 companies become unicorns or acquired by a giant, but enough have become so to make the 33 list an institution among investors and entrepreneurs. As recently as September, Mastercard bought Recorded Future (33-listed in 2013) for SEK 27 billion.

What makes the 33 list extra exciting is that the entrepreneurs often work with ground-breaking and research-intensive technology that, when all the stars align, have the potential to transform industries or solve global societal challenges in radically new ways.

This year, many are probably particularly curious about two areas of technology that have long belonged to the future without being represented on the list, namely quantum computers and fusion energy. It is Novatron Fusion Group, which has a test reactor at KTH, and Scalinq, with roots in Chalmers research, which makes quantum computer components.

“There are so many researchers who may not have the interest or know what value their research can bring commercially,” says Zaid Saed, one of the founders of Scalinq, which has already started production without taking in venture capital.

The 33 list is not only fascinating reading for anyone who likes new technology, it is also an important manifestation of entrepreneurship and innovation. When Ny Teknik highlights the 33 most interesting technology companies every year, we also do it to show a way forward for Sweden.

This year we toured science parks and startup clusters in Gothenburg, Luleå, Norrköping, Lund, Karlstad and Leksand – and on December 2nd we will run the grand finale in Stockholm together with entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and partners. Tickets are available on the nyteknik.se/33 list.