The idea is simple – more people in employment leads to a better Malmö. With the conviction that entrepreneurship can reduce segregation and exclusion, Dan Olofsson and Luciano Astudillo founded Uppstart Malmö in 2011. Uppstart Malmö operates as a non-profit foundation and has strong support and commitment from private investors, partners, the City of Malmö, and the business community. To date, the foundation’s activities and collaborations have helped over 4,000 people find new jobs.
Tillväxt Malmö and Level Malmö are the foundation’s two initiatives; both committed to creating more employment opportunities. Level Malmö supports entrepreneurs looking to start businesses, with a particular focus on women, young people and those from migrant backgrounds. Tillväxt Malmö provides business development support for already established Malmö companies seeking further growth.
Both organisations are based in the Mobilia shopping centre in Malmö, offering a “one-stop-shop” for the city’s entrepreneurs. All support is free of charge, with individual business development at the core. We also organise seminars to inspire, share knowledge and create networking opportunities.
Sustainable, organic growth is at the heart of everything we do. When we meet Malmö’s entrepreneurs, the focus is rarely on quick wins or short-term fixes. Instead, we aim for growth that is gradual and sustainable – relationship by relationship, customer by customer, job by job. Just as a tree grows from the roots, entrepreneurship is nourished by experience, knowledge and networks.
For us, organic growth means unlocking the potential of people and ideas. It means standing alongside business owners as they take the next step: from one employee to three, from local market to export, from dream to reality. At Level Malmö, young entrepreneurs grow through mentorship, role models and a community where they can test their wings. When experience meets future, an organic force emerges that strengthens not only individual businesses but Malmö as a whole.
2025 was a strong year for Tillväxt Malmö and Level Malmö – despite challenging circumstances. The broader business environment has been marked by rising bankruptcies, a decline in start-ups, a weaker economy, and higher unemployment. Against this backdrop, our work has become even more pertinent.
Our strength lies in the long-term relationships we build with entrepreneurs, enabling us to provide support through headwinds and help businesses grow organically. We are proud that Level Malmö has helped numerous entrepreneurs launch new companies, while Tillväxt Malmö recorded a record number of established Malmö businesses seeking growth support.

