With a conviction that entrepreneurship creates jobs while reducing segregation and exclusion, Uppstart Malmö was founded in 2011 by Dan Olofsson and Luciano Astudillo. Uppstart Malmö is run as a not-for-profit foundation and is backed by great commitment from private investors, partners, the City of Malmö and Malmö’s business community. The idea is simple – more people in the workforce means a better Malmö. And so far, more than 3,500 people have found new jobs thanks to the activities of the foundation and the companies they collaborate with.

Our day-to-day operations are handled via Tillväxt Malmö, which has offices in central Malmö, and Level, an international incubator with offices and co-working facilities at the Mobilia shopping centre. Tillväxt Malmö offers business development for companies in Malmö that want to grow, while Level provides support in the three phases of entrepreneurship: dream, start and grow.

Both businesses organise seminars and events to spark inspiration and spread knowledge. But above all, we provide a meeting place where entrepreneurs can interact and learn from each other. Throughout the year, we have seen a consistent increase in the number of companies seeking some form of support from us.

In collaboration with Möllans Basement, Tillväxt Malmö launched a mentoring program for young people aged 18 to 22. It gives them the chance to meet representatives from the business community and gain valuable insight and a real-life connection to working life. This contact improves their opportunities to broaden their horizons, increasing their faith in the future and the possibility of one day having a successful career of their own.

In turbulent times, we have been a safe advisor to business owners and entrepreneurs. Many of them like using us as a sounding board that allows them to bounce thoughts and ideas off an external, experienced business developer. How can we adapt? How can we reduce energy use in the company? There are plenty of questions, and it is important to instil courage in these companies and help them build a stable, long-term plan for the future.