Analysis

February 18, 2022

How Northvolt lures talent from Musk and Bezos to Sweden’s frozen north

The battery maker has super-charged its growth and poached talent from all over. So how did it lure staff from sunny lifestyles in the US to the north of Sweden?


Mimi Billing

7 min read

When Christopher Gorelczenko left Jeff Bezos's space startup Blue Origin for a job in Skellefteå, he had only ever seen the isolated Swedish town of 73,000 on Google Maps. A former colleague had described the locale as “moose country”.

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Northvolt mass-produced its first green battery at the tail end of last year
Northvolt mass-produced its first green battery — its "first cell" — at the tail end of last year
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Peter Carlsson, as well as other employees, are often seen wearing the Northvolt zip hoodie
Peter Carlsson, as well as other employees, are often seen wearing the Northvolt zip hoodie
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Mimi Billing

Mimi Billing is Sifted's Europe editor, based in Stockholm. She covers the Nordics and can be found on X and LinkedIn

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