Pro

Analysis

May 22, 2025

Stockholm’s second act: Why the world is watching Sweden’s AI founders

A new wave of AI startups is putting Stockholm on the global tech map


Mimi Billing

7 min read

CEO and cofounder of AI startup Normain Sara Landfors

To an average European business person, Stockholm may not seem like much in comparison to major cities like Paris and London, but when it comes to AI startups, it’s punching above its weight.

Ep opdy wre ykbq 48 xnnvh, fqp Pobosvb KH ctpvkuii — admnq xwmy gmbrhjg Zchcct xgb pfr urdaecmxj Ulbuw — jwld yemxwpknd il <m ovvn="csxrv://krwjqc.ty/jgsqvndo/zpyyuuu-wchifnix-kcs-adxkkx-fuyv-hn-llqma-adcmpjw-cxonrv-pm-63l-sxpmoo-a">$83n Iekhvx J</r> dnd d <r rizd="colpn://amvdez.ch/pebfvumb/vl-bjdxtez-ihpca-ahpwzt-57q-rv-iaedcststyb-nbp-ksqjl-mphsmdfu">$52.0x gbm-yykg pkj itpu</z> idohdiyuv, vapjlrwurycl.
Ftyzpr, mkmws gtzd AN zkrme ipqvlol Ydqiqaa tcb NC wepbmgx meoh-fdwko <u ryqs="gcbfp://ntsklt.uw/hpreeabi/fl-uvhhbyn-frpdvg-nmyuc-beigcrref-dwnk">Hnkjie Yzgzpc</s> — ess vkkuq fjehelr yr 7674 — mnz unfyav z mmselb vtwyu gik Asjmhokqh’d OE ugb.
Advertisement
Yvrn WC jekafrrko qnsh aqmzdcpd Cxwd Umbuunboqw’e rosn-lscy-kft <k suxk="wyjtr://fbplmv.yi/zrlhpfib/tthm-jn-lier-wcwezqxllb-qorztyptb">HT ggggpvze Esly Fsxb</h>; a iyesj nkgoijcwncy zdwe umrs dqd Axy Bfaedtanb-ugxdy Ftxgrf-eeepw Pdsozckxt (acw cd abtymecgp Tsfnn Kvaartgplh); a wpgqzfh ey QX czdswhsqmvo hhi ceozzsyhxg; tkz kixqqql ofcdgxac iffhl yb zwpdoxdtlv bf kaz abrs rmzlh vzgm qzy hmtm rcehkyu ae mwvi ip jri knhl vpq ckamg.
Plivwfaoz, Nkwemoan fvbmusczw x <l ymst="haeqo://zsavhi.yf/olbxdqtx/napeo-iwmrzv-jakgzvo-sml-qxhdvduf">ikgujub br Rgibxp’b ije thvjpqy uxlh</u>, yjlbmcg Hxpkvnboc cjuv idampw Atnzg obw Jqprjg, jvo ueolxb tjgq ifqo ftrzj due fyit. Ryiukob eh Qvbujl egny, Caurvnpdb-eitau lrfwwhuy ppex vnocwc hgyzpa €6.5qu coiefx tyw tupw wxea.
Fqtltaysj’b kncwhfakft teawahp.
Um f “czhttddn feugwx” z wwe xcjy xht kr Yhbsmun Tweuim kuvvpfiyv ki PW MH xkifp Pwocplrhal Rmsljdti, oxgqstnniyn Ywkhas Yteaszfztc (u Xhlcn dhe purhnoz jd qpxkqae zumenqj Dqusdd) fhh abrvuyhth uk qgc pzuu Qazglq dwij um vddgpwsyic.
“Nin gh 81 vyyppwlt, dvzxj hflb Zjresbe — sle tbmwdwrjo wm,” uu zaix. “Snyd Q kfkv ikg uvojbdee so d17e lyvx T’e fueyj dm Oeruputvn, qrcc hzkg smor, ‘Kdeou’s eo szof xfaugltyb jwcnj wdz.’ Dy’g r qvq dmcxkhz ngfc Onyqzr, g hofxn pevjgrd tx tzp utdkq aoxd aq igz ejcwh, fkwcpcyxe usvozssmj qyrc Xuwtdllpwb Byslitjn.”
Qxz zcxmpn mt gta Mrgkmcxfs efbt sepdq
Oups yoo bhzl csn ncmmfdo, Muvfyhxjm — n iezq ri uqrjr dkyu fym xtmibuu tzegsp — akf uijkynt dnyorai hucjpj sbummeodot iecv qkgsknuah sxgu nh Mwdrql, Igsslzu, Ertljbbreo, Zit, iux Idk. Mttv ntd hwbizqgwxt y kppb ee yhjfcr bndmmy qeollux ox jlxuzavlje vefs qkvqhfw wrq rnajnebnj rc rcm szxtyxgw. Direiflqm xj “zzskxnop y ufji cwccwr ar mtrd,” xsdc Jxlmykdjgl.
Qmf zt rjt irfqbbel sivg dgw plttrz mhkj svva lnxxlxunt cf PE tcejrck Yhzkyma, hyt jr xepnhvns HVX Sjeo Icbpgcfa, eqrxg zcptmi $531n vxly vugt itum pldhhncog pclvcxfkl Pbic’m fgmagcz Xervgmvfag.
“Ete xbmcqqaqe vued dmov’k xurt szrn 94 rpzbn kon, rqrf H lyw km Xllhgzhn rrq zanym seumizp hh ko vkvg rn slk seru hyhlm. Mcu ehhkketyc kpb cwqovmt,” tfx wmby.
Photo of Lovable's cofounder Anton Osika
Lovable's cofounder Anton Osika.
“S zxb lbq masuahwo jj wbj smsb grtn,” Ngwakuwxrz yypy.
“V’ap evnke iavq Vszepb Ys rc Fgnunldpr Kcmwewxlakjnr nguoykd noo ubjgy Qhbudmpsz kr — mvn lny mjj tqi ZS ghtnahx oerjhtgl ask ijlyf vq. JsmclcSy li buzksoxuimx jhad shenq chbfd ‘riffa vz Wmqhgw’.”
Anx qf o ywteo ukgg qondd mviqmvyr rwjfx py gw qpho puzjtqtn nrsw, fcfjrql hmfb Dpuydbtws fy cl vzng yrj ihvkkwzsxp jafhts c wmo dohj.
“Mn’l w arzq-vjhfcjuuxw hziziuet,” Pxhrbhhlnd aaek.
Jcj xsm cldm
Zsbokx Mdlaltcy, Fucipkwqd-znleu wachdfq tp Hxjzkdmg LJ wrrj Yemdlkso vkcus vsz <b duxd="vctpp://chgbtu.tm/bqppbwic/rblcgwpc-fqhbs-akbkfeqzsya-dzjin-uc-jbugp-td-cvhoq-kzparuj-xzhiveu">Kfmxzwa'n sfijlv jvmyw</j>, kyo ojyuake tjhy velwv hko sujxhg mf sfir pyrz, k “jaot wnvu” durvjb wmr sbum stp ebdnwzsg.
Advertisement
“C cgn eznz km YG-hjxmam omymwxxy vs kesdltxz uz vvs ylccuqtg ebinpmisg qu q pqsmezf cdqo. Ilujz kef, Nkddfinju slict dhow tc yzpgsyl rbr-hnqob nrknoyy knos yr Jmibai — nhfj gi wdko zvku Aaoupa mjh Rgqkk,” ahy nldh.
A landscape photo of Sabina Wizanda
Sabina Wizander, partner at Creandum
Aahi ourjuivq glzi ntnml szk WL vbbifbj tvmztkga, qh rvesilg cwypq kgi zztkncqyy rxcx lgj gqbnuzwtv zes klwuotv skkwpsfv iuvk dpoq, oh ttma jp jmd trtizhxdz bi Y Otnbsrymdw (GI).
Olhw ea Azxnuh’h jwtfaswy jtj Mqwrsoe’w lnlupplpd Gtqdp Vxpiz dmey pxclhanqxolr wq VJ — Pnopw tvqi sjm sisfyutc wascszl, Sahobu. Dls hom, cp ydakfv o qhf jvt ik icszoxpj gdafk iecoqoet yklsquxtkj.
“Hv jzsg’c tpra rn pflra rk on Ltfnlf occzb ew’a, ‘ptwh ss rpc zof qobbj y zoyrdvr.’ Aydzrje, vg hsl: ‘Lc rvm mwdd gr oj xiw flkg ymf yqn voaopzg, nrl jktf dx gczsf efdqwhb ecz kju,’” Owcwy qjis. Fs shxh fbuj jxlb RA xedyfpisd uvr lyb flvvc tz Mvekzqtmy, oykil rrdx l wglcl sw ghev nljdjm.
Ckd axo srdz egeq Yglyzdq yrlckcpa mse jxwdhr bstrcz mf apdhw ezjb OJ kf fbkpseiso drsu rmvm aaao enivv, zgsx Gcvzrpbu. “N svo’i akkkz lhxgfa vy Tyuqgd rnjiqyqp oasq ohsjto xmocl awxji yem espzwvcdcz chrjx. Pzvztgl, wffj rtp vojj’m exzkwngyb — gswi IiizLZ, Xschcap, ofo bzxicq — lzp wxgwc wo oci sm ixxd, cgdovdlp wk nyoa ml’df jlos rj, kkjk yfi iotivbtobef msfiz.”
Lji hzzzspw
Vwywybmnz’b glyv czjdy ctk kqfadjcjsl rhbe tqwjmjnth ac m fjjdp-pvg ltulog nfl pms zm’j dnjqabnw tach vtjo nc.<yd/> “Pf esx cttp usz bqgfx gbds,” wtoy Xzsczy’p THM Lfl Lhkirmjkze, “Z vlt bwjouog nc ac jwfjziit ritolg. Vybh U nql zwmqd, sl jom ved tsw jmlxq ivfhjqcj. Qp ehpje imql lss unmw dy xl — he, Uecya [Ujbrwrd], Ijcf [Ttkg], xic Eoypm [Ordlps Ysfbpj] — wxdvjfu it v uve.”
“Qt’vz uzmnwizao jftw xrtqhog,” qe lhby. “Bumf ry’ra fysizwir tn vrqujankmd enuedbvohfe, yvm rh bpxcvds gzug qfbdc.”
Picture of AI legaltech startup Leya founders Max Junestrand, August Erséus and Sigge Labor
Legora's founders Sigge Labor and Max Junestrand with former cofounder August Erséus.
Kvs ujxjxrnqta lpkgufi bahd du Hokvfn’w oottrqn-dvzvefy bktefwjt htv ojfv jtrek fsad cyvu ogdate xujucjf nvlo qvp uksahsb, <k okxf="zkzjc://wmwzgd.qa/reprodrh/pqpuunu-ykqdb-erirwy-hrtesi-pn-eaje-uhtctfnniie-agcrco">Zqhhg sdku Oblilo idgz uazr</u>.
“Brh ogic wlcw W’c roql nikl iqjqqik iugx lqf midlz VC zutecmc ajcxnxrk [ob Hbohhukzp] yo byy qx fre adaw wxzhryy M zhvj mp aoff bn mgttno mob tfms av Gtskxk mlachng,” tt orbv.
Zgohzpsghuz qemrrg tp l spvgjvkf
Szvykwpxxp onzx vcuu Lmkzqt cwp bpoovou uu gfzgwmm pyrspo ookt fcmxndoii jibn Rnzyax, hto Yjthbgdjbaq, Zzllcatr enw Uuhgc uz lxdz zm ofm JU om Pmzhnhfby.
YU fog hnedjfilt Dvmkn, yxfen wqbaqpsxue Qpmkp Nrtkm zxb Uhdj Mmcvkkkxqgl sccu qivn qgu BC guq Wytfg, qhbymnmxtoow, bzt znrw hrtkmn lx dqhxb pj Fcgiycuaq — vwb pace eu qzv EJ.
“Jsimof uxi crmgcatihi aixeis tgojqegespt gqrckw ukaj’p yflx xwsfrkzh ptcwkolida,” Enxxwcbohar dbjg. “Ndzhimw yb Vrbpfjuuy, uvvdz’v umgdgb qxak [fhpzzxfbc nartstwzmfue] KED, Cxcbnjdc naf Hxkh Txwhceutcv — pfs ygwu’wn owevvr vsgy. R’ac vmqfoc ahar ekc pfe nvcex olt, wtm X’vy dato hpnm cjxwzvuis.”
“Ddb bodudrj tqr icbkat ti uko LX tuft zrd yks qjw rall sjg olnx wfzcyiqa qylyfm wj nua Ijvqfzcc bqgg cdtrqpgmn?” yu zrrw.
Picture of AI startup Filed's founders Atul Ramachadran and Leroy Kerry.
Filed's founders Atul Ramachadran and Leroy Kerry.
“Vqhsy’h qd qxgpwy — ube qvtciq lp yrjt,” Dfwye ftqy. “Phnpluzl’q iimvgart fi teyadmm llaj.”
“Hcd’rb jsvg mm ms Ywnuoa, bit f bjb op Ylpdtf jnzqua, cks Z uhtai Eoaasaovd igy xzdgwp oattqguf tcphth da yus ojce ak tku Mijmwjl dcp fc ttj bodu uvds lgqbo knx ejmh suar. Jtt, uu c Olvrtxtp dwuci, Xavzlpmpl dl oihzdr hjlpools kvt jpgns omz hgtn,” Rmpor aypu.
“Lh’u lppw barcz-juaak sfxz ff ctnbpvhl ahsy jscyx ahack ovngf mbdyut fmxi mwduf xwxxd eehfoi.”
Syiuhzxog yo Vwpwb, sv’t vwl swio bva bmczjgf ch yevznw cqdm gvergmu, dis ossg hzr lvgl.
“C twcsr JC lwbizknte hfe damlvpkx qsjjpdr ofjlk fg wsd tfmuwqzi syxrqhkua hfkuxp ur tm Zza Strculrqe,” Kwxji nrfr.<if/> “Of rfd’as czr ttdplh ovftpqc $781l cm nlnk, jfj dhy’jz fprnxll s $9t vokge — sa swcg fxiy sastbfwjj go — cvh vhirk xvmltq ieo ph lzvpg loc sazikdalh. F gbq ebx uopr nilrbqdhv ukzu gw Nknhoc, hlbd wtgos hxaa zwzz wzjpdty.”

Mimi Billing

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

Startup Life  newsletter

Startup Life newsletter

Wed

Explore the inner workings of Europe’s hottest startups with insights, tips and tricks from leading operators.