Introducing the New Ignite Coaches

As part of the Collaboration Mastery Program, startups can now access one-on-one expert support throughout their commercialization journey.

Introducing Ignite Sweden's new coaches supporting startups in their commercialization journey

“During the past fall and winter, I spoke with over 100 startups that had engaged in matches through Ignite. A recurring insight from these conversations was a clear preference for tailored, hands-on support when working toward a commercial deal. Startups highlighted a need for guidance on specific challenges, such as pricing strategies and deal structuring, rather than one-size-fits-all content,” explains Yasmine Morrison, Startup Partner Manager at Ignite Sweden.

Based on these insights, Ignite is evolving its approach by introducing one-on-one coaching to provide more individualized support throughout the startup commercialization journey.

The coaching sessions aim to help startups address concrete challenges and opportunities as they prepare for, or follow up on, matchmaking meetings and collaborations with potential customers. This new format will complement the existing offer, which continues to include selected workshops designed to support startups participating in the matchmaking process.

To book a coaching session, please contact info@ignitesweden.org.


Meet the Coaches

These expert coaches bring extensive entrepreneurial and industry experience and will support startups with tailored guidance throughout their commercialization journey:

Carin Lagerstedt
Business Coach, Ignite Sweden
CMO, RemotiveLabs

Background
With extensive experience in branding and B2B marketing within technical and industrial sectors, Carin helps companies clarify messages and stand out in niche markets. Her background includes building strong thought leadership positioning and enhancing collaborations with customers and tech partners through storytelling.

Business Skills & Areas of Expertise
Turning complexity into clarity, pragmatic startup approach to marketing and communications, sales-enabling content – from first impression to follow-up.

What Startups Can Expect from the 1:1 Coaching Sessions
– As a current fractional CMO, I’m used to quickly assessing different contexts and identifying how marketing, communication, and branding can best support current business goals.
– Outside-in review of brand, content, and messaging
– Hands-on support in building trust with efficient content that supports the sales journey
– Advice on making your company relevant in the eyes of customers, media, and investors

Portrait of Carin Lagerstedt, Ignite Sweden Coach


Christian Malmsten
Business Coach, Ignite Sweden

Background
30+ years of experience in complex B2B sales and over 20 years of coaching early-stage, university-linked startups to their first customers and partnerships.

Business Skills & Areas of Expertise
Complex B2B sales, commercial partnerships, deeptech and life science markets, medtech and design-driven ventures.

What Startups Can Expect from the 1:1 Coaching Session
– Tools that increase your chances of securing commercial partnerships
– Concrete feedback to improve your sales process
– Clear and honest input


Håkan Axelsson
Key Partner Manager, Ignite Sweden

Background
5 years’ experience as a researcher in environmental science. 15’ years experience as a business executive and business developer in the energy sector. 25 years’ experience in the startup ecosystem as a founder, business coach, VC investor and business angel with focus on sustaintech, deeptech and femtech.

Business Skills & Areas of Expertise
Customer validation, product–market fit, go-to-market strategy, sales, communication, soft & VC funding, IP strategy, stakeholder and board management.

What Startups Can Expect from the 1:1 Coaching Session
Honest feedback, an outside perspective, experience-based benchmarks, and encouragement.


Marit Finch-Westin
Head of Public Sector Partnerships, Ignite Sweden

Background
Senior consultant with broad experience across public and private sectors. Former Director of Economic Development in a major Swedish municipality. Held leadership roles in international companies across Europe. Focused on innovation and public-private collaboration since 2011.

Business Skills & Areas of Expertise
Strategic development, scaling and growth strategies, public–private collaboration, innovation and sustainability in the public sector.

What Startups Can Expect from the 1:1 Coaching Session
Honest feedback, an outside perspective, experience-based benchmarks, and encouragement.


Mattias Ripoll
Key Partner Manager, Ignite Sweden
CEO, Syndata

Background
With 20+ years in sales, product, and leadership, he has co-founded three companies -including one exit- and driven innovation at both Ignite and AI Sweden. He combines deep expertise in privacy tech and GDPR with hands-on experience in B2B sales and compliance-focused growth.

Business Skills & Areas of Expertise
Product–market fit, startup operations, go-to-market and B2B sales, AI and compliance, strategic partnerships, fundraising and investor dialogue, regulatory innovation, cross-sector collaborations, and public funding (Vinnova, EU, IMY).

What Startups Can Expect from the 1:1 Coaching Session
– Fast pattern recognition and pragmatic advice
– Strategic positioning in regulated markets
– Honest but constructive feedback
– Understanding of funding and investor logic
– As a current startup CEO, I understand the pressure, pace, and ambiguity first-hand and probably made all the mistakes.

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