A Public Sector Voice on the Ignite Board

As CEO of HBV, the central purchasing body for Sweden’s publicly owned housing companies, Johan Almesjö is no stranger to the pressing need for transformation across the public sector. Now, as a board member of Ignite Sweden, he’s bringing that experience to the table to support startup collaborations that can help shape tomorrow’s solutions.

“The decision was easy — absolutely, I would say yes, and I felt honored,” says Johan about joining Ignite’s board. “I think it’s a big thing and an important task to embrace.”

A Mission to Innovate for 900,000 Swedish Homes

Since 2017, Johan has led HBV, a member-owned organization serving 426 public housing companies, including around 100 municipalities across Sweden. Together, their members manage nearly 900,000 apartments.

“Our vision is to be the purchasing function for our members, and therefore we have to be essential for them in the future,” Johan explains.

Today, the organization is focused on meeting key challenges in sustainable renovation, balancing cost-efficiency, and introducing digital solutions in building, renovating and property management.

For Johan, innovation is not optional. “If you want to remain relevant, you have to research, embrace and scale innovation,” he says.

He also believes that the public sector has a key role in driving innovation to market and cites his own organization as an example. “We’re owned by the public. Our members aren’t competitors — they’re colleagues, willing to share what works. Scaling solutions is often easier here than in the private sector.”

Partnering with Ignite Sweden to Deliver Tomorrow’s Solutions

HBV became a partner to Ignite Sweden in 2022 and has since engaged with more than 40 Swedish startups.

“We need to provide our members with the solutions of tomorrow — and we need to do it today. That’s why this collaboration with Ignite Sweden is necessary for us. Ignite is our main process for identifying and working with startups.”

What sets Ignite apart, Johan says, is its unique process that enables them to access startup innovations that best match HBV’s challenges across the Swedish ecosystem.

“This process of scanning startups, selecting which ones to meet, connecting them with first buyers, and then scaling those innovations to multiple buyers — that’s what makes Ignite unique for us. It’s not something you can find anywhere else.”

Turning Startup Innovations into Scalable Public Solutions

Although Johan sees startups as essential to HBV’s innovation journey, integrating them into a system that serves nearly a million homes is no small task.

“Our members are often among the first to purchase startup innovations. We follow their pilots and assess whether the product can fit into our existing framework agreements or if a new one needs to be created.”

Their collaboration with startup Mimbly, which they met through Ignite Sweden three years ago, is one example of a success story that scaled. The Gothenburg-based company provides a product called the Mimbox, which connects to commercial washing machines and enables both water reuse and microplastic filtration.

“They’re now a supplier for several of our members. They’ve built a solid production base and capacity. I believe they’ll become a real success story in housing and property management.”

But not all matches are perfect — and that’s where mindset matters.

“We’ve also seen startups that don’t quite make a perfect match for us, mainly because the scale we require is beyond their production capacity,” says Johan. “But we always give feedback, even if they aren’t the right fit or if the pilot didn’t work. We share our learnings and encourage them to explore collaborations — for example, with our wholesale partners. That’s also a way to support their growth.”

Bringing the Public Sector Perspective to the Ignite Board

Johan is the only board member coming from the public sector. He brings decades of experience across areas like defense, social security, and housing — and a valuable network within the sector.

As a board member, he continues supporting Ignite Sweden and its CEO Sara Hamlin in shaping strategic decisions.

“Ignite Sweden has the possibility to focus on one thing, and that’s driving innovation to have a bigger impact on society — and, in my case, on the public sector as well.”

Looking ahead, Johan sees a broader network, stronger regional ties, and expanded procurement collaboration.

“I think that Ignite has a big role to play — not only in Sweden, but also in the Nordic countries, the European Union, and maybe even beyond. In three years, I see Ignite expanding its process, involving more incubators, universities, and central purchasing bodies. That’s the future I want to help build.”