Leading the Ignite Board into the Future

From the early days of the Swedish innovation ecosystem to the global ambitions of Ignite Sweden, Anders Cronholm has seen the ecosystem evolve — and helped shape it. Now, he’s bringing that perspective to the recently formed board of Ignite Sweden.

Anders had long been a strong Ignite supporter when he was asked to join the board after Ignite Sweden became an independent entity. “It was an easy yes,” he admits.

From Startup Founder to Ecosystem Builder

Anders’ connection to startups runs deep. After launching his own business right out of university, he joined Blekinge Business Incubator and has remained there for nearly 17 years.

During that time, he has seen firsthand how Sweden’s startup support system has matured. When he launched his own company in the late 1990s, incubators looked very different from what they are today.

“I remember when I entered the incubator for the first time, it was like ‘I have a startup, this is my idea.’ Once a week, you’d go into a room and meet a lawyer, a real estate professional, and maybe an accountant, and you had 30 minutes to ask your questions. That was all the support you got from the incubator back then.”

Turning 20 this year, Blekinge Business Incubator is now one of the most impactful incubators in southern Sweden, having supported over 260 startups that collectively employ more than 300 people in the region — with 70% still operating locally.

Anders emphasizes the shift that’s happened in the ecosystem: “Today’s incubators have processes and models to help you break down your idea and connect to a wider network of investors, founders, and special expertise.”

Creating Unexpected Matches Through a Two-Way Process

Ignite Sweden first caught Anders’ attention when Pär Hedberg, then CEO of the Stockholm-based incubator Sting, pitched it during a SISP – Swedish Incubator and Science Park gathering.

“Pär told us they had a new idea, to create a platform to connect startups with large companies. And I thought, ‘this is a little bit of the Holy Grail.’”

One of Ignite Sweden’s strengths, according to Anders, is its ability to spark startup–corporate collaborations no one saw coming. He points to one standout match between Blekinge Business Incubator startup alumni Attractive Interaction and Saab.

“Saab is in the aerospace business, and Attractive Interaction was a gaming company. How was it possible to match those companies? None of us saw it coming. But it turned out really well. They kept on doing business together with Saab for many years after that initial Ignite meeting.”

He sees this as part of the deeper value Ignite offers and credits its structured process as a key success factor.

“Ignite’s process works in two directions: it prepares the startup for meeting with corporate and public organizations, but it also prepares large companies to meet and collaborate with startups. That’s what creates a way for them to do business together.”

Looking Ahead: Scaling Ignite’s Global Impact

Anders joined the Ignite board with enthusiasm — and took on the Chair role to help guide its next chapter.

“As a chairman, I should be the absolute best support for the CEO. Hopefully I will also be a good chairman — leading the meetings, and making sure everybody gets the chance to speak and does their homework.”

He also brings deep insight into the Swedish incubator system and its unique role in bridging public and private sectors.

“Even though we’re private companies, we operate somewhere in between — privately run but publicly funded. I think it’s important to have someone on the board who understands that structure and its relevance.”

Anders looks forward to contributing to Ignite’s evolution into an international platform.

“It’s exciting to see that we’ve created something within the Swedish incubator system that the world now wants to replicate and they’re asking us for help.”

In three years, he hopes to see Ignite accelerate its growth in Sweden and establish its process internationally, enabling startups to collaborate with established organizations across continents.

“That would be a great story to tell your kids — that you were part of Ignite’s international journey,” he concludes.