founder of the year
AWARDED BY A FOUNDERS JURY

winner quotes
FOUNDER OF THE YEAR 2024
“ I am incredibly proud and grateful for the award, and my team who made this possible. The world is at our feet.
LOUISE SKIÖLD
BHBD
“ It's magical to be selected among all the talented founders.
JOHAN FRISK
OPIFLEX & RENT A ROBOT
“ We are so happy, proud and deeply grateful for this fine award, and it is extra fun that it comes at the same time as we are celebrating our 20th anniversary.
MARIE & JENNY
ZILENZIO
“ It is a major recognition to be nominated and an even greater one to receive this award. I share this award with my team, with whom I work every day to make it possible.
OLIVER LUNDGREN
OAS
“ It's an honor to receive this award, and to be part of the great Yubico team making the internet safer for all!
STINA EHRENSVÄRD
YUBICO
“ It is an incredible honor for us to receive this award for Founder of the Year Large Size Companies! The award truly belongs to everyone at Qgroup.
HÅKAN & MIKAEL
QGROUP
PRESS RELEASES

founder of the year

OUR MAIN AWARD
MORE ABOUT US

Founder of the Year is Founders Alliance's main award, and aims to draw attention to and highlight global large scale founders who own and operate sustainable companies, and thus stimulate more medium-sized and large internationally expanding companies.

PAST PERFORMANCE, FUTURE POTENTIAL & SUSTAINABILITY

The founders and their companies have been ranked based on the Founders Alliance (FA) Index, which takes into account past performances, future potential and societal benefits.

HIGHEST PERFORMING FOUNDERS

To pay attention to the highest performing founders in several company development phases, and to highlight female and male winners, Founder of the Year is awarded in three categories based on financial results the previous year.
FOUNDERS OF THE YEAR - SMALL SIZE COMPANIES

Active founders of a private or public limited company with a revenue of approximately 2-10 MEUR with at least 20% ownership in a profitable company.

FOUNDERS OF THE YEAR -MEDIUM SIZE COMPANIES

Active founders of a private or public limited company with a revenue of approximately 10-50 MEUR with at least 20% ownership in a profitable company.

FOUNDER OF THE YEAR - LARGE SIZE COMPANIES

Active founders of a private or public limited company with a revenue of more than 50 MEUR with at least 20% ownership in a profitable company.

The winners are awarded with The Growth Rings at the annual Founders Awards Gala. 

founder of the year
SMALL SIZE COMPANIES 2024
LOUISE SKIÖLD, BHBD
LOUISE SKIÖLD

BHBD

Gold Winner
Johan Frisk, Opiflex & Rent a Robot Founder of the Year Gold Small Size Companies
JOHAN FRISK

Opiflex & Rent a Robot

Gold Winner
Elvira Eriksson, Silver Winner Founder of the Year Small Size Companies
ELVIRA ERIKSSON

Mockberg

Silver Winner
Niklas Najafi Kristensen, Silver Winner Founder of the Year Small Size Companies (1) (1)
NIKLAS NAJAFI KRISTENSEN

Najell

Silver Winner
Lisa Kruse, Silver Winner Founder of the Year Small Size Companies (1) (1)
LISA KRUSE

Holy Comms

Silver Winner
Konstantin Klugman, MRPEasy, silver winner Founder of the Year Small Size Companies
KONSTANTIN KLUGMAN

MRPEasy

Silver Winner
PHOTOS FOUNDERS AWARDS GALA 2024

founder of the year
MEDIUM SIZE COMPANIES 2024
Marie Lindqvist & Jenny Helldén, Gold Winners Founder of the Year Medium Size Companies 2 (1) (1)
MARIE LINDQVIST PAHLSTAD & JENNY HELLDÉN

Zilenzio

Gold Winners
Olivet Lundberg, OAS, Founder of the Year Gold Medium Size Companies
OLIVER LUNDGREN

OAS

Gold Winner
Amanda Thörnlund & Ida Larsson, Silver Winners Founder of the Year Medium Size Companies (1) (1)
IDA LARSSON & AMANDA THÖRNLUND

Idaliv

Silver Winner
Martin Lidgard & Richard Sandström, Silver Winners Founder of the Year Medium Size Companies 2 (1) (1)
MARTIN LIDGARD & RICHARD SANDSTRÖM

Web Manuals

Silver Winners
Katrina Hutchinson O ́Neill, Silver Winner Founder of the Year Medium Size Companies 2 (1) (1)
KATRINA HUTCHINSON O’NEILL

Join Talent Solutions

Silver Winner
Jonas AAro, Silver Winner Founder of the Year Medium Size Companies 2 (1) (1)
JONAS AARO

Aaro Systems

Silver Winner
PHOTOS FOUNDERS AWARDS GALA 2024

founder of the year
LARGE SIZE COMPANIES 2024
Stina Ehrensvärd, Yubico, Founder of the Year Large Size Companies Gold
STINA EHRENSVÄRD

Yubico

Gold Winner
Håkan Paulsson & Mikael Kretz, Gold Winners Founder of the Year Large Size Companies Sq
HÅKAN PAULSSON & MIKAEL KRETZ

QGroup

Gold Winners
Johan Tilander, Silver Winner Founder of the Year Large Companies 3 (1) (1)
JOHAN TILANDER

Serafim Gruppen

Silver Winner
Mattias Matsson, Silver Winner Founder of the Year Large Size Companies 2 (1) (1)
MATTIAS MATSSON

Visionite, Professionals Nord and Asentum.

Silver Winner
PHOTOS FOUNDERS AWARDS GALA 2024

winner quotes
FOUNDER OF THE YEAR 2023
“ Seven years ago we were in the back row, looking at the winners on stage and thinking one day that will be us! And today we are here.
STEFAN & WICTOR
INTERIM SEARCH
“ Winning this prize is a true honor, but building a successful company could not have been possible without an amazing team.
PERNILLA RAMSLÖV
NOX CONSULTING
“ This award is recognition for the collective work of our entire team. Every founder has the opportunity to be an agent of positive change for the world.
LIOR SHIFF
TRIPLEDOT STUDIOS
PRESS RELEASES
“ I'm deeply humbled and grateful to the jury for this prestigious award. It's an honor to be a part of the Founders Awards alongside all the inspiring people.
MADELENE TÖRNBLOM
MAYA DELOREZ
“ This energizes us, together with our talented employees and customers, we continue to drive innovations in a time of great need for adaptation & change.
CARL BERGE
BERGE GROUP
“ We are honored and humble to receive this Award. It is a testament to all our hard work and ability as founders to build a strong brand in a short time.
THERÉSE & JOHANNA
PRO TEMPORE
PHOTOS FOUNDER OF THE YEAR SMALL SIZE COMPANIES

founder of the year
SMALL SIZE COMPANIES 2023
MADELENE TÖRNBLOM MAYA DELOREZ
MADELENE TÖRNBLOM

Maya Delorez

Gold Winner
Carl Berge, Berge Group 1
CARL BERGE

Berge Group

Gold Winner

 
MALIN LINDFORS SPEACE, ETHOS
MALIN LINDFORS SPEACE

Ethos

Silver Winner

 
FREDRIK LINNANDER, ONLINE PARTNER
FREDRIK LINNANDER

Online Partner

Silver Winner

 
ULRIKA HAMMARSTRÖM SCANDINAVIAN CSR
ULRIKA HAMMARSTRÖM

Scandinavian CRO

Silver Winner

 
Abbe Elyounssi, PUBLIC CLEAN
ABBE ELYOUNSSI

Public Clean

Silver Winner

 

founder of the year
MEDIUM SIZE COMPANIES 2023
Founder of the Year Medium Size Companies Stefan Granqvist & Wictor Bonde, Interim Search
STEFAN GRANQVIST & WICTOR BONDE

Interim Search

Gold Winner

 
Johanna Deras & Therése Lorentzon, Founder of the Year Medium Size Companies
JOHANNA DERAS & THERÉSE LORENTZON

PRO TEMPORE

Gold Winner

 
Johanna von Sydow, Founder of Equestrian Stockholm
JOHANNA VON SYDOW

Equestrian Stockholm

Silver Winner

 

Founder of the Year Silver Catarina Dahlin, Dagsmejan Ventures
CATARINA DAHLIN

Dagsmejan Ventures

Silver Winner

 
Ola Ehrstedt, Great IT & Connected Skills
OLA EHRSTEDT

Great IT & Connected Skills
Silver Winner

 
Founder of the Year Silver, Ali Albazaz
ALI ALBAZAZ

Inkitt

Silver Winner

 
PHOTOS FOUNDER OF THE YEAR MEDIUM SIZE COMPANIES

founder of the year
LARGE SIZE COMPANIES 2023
PERNILLA RAMSLÖV, NOX & NIKITA FOUNDER OF THE YEAR LARGE SIZE COMPANIES
PERNILLA RAMSLÖV

Nox Consulting

Gold Winner

 
Lior Shiff, Tripledot Studios, founder of the Year Large Size Companies
LIOR SHIFF

Tripledot Studios

Gold Winner

 
Mikael Kretz & Håkan Paulsson, Founder of the Year Large Size Companies
MIKAEL KRETZ & HÅKAN PAULSSON

QGroup

Silver Winners

 
Henrik Sandell & Peter Hellgren Consid, Silver Winners Founder of the Year Large Size Companies by Founders Alliance (1)
HENRIK SANDELL & PETER HELLGREN

Consid

Silver Winners

 
PHOTOS FOUNDER OF THE YEAR LARGE SIZE COMPANIES

winner quotes
FOUNDER OF THE YEAR 2022
“ It is truly an honor to be acknowledged by such a prestigious organization for the work that we are doing to empower hoteliers around the world.
NADJA BUCKENBERGER
ROOMRACCOON (NL)
“ I'm grateful to Founders for this prestigious recognition. This award is rightly timed and adds a lot of credibility to our work as we expand Schbang globally.
HARSHIL KARIA
SCHBANG, LEVEL (IN)
“ Thank you so much for this honor. It means a lot to be recognized by peers for the work we've done to build Dexatel from the vision to make a difference into reality.
LILIA YEGHIAZARYAN
DEXATEL (EE)
PRESS RELEASES
PHOTO FOUNDERS AWARDS GALA 2022

founder of the year

LARGE SIZE COMPANIES 2022
Johanna Småros, Founder of Reflex Solutions, Finalist Founder of the Year Large Size Companies

2022
JOHANNA SMÅROS

Founder Relex Solutions
READ MORE
Christian Ask, Founder Fitness24Seven, Finalist Founder of the Year Large Size Companies-1

2022
CHRISTIAN ASK

Founder Fintess24Seven
READ MORE
Pernilla Nyrensten, REVOLUTION RACE

2022
PERNILLA NYRENSTEN

Founder RevolutionRace
READ MORE
Rickard Lyko, founder Lyko - Silver Winner Founder of the Year Large Size Companies (1)

2022
RICKARD LYKO

Founder Lyko Group
READ MORE

founder of the year
MEDIUM SIZE COMPANIES 2022
Harshil Karia, Schbang, Level-1

2022
HARSHIL KARIA

Founder Schbang, Level
READ MORE
Lilia Yeghiazaryan, founder of Dexatel-1

2022
LILIA YEGHIAZARYAN

Founder Dexatel
READ MORE
Johanna von Sydow, founder Equestrian Stockholm received the Growth Rings in Silver for the global award Founder of the Year category Medium Size Companies at the Founders Awards Gala-1

2022
JOHANNA VON SYDOW

Founder Equestrian Stockholm
READ MORE
David Ekelund, founder of Icebug, Finalist Founder of the Year Medium Size Companies-1

2022
DAVID EKELUND

Founder Icebug
READ MORE

founder of the year

SMALL SIZE COMPANIES 2022
Nadja Buckenberger, founder of RoomRaccoon Hotel Tech received the Growth Rings in Gold for the global award Founder of the Year category Small Size Companies at the Founders Awards Gala held at Stockholm City Hall on September 22.-1

2022
NADJA BUCKENBERGER

Founder RoomRaccoon
READ MORE
Andrius Francas founder of Alliance for Recruitment received the Growth Rings in Gold for the global award Founder of the Year category Small Size Companies at the Founders Awards Gala held at Stockholm City Hall on September 22. -1

2022
ANDRIUS FRANCAS

Founder of Alliance for Recruitment
READ MORE
Stephanie Bergström, founder of Soft Goat received the Growth Rings in Silver for the global award Founder of the Year category Small Size Companies at the Founders Awards Gala held at Stockholm City Hall on September 22-1

2022
STEPHANIE BERGSTRÖM

Founder Soft Goat
READ MORE
Jaakko Wäänänen, founder of Hellon received the Growth Rings in Silver for the Global award Founder of the Year category Small Size Companies-1

2022
JAAKKO WÄÄNÄNEN

Founder Hellon
READ MORE
FA Awards Pict

ENCOURAGING GROWTH AND OWNERSHIP

To encourage long-term, sustainable and equal ownership, Founders Alliance pays attention to women and men in every step of the entrepreneurial journey and honors winners in several stages of company building at the annual Founders Awards Gala.

previous winners

FOUNDER OF THE YEAR 2021
Founder of the Year Gold 2021, Cecilia Ekholm, Founder Särnmark Group

2021
CECILIA EKHOLM

 Founder Särnmark Group
READ MORE
Founder of the Year Gold 2021, Magnus Wilhelmsson, Founder Nordic Wellness

2021
MAGNUS WILHELMSSON

Founder Nordic Wellness
READ MORE
Founder of the Year Silver 2021, Johan Waller, Kristian Liljefors and Fredrik Palmgren, Business Wellness Group

2021
FREDRIK PALMGREN, JOHAN WALLER & KRISTIAN LILJEFORS

Founders Business Wellness Group
READ MORE
Founder of the Year 2021 Gold Pirkko T. Kyllönen Språkservice Sverige

2021
PIRKKO T. KYLLÖNEN

Founder Språkservice Sverige
READ MORE
Founder of the Year 2021 Gold Niklas Hedin Centiro

2021
NIKLAS HEDIN

Founder Centiro
READ MORE
Founder of the Year Silver 2021 Mikael Kretz & Håkan Paulsson, QGroup

2021
HÅKAN PAULSSON & MIKAEL KRETZ

Founders Qgroup
READ MORE
Founder of the Year Gold 2021, Maria Åkerberg, founder MARIA ÅKERBERG

2021
MARIA ÅKERBERG

Founder MARIA ÅKERBERG
READ MORE
Founder of the Year Gold 2021, Carl Hörberg founder 84codes

2021
CARL HÖRBERG

Founder 84codes
READ MORE
Founder of the Year 2021 Silver, Johanna Deras & Therése Lorentzon founders PRO TEMPORE

2021
JOHANNA DERAS & THERÉSE LORENTZON

Founders  PRO TEMPORE
READ MORE
Founder of the Year Silver 2021, Jónas Antonsson Raw Fury

2021
JÓNAS ANTONSSON

Founder Raw Fury
READ MORE
Founder of the Year Gold 2021, Monica Born founder Superfront

2021
MONICA BORN

Founder Superfront
READ MORE
Founder of the Year Gold 2021, Pierre Persson MUD Studios

2021
PIERRE PERSSON

Founder MUD Studios
READ MORE
Founder of the Year silver 2021, Rahel Belatchew founder Belachew Arkitekter

2021
RAHEL BELATCHEW

Founder Belachew Arkitekter
READ MORE
Founder of the Year 2021 Silver, Carl-Johan Beckman, Kristian Johansson and Niklas Uddholm - Awave

2021
CARL-JOHAN BECKMAN, KRISTIAN JOHANSSON & NIKLAS UDDHOLM

Founders Awave
READ MORE

congratulations!

FROM YOUR PEER FOUNDERS
PHOTO GALLERY

previous winners

FOUNDER OF THE YEAR 2020
Helena Casserlöv-Kvist founder Meritmind, Johan Ihrfelt, founder Peas Industries incl OX2, Nicklas Persson, Robert Schön, Nicklas Henriksson & Rickard Hagman, founders AddPro

2020

Helena Casserlöv-Kvist founder Meritmind, Johan Ihrfelt, founder Peas Industries incl OX2, Nicklas Persson, Robert Schön, Nicklas Henriksson & Rickard Hagman, founders AddPro.
Anastasia Georgiadou, founder Alminia, Rickard Zetterberg, founder OGRAFY Group, Susanne Bagger - founder Amendo Group & Patrik Brandt, founder ISAB Group.

2020

Anastasia Georgiadou, founder Alminia, Rickard Zetterberg, founder OGRAFY Group, Susanne Bagger - founder Amendo Group & Patrik Brandt, founder ISAB Group.
Founder of the Year 2020, Carina Roth Schramm, founder Patrix, Mattias Andersson, founder Antura, Therése Lorentzon & Johanna Deras, founder PRO TEMPORE, Tobias Petersen & Magnus Sonander, founders Transformant Group.

2020

Carina Roth Schramm, founder Patrix, Mattias Andersson, founder Antura, Johanna Deras & Therése Lorentzon, founders PRO TEMPORE, Tobias Petersen & Magnus Sonander, founders Transformant Group.
Founder of the Year 2020, Margareta Andersson, founder Lexter Ljuddesign, Fred Boström founder Bitlog, Lisa Henningsson Önnerlid, co-founder W Communication Agency, David Holmberg, founder The Information Company Sweden

2020

Margareta Andersson, founder Lexter Ljuddesign, Fred Boström founder Bitlog, Lisa Henningsson Önnerlid, co-founder W Communication Agency,  David Holmberg, founder The Information Company Sweden.
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