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About us

Sting is an accelerator for startups. We are a non-profit organisation, owned by a public-private foundation. This makes us an independent, founder-centric player who always acts based on what’s best for your startup.

At a glance

Sting is celebrating 20 years this year! Since 2002, we have supported hundreds of promising Stockholm-based startups. As a non-profit organisation we have no hidden agenda, and always do what’s best for our companies.

Sting has also taken an active part in developing several key components of the startup ecosystem in Stockholm and Sweden for almost 20 years.

We’ve been named the Best Accelerator in the world and the main runway for Startups in Stockholm.

Read more in our 2021 Status Report.

Key figures

    Combined Revenue (MEUR)

    356

    Int’l sales as part of revenue

    51%

    Employees

    3422

    Percentage of companies accepted in 2021 so far with at least one female founder

    61%

    Private FUNDING RAISED (MEUR)

    932

    Accepted startups / yr

    ~30

    Open Coaching meetings / yr

    200+

    Test Drive participants / yr

    60

Impact

Sting was founded in 2002 with the vision to become Europe’s most attractive ecosystem for tech startups, and to help accelerate Sweden’s most promising tech startups and increase their chances of success.

Sting supports 25-30 new startups per year and contributes to Sweden’s future tech companies’ successes to help generate jobs and international revenues to Stockholm and Sweden. 

Sting’s unique ecosystem and value proposition have been developed over many years, making Sting one of the key players in Stockholm’s startup ecosystem. Sting has also been instrumental in the development of several important actors and activities in Stockholm and has inspired others in Sweden to develop similar elements in their ecosystems.

This year, we are celebrating 20 years. You can read more about our results and impact in our 2021 status report. Or swipe below for some snapshots.

  • Overall Development
  • Revenue of Sting portfolio companies
  • Market cap of Sting companies

Owners and organisation

Sting is owned by a public-private foundation, the Electrum Foundation, and KTH Holding. 

The Electrum Foundation Board consists of representatives from the business sector (Ericsson, IBM and real estate owners), academia (KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Swedish ICT) and the public sector (the City of Stockholm and Region Stockholm).

Sting’s activities are financed with public funds, from Electrum and our main partners Vinnova, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, the City of Stockholm and Region Stockholm; and with private funding from partners, as well as through self-funding.

Being a non-profit organisation, all proceeds go straight back to the programs to help new startups become successful. It is a way for each participating company to “pay it forward”.

Main Partners

Service Partners

A lifelong community

With a solid track record for the past 20 years, Sting has been a vital part of Stockholm’s startup community supporting hundreds of promising tech startups. Watch this short video to learn more about Sting.

Sting’s annual report

Here is a snapshot of our results. While 2020 was a tough year in many ways, the Sting companies still produced strong results that we’re very proud over.

Please click on the image below to see our latest status report in full.

Sting 2021 Status Report

Co-financed by the ERDF

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aims to strengthen economic, social, and territorial cohesion in the European Union by correcting imbalances between its regions. In 2021-2027 it will enable investments in a smarter, greener, more connected, and more social Europe that is closer to its citizens.  Sting operates several regional fund projects co-financed by ERDF.

Board of Directors, Stockholm Innovation & Growth AB

  • Staffan Ingvarsson, chairman, Stockholm Business Region
  • Lisa Ericsson, KTH Innovation
  • Karin Bengtsson, Electrum Foundation

Sting Advisory Board

These members take an active part in furthering Sting’s startup support by sharing their ideas and network with Sting. The Advisory Board also focuses on how to tackle strategic challenges facing the startup ecosystem in Stockholm.

Privacy policy

Your integrity is important to us and we are committed to being transparent with the information we process about you and why. 

Read our Privacy policy.

Sustainability policy

Our focus on sustainability is an important and business-critical part of Sting’s operations to create added value for partners, customers, employees and owners. We offset all of our team’s carbon emissions with help from our alumni companies, Earthbanc and Planboo.

Read our Sustainability policy.

Icons

Sting uses Free Icons from the Streamline Icons Pack