Business Sweden Propels GFA Technologies into Stockholm’s Dynamic Tech & Business Ecosystem

GFA Technologies recently participated in the Tech & Digitalisation Delegation program in Stockholm, Sweden, facilitated by Business Sweden. The successful implementation of this program has significantly improved the level of collaboration between the organizations involved, leading to a greater understanding of Sweden’s tech and business landscape. Further objectives include:

• Familiarising Nigeria’s thriving tech industry with Sweden’s technology sector.
• Exploring potential investment prospects that could benefit both nations. 
• Adopting applicable solutions by taking inspiration from Sweden’s well-structured approach towards supporting technology development.

Key Highlights and Engagements

The program commenced with a visit to Epicenter, a dynamic organization dedicated to cultivating innovation and fostering collaboration among entrepreneurs and businesses. As a bustling hub, Epicenter is home to Sweden’s leading tech players and entrepreneurs, hosting workshops and seminars and serving as a pivotal nexus for investors and innovators alike. 

Jack Melcher-Claësson, Head of Accelerate, treated Debo Omololu, CEO of GFA Technologies, and other participants to an enlightening presentation that shared Epicenter’s remarkable journey and Sweden’s transformation strategy.  

During the visit, Debo actively engaged in discussions with other participants from different countries as they embarked on a tour of the Epicenter while immersing themselves in its vibrant and innovative ecosystem. Debo also shared invaluable insights into Nigeria’s dynamic tech landscape with Anthonia Adenaya Huard and Natalie Thiel from Business Sweden, as well as other delegations from Nigeria: Dr. Inya Lawal of Ascend Studios Foundation/ Global Tech Africa,  and Mr. Ademola Idowu of Venture Garden Group.

Various stakeholders were engaged, discussing the potential for creating special programs that would introduce Nigerian entrepreneurs to Swedish investment and mentorship opportunities, serving as a catalyst for tech-driven economic growth. These discussions and presentations focused on identifying investment prospects and exploring the feasibility of emulating Epicenter’s success in Lagos, potentially through collaboration with the Lagos State Government.

Finally, a presentation was made to Member Companies of the Epicenter, Business Finland, and other representatives from the Swedish Government and Tech ecosystem.

Next visit was The Park Sodra, a tech hub that extends its facilities to a wide array of businesses, from startups to established enterprises.  Mikael Ahlstrom, CEO & Founder, passionately shared the park’s essence, offering a glimpse into the heart of Swedish innovation. The discussions explored the structuring of tech hubs and how such environments foster innovation. 

The key highlight of the day was the interactive sessions with an array of Swedish companies that presented their innovative offerings and areas of mutual interest. These include:

• Enablers of Sweden: which addresses entrepreneur challenges, provides venture capital solutions.
• Pangea Trust: an accelerator & investment platform for African startups, connecting with global investors.
• Anekdote: which automates app development, offers ongoing management, support, and updates.
• Binogi: an educational platform with 1400+ multilingual videos aligned with the curriculum.
• Ringtail Interactive: which develops intelligent platforms and digital solutions for multiplayer gaming.
• Mentalytics: which enhances focus, delivers trackable results through innovative technology solutions.
• Mentatt: which improves workplace mental health, enhancing productivity and effectiveness.

Subsequently, there was a visit to Almi, which revealed the essential role government support plays in nurturing business growth. Almi is known for its financial assistance programs and investment platforms. The organization’s approach to investments and loans for tech companies is something Nigeria could adopt. Almi’s model demonstrates the power of having solid backing from government entities and tailored financial products to accelerate growth in the tech sector.

A key highlight of the event was the interactive sessions with an array of Swedish companies that presented their innovative offerings. These include:

• Agridrone Sweden AB: Revolutionizing agriculture with drone-based soil and plant analysis for sustainability.
• Mobile Casting Sweden AB: Modernizing film industry casting with micropayment-enabled talent matching via app.
• Yrselcenter Geisler Medical AB: Telemedical solution diagnosing vertigo by analyzing eye movements through mobile tech.
• Biosquare: Creating sustainable impact video games influencing real-world environmental projects.
• Inomet AB: Designing customized wear solutions enhancing productivity with patented technologies.

The final day featured a stimulating discussion with Per Stromback, the voice of the Swedish Games Industry. Per shared valuable insights into the global gaming landscape and discussed the opportunities for Nigerian game developers to make their market international. The meeting highlighted the potential for collaborative game development, including educational exchanges, and also set the stage for potentially taking the Nigerian gaming industry global for an international market.

These visits and interactions have accelerated GFA Technologies’ expansion into Sweden and laid the groundwork for future collaborations, including the growth of its executive skill management software, DIMP (Digital Management Innovation Platform), for use in the Swedish economy. It is highly expected that this will lead to GFA’s expansion into more Nordic countries.

Undoubtedly, GFA’s entry into Sweden can act as a catalyst in strengthening the ties between Africa and Sweden. Swedish enterprises can reduce operational expenses by utilizing GFA Technologies’ skill management platform, DIMP, to outsource certain non-essential functions, such as customer service, bookkeeping, software development, and other IT services. 

Also, African businesses will be able to hire contractors or full-time employees in Sweden without the need to go through the business registration process. Essentially, GFA acts as the employer of record (EOR) and provides support to African (and global) businesses looking to expand their operations in Sweden.

Looking ahead, GFA Technologies remains steadfast in its pursuit of innovation and excellence. Armed with insights gleaned from the delegation and fortified by newfound partnerships, the company is poised to make significant strides in its mission to shape a brighter, tech-enabled future.

Special appreciation goes to Business Sweden for laying the groundwork for collaborations between Sweden and Nigeria. This trip was a major step in connecting Nigeria’s vibrant tech community with Swedish innovation.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DIMP, VISIT Program management software for upskilling (dimpified.com)