What makes a business work? This Swedish scale-up has put €4.5 million behind finding out

This Swedish scale-up has put €4.5 million behind finding out By David Cendon Garcia August 18, 2026 Share FacebookTwitterWhatsAppLinkedin Swedish business software scale-up Fortnox is committing €4.5 million (50 million kronor) to a ten-year research initiative by the Stockholm School of Economics aimed at answering a deceptively simple question: what actually makes a company successful? This sector-wide development has drawn attention from market participants. This Swedish scale-up has put €4.5 million behind finding out By David Cendon Garcia August 18, 2026 Share FacebookTwitterWhatsAppLinkedin Swedish business software scale-up Fortnox is committing €4.5 million (50 million kronor) to a ten-year research initiative by the Stockholm School of Economics aimed at answering a deceptively simple question: what actually makes a company successful?Fortnox CEO Tommy Eklund says: “We want to find out what really drives companies of all sizes to contribute to a prosperous Swedish society – from the small hair salon in Växjö and the medium-sized construction company in Gothenburg to the accounting firm in Stockholm.Collaborating with a world-class institution like the Stockholm School of Economics is the right way to get there.” The Växjö-based company, founded in 2001, has grown from a Swedish accounting software business into a major cloud-based platform serving SMBs and accounting firms.Key players involved: EQT, Insight Partners Leadership ChangesThis Swedish scale-up has put €4.5 million behind finding out By David Cendon Garcia August 18, 2026 Share FacebookTwitterWhatsAppLinkedin Swedish business software scale-up Fortnox is committing €4.5 million (50 million kronor) to a ten-year research initiative by the Stockholm School of Economics aimed at answering a deceptively simple question: what actually makes a company successful? Fortnox CEO Tommy Eklund says: “We want to find out what really drives companies of all sizes to contribute to a prosperous Swedish society – from the small hair salon in Växjö and the medium-sized construction company in Gothenburg to the accounting firm in Stockholm. Organizational ImpactOrganizational changes are expected to enhance operational efficiency and strategic execution. Stakeholders anticipate positive impacts on culture, performance, and market positioning. Expert Commentary Looking AheadFor complete details on this development, refer to the original report from EU-Startups. Frequently Asked Questions