"It's important to believe in oneself. It can be a bit daunting to dare to start your own limited company," says Sima Haddadin.
In the first six months of this year, just over half of the participants were women. 15 percent were foreign-born. In the same period last year, 39 percent were women and 7 percent were foreigners. This is the first time in the 15 years that Nyföretagarcentrum has been in existence that it has had more women over a six-month period.
In the first six months of this year, a total of 65 people were advised This is slightly less than last year.
– However, the conversion rate is higher, which means that more high-quality ideas are being generated, explains Falk.
There's also been a clear change in the types of business ideas.
In 2023, culture, entertainment, leisure, and events ideas rank highest. Health and beauty come closely after. In 2022 the ideas were mainly in construction.
One of those who's been advised this spring is Sima Haddadin from Skelleftehamn. She grew up in Lebanon/Jordan and has since had an international career as a teacher and illustrator, including a master's degree in education and technology from Harvard. For over a decade, she worked at an international school in Trondheim.
–Then I reached a point where I didn't want to work nine to five. I traveled for a year and worked remotely as a consultant, Haddadin explains.
Angelica Falk, the operational manager at Nyföretagarcentrum in Skellefteå, notes that culture, entertainment, leisure, and events have been the most common among those who started their own businesses in 2023 in Skellefteå.
Her next destination was Skellefteå in September last year.
–I have friends here in Skellefteå, says Haddadin when we meet at a co-working space in Skellefteå.
Today, her biggest client is the startup "Islands of Math", founded by two Skellefteå locals, mathematician Carl Lindberg and IT expert David Eriksson. The "Islands of Math" app uses gamification to provide children between the ages of 10 and 15 with an inspiring tool for learning mathematics.
Haddadin started her own business in June. She currently works part-time for her own company.
- Nyföretagarcentrum has given me fantastic support and excellent personal advice. It's important to believe in yourself and what you are doing. It can be a bit daunting to take the plunge and start your own limited company, says Haddadin.