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Some time ago, we wrote about the Nordics — and Sweden in particular — as fertile ground for innovation, backed by decades of coordinated public-private investment, a risk-tolerant culture, and a strong digital-native workforce. We argued that this unique DNA made Sweden a prime candidate for the next wave of global tech (and impact) disruption.
Back then, we called the region the New SV (Sustainability Valley) a nod to its climate-aware, socially intentional tech ecosystem. Others have gone further: Oliver Molander aptly coined the term Silicon Valhalla to capture the boldness and momentum of what’s emerging in the North. (If you’re not already following Oliver’s work, his posts on Sweden and the Nordic tech scene are well worth the read.)
Last week, that momentum got a new boost.
Announced last Wednesday, the Swedish AI Reform, a collaboration between Sana Labs and the Swedish government, is one of the most ambitious national AI adoption initiatives in Europe.
Inspired by the 1990s PC Reform, it will give 2.3 million Swedes, including students (13+), teachers, civil servants, researchers, and nonprofits, free access to agentic AI tools over the next two years.
Through Sana’s Civic platform, they’ll be able to build custom AI agents trained on their own institutional data to automate tasks, solve complex problems, and boost productivity. The goal is not to create new models, but to democratize access to safe, powerful AI and build national literacy, turning Sweden into a global example of responsible, widespread AI adoption.
A Familiar Playbook, that works
This isn’t the first time Sweden has bet on widespread tech access. In the late 1990s, the government rolled out the PC reform, which placed a home computer in nearly one in four households. It wasn’t just a policy: it was a flywheel starter. Klarna’s co-founder learned to code on one of those machines. So did future engineers and entrepreneurs behind Spotify, Skype, King, and iZettle.
As Sana’s CEO Joel Hellermark noted:
“In the 90s, the PC reform put a PC in every Swedish home. Many of us learned to code that way — and the result was Spotify, Klarna, King, Skype, and more. Now, we’re putting intelligence at everyone’s fingertips. What will we build with abundant intelligence?”
The AI flywheel is already turning.
If Sweden’s personal computer reform sparked a generation of coders, its emerging AI reform could ignite something even more transformative: a wave of AI-native founders. That wave isn’t hypothetical: it’s already breaking.
In just the past few years, a new breed of Swedish startups has begun redefining applied AI across sectors like mental health, education, logistics, and law. Lovable, an AI-driven vibe coding platform that achieved $17M in annual recurring revenue within just three months of its launch; Sana Labs, the co-author of the AI-reform, is now gaining traction across global enterprises; Legora (formerly Leya) is reinventing legal workflows and is reportedly in talks to raise $85M in funding at a $675M valuation, led by General Catalyst and Iconiq (Forbes).
These aren’t one-offs. They’re the result of a uniquely fertile ecosystem.
And we’re only at the beginning. At the end of this article, you’ll find a curated (and growing) list of emerging Swedish AI ventures. If you want a glimpse of where Sweden’s next innovation wave is headed, the list at the end of the article is a good place to start.
A new ignition point.
The Swedish AI Reform isn’t just a policy: it’s a deliberate ignition point. Just like the PC reform unlocked a generation of developers, this new wave will enable a new generation of AI-native builders, not just users. And with it, the flywheel spins faster.
Sweden doesn’t need to become the next Silicon Valley. It’s busy building something better suited to its values and strengths: a nation where access to intelligence is as universal as access to electricity.
Our pick in Sweden’s AI startup landscape - Who are we missing? Tell us: andrea@marcau.vc
- Sana Labs: AI-powered knowledge tools
- Opper AI: Unified API for GenAI
- Lovable: AI full-stack development platform
- AI Bob — AI for property development and architecture
- Tandem Health: AI-powered medical scribe
- Bluebook: AI-powered platform for accountants and auditors
- Aeterna Labs: AI for contextual content supply
- Legora: AI platform for legal document review and drafting
- Holo: AI for sustainable agriculture
- Talentium: AI-powered recruitment platform
- Vetnio: AI tool for veterinary clinical notes
- Proplab: AI platform for commercial real estate brochures
- Supernormal: AI-powered meetings
- Flower: AI to efficiently deploy electricity flexibility