We’re excited to welcome Fredrik as a full-time Investment Analyst in the Spintop team! He first joined Spintop part-time in 2024 alongside his studies. He has also gained on-the-ground experience from the fast-paced world of tech through a startup internship, and has spent time in strategy consulting. With an academic background in Industrial Engineering and Management from The Faculty of Engineering at Lund University, Fredrik has a strong foundation in financial analysis and problem-solving.
Learn more about Fredrik below.
What sparked your interest in venture capital and led you to join Spintop Ventures?
The people. Venture capital is filled with people wanting to create something new and challenge the status quo. Being an incurable optimist myself, I was hooked from the start.
Before joining Spintop, I did an internship during fundraising at a biotech start-up, where I got to catch my first glimpse of the VC world. It was a fast-paced environment, a steep learning curve, and incredibly exciting. When I first got in contact with the Spintop team, I met a group of highly experienced investors with amazing backgrounds. After that, joining the team was simple: I just had to learn from these people.
Having spent time at Spintop as an analyst during your studies, what are some key takeaways or insights you’ve gained from that experience?
VC is not just about the numbers; it’s about understanding the product, the team, and the market. One of my big cases that became an official Spintop investment last spring was the company Impulso: a product tracking solution for the fashion industry, connecting product data and sales numbers in the retail industry throughout the supply chain. This case was all about understanding the specific problems within the fashion industry, deep-diving into how this solution could scale quickly across the market, and how the team was equipped to execute. My key takeaway is that success in VC comes with knowledge and hands-on experience.
What are you most excited about as you now step into your full-time role at Spintop Ventures?
I am incredibly excited to keep learning: from the Spintop team, from founders and builders, and from other people in the VC space. Above all, I look forward to working together with the team.
Every day brings something new to tackle and understand, and I am eager to contribute with curiosity in every project that comes my way. With full commitment ahead, I am ready to challenge myself and capture the opportunities. Let’s hit the ground running.
How has your academic background in Industrial Engineering and Management influenced your approach to working in VC?
I have gained invaluable perspectives on how to tackle large and complex problems, enabling me to break down and segment cases into specific analyses to carry out. With a specialization in financial risk management, I am able to better apply risk-reward dynamics to the scalability and scenario planning of start-ups needed for high-risk early-stage venture investing. My background in engineering serves as a toolkit that helps me understand both the big picture and the underlying mechanics of what makes a good investment.
Are there any particular areas within the Nordic startup ecosystem you find especially interesting or promising right now?
I believe the opportunities ahead are diverse and many. However, one area that stands out with high potential ahead is fintech, and especially within open banking. In this area, the Nordics stand at the forefront with several success stories and strong solutions. This is just the beginning of what is possible to implement in the near future, and momentum is building. We have only seen a glimpse of the opportunities ahead.
Finally, what advice would you give to students or young professionals aspiring to begin their career in venture capital?
Start on the other side of the coin, on the founding and building side. During my time at university, I was heavily involved with different student activities, creating and scaling new initiatives and projects, and taking on the role of leading the student guild for the Industrial Engineering programme. Later, by joining a start-up and tackling challenges firsthand with the team, I gained valuable insights into the reality of building and scaling from scratch. These experiences are what jumpstarted my journey into venture capital.
Venture capital is all about understanding problems from a new angle and connecting the dots across ideas, people, and markets. It all starts with daring to do something new, tackling problems and learning from the experience along the way. The best VC investors I have met are the ones who never stop learning.
Welcome to the team Fredrik, we’re happy to have you!