Building businesses that matter
In June 2025, we get to know Joakim Bergman who is a Stockholm-based entrepreneur and investor with over 20 years of experience in strategy, business leadership, and venture capital. He began his career at McKinsey & Company, held senior roles in Swedish industry, and co-founded Klint Ventures in 2021, where he now serves as CEO. At Klint, he focuses on both firm operations and early-stage investments, including the successful growth of UK-based energy company Apatura. With degrees in both science and economics, Joakim brings a strong blend of analytical and strategic insight. Outside of work, he lives in Stocksund with his wife and two daughters, and enjoys spending time outdoors—often at the stables with his youngest daughter’s pony. He is driven by purpose, collaboration, and a passion for building impactful businesses.
Klint Ventures is a Stockholm-based investment company focused on providing international investors access to high-potential, tech-enabled companies primarily from Sweden and the Nordic region. Unlike traditional investment funds, Klint Ventures operates with a flexible mandate, avoiding fixed end dates and lock-in periods, which allows for long-term partnerships with portfolio companies. The firm takes an active ownership role, collaborating closely with management teams to drive growth and value creation. Klint Ventures is committed to delivering high returns while maintaining a controlled risk profile, making venture capital more accessible and appealing to investors. Read more here.
Hej SBC Member!
Joakim Bergman, CEO and Co-Founder, Klint Ventures
Who is Joakim Bergman?
I grew up in Stockholm and currently live with my wife and our two daughters in Stocksund, just outside the city. Much of my free time is spent with my family. Our daughters are now teenagers, so we’ve moved beyond the most intense years of parenting. That said, our youngest is passionate about horseback riding—and since we recently bought a pony, most of our weekends revolve around stable life.
Professionally, I’ve always considered myself more of a generalist than a specialist. I pursued a blend of business and technical education, earning an M.Sc. in Science from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, as well as an M.Sc. in Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics.
Following my studies, I began my career at McKinsey & Company. It was a fast-paced and rewarding environment where I developed a strong foundation in strategy and business operations across multiple industries. I then served as Trade Commissioner for the Swedish Trade Council in Hungary, applying my consulting experience to support Swedish companies expanding into Central Europe while also building and managing our local office.
Since then, I’ve held a range of leadership roles within Swedish industry, working in business strategy, operational excellence, M&A, and post-merger integration. About five years ago, I decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship, leveraging over two decades of experience. Together with Claës Lundström, I co-founded Klint Ventures.
As the CEO and Co-Founder of Klint, could you elaborate on your role and key responsibilities? Additionally, what are the main strategic objectives you are focused on in your current position?
As CEO and Co-Founder of Klint Ventures, my role is divided between overseeing and driving the internal development of the firm and working on the investment side. I spend part of my time optimizing how Klint functions as an organization, and part evaluating new investment opportunities and supporting several of our portfolio companies.
We are four partners at Klint, and each investment has a dedicated lead partner. At a high level, our goal is straightforward: to deliver strong returns for our investors. While that sounds simple, achieving it requires excellence across many dimensions—from sourcing and evaluating the right companies to actively supporting their growth. Since we launched in 2021, we’ve averaged a 35% annual return, which suggests we’re on the right track.
What are some of the most significant initiatives or projects you have led during your tenure with Klint? Could you share any key accomplishments that you feel particularly proud of?
One of the projects I’m most proud of is our investment in and close collaboration with the management team at Apatura. When we invested in 2022, Apatura was a local renewable energy project developer based in York, UK. At that time, they primarily acted as consultants to large solar and wind companies.
The founder of Apatura identified a major opportunity in grid-scale battery storage and needed capital to transition into project ownership. Today, Apatura is one of the leading battery storage companies in the UK, with the largest project pipeline in Scotland. They’ve also expanded into energy infrastructure for AI-driven data centers—an area that is experiencing explosive growth.
Working with Apatura has involved many aspects of hands-on company building. Step by step we have added to the capabilities of the company and managed challenges along the way. It’s now the largest position in our portfolio.
As an entrepreneur, what are your top five tips for someone looking to start a new company?
Build on your strengths: Leverage the skills and experience you’ve accumulated so far.
Solve meaningful problems: Ensure you’re addressing an issue that matters deeply to your target customers. A clever solution isn’t enough if the problem itself isn’t a priority.
Stay focused: Time and capital are limited. Go deep in a niche rather than spreading yourself too thin.
Work with great people: Strategy is important, but people drive results. Build a team that complements your own skills.
Enjoy the journey: Entrepreneurship has its ups and downs. Don’t forget to have fun and laugh along the way.
Looking ahead, what are some of the personal and professional goals you aspire to achieve in the future? What drives you in your career and life more broadly?
Looking ahead, my primary professional goal is to continue building Klint Ventures into one of the most trusted early-stage investment firms in our region. I’m driven by the opportunity to support visionary entrepreneurs and help them scale impactful businesses. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about being part of that early growth journey—bringing clarity, capital, and experience to the table.
Personally, I want to continue creating space for balance. Spending time with my family, supporting my children as they grow, and staying connected to the outdoors are all important to me. What drives me, both professionally and personally, is a sense of purpose. I want to spend my time doing things that matter—with people I respect—while continuing to learn and contribute.