The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco & Silicon Valley

What The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco & Silicon Valley does

The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco & Silicon Valley (SACC-SF/SV), founded in 1948 and headquartered in San Francisco, is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental business membership organization serving as the primary gateway between the Swedish/Nordic and Bay Area business ecosystems. It operates a tiered membership model spanning seven tiers from Young Professionals ($45/year) to Core Partnership ($10,000/year), with Individual Membership recently repriced from $50 to $100/year, alongside dedicated revenue streams from event sponsorships, community donations, and J-1 Visa Program fees ($3,000 members / $4,000 non-members). Core service offerings include the J-1 Visa internship sponsorship program (6-18 month placements of Swedish interns into Bay Area host companies), customized Business Delegations connecting Swedish companies with U.S. partners across ICT, Clean Tech, Life Sciences, and Hardware sectors, the annual Forest Innovation Summit, a Scholarship Fund placing Swedish Management Trainees in San Francisco, and a Board Member Course co-run with StyrelseAkademien.

SACC-SF/SV serves two primary customer segments: Swedish companies seeking U.S. market entry (particularly startups and scale-ups) and U.S. companies pursuing the Swedish/Nordic market, with secondary segments of Swedish professionals in the Bay Area and Young Professionals aged 21-35. Its go-to-market is event-driven, anchored by flagship events including the Forest Innovation Summit, Swedish Breakfast at JPM, Young Scandi Happy Hours, and Christmas Luncheon, supplemented by business delegations, an executive podcast (The Corporate Corner), and organic social presence across LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. Technology infrastructure is minimal and off-the-shelf: Stripe for donation processing and Partiful for event registration, with no proprietary platform.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and Advisory Board, supported by a small core team of approximately 10-15 staff and interns, and operates within a partner ecosystem of 31+ entities including Ericsson (Corporate Partner), Business Sweden, Silicon Vikings, Nordic Innovation House, GABA, Global:SF, AmCham Sweden, and the Embassy and Honorary Consulate of Sweden. Select enterprise relationships include Ericsson, Snowflake (whose CMO sits on the Advisory Board), Diamyd Medical, Nefab, K&L Gates, and Burks Johansson. Membership payments are final and non-refundable, and COVID-19 materially impacted revenue, with the organization subsequently relying more heavily on donations alongside membership and event income.

Name

The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco & Silicon Valley

Legal name

Swedish American Chambers of Commerce in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Inc.

Website

https://sacc-sf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco & Silicon Valley is a non-profit business membership organization founded in 1948 that facilitates Swedish-U.S. trade through tiered memberships, the J-1 Visa internship program, business delegations, and flagship events serving Swedish companies entering the U.S. and American firms engaging the Nordic market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber of Commerce and Trade Facilitation Services

NAICS

Business Associations (81391)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAK

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

Keywords

• Chamber of commerce
• Transatlantic trade facilitation
• Cross-border business networking
• J-1 visa sponsorship
• Swedish-American market entry

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Primary revenue stream from tiered membership subscriptions including Individual ($50-100/year), Young Professionals ($45/year), Small Business ($500/year), Business ($2,000/year), Kick-Start USA ($1,500/year), Corporate ($5,000/year), and Core Partnership ($10,000/year). Most revenue comes from events and membership fees.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from event tickets, sponsorships, and event participation fees for networking events, summits, and business delegations.
3. Donations: As a non-profit organization, SACC-SF/SV relies on community donations to support operations, particularly following COVID-19 impact on revenue.
4. J-1 Visa Program Fees: Processing fees for J-1 visa hosting program: $3,000 for members (including visa), $4,000 for non-members (including visa and business partnership).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SACC-SF/SV is a non-profit chamber of commerce that provides business services, networking events, and trade facilitation between Sweden and the San Francisco Bay Area. Its core deliverables are tiered memberships (Individual through Core Partnership), the J-1 Visa internship sponsorship program, customized Business Delegations, the annual Forest Innovation Summit, the Scholarship Fund, and a Board Member certification course delivered with StyrelseAkademien.

Product overview

SACC-SF/SV is a non-profit chamber of commerce offering a portfolio of business services rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include: membership tiers (Individual, Young Professionals, Small Business, Business, Corporate, Core, and Kick-Start USA) providing access to the Swedish-American business network; the J-1 Visa Program facilitating intern placement for Bay Area companies; Business Delegations organizing customized visitor programs for Swedish companies; the Forest Innovation Summit as an annual flagship conference; and a Scholarship Fund providing Management Trainee positions. These services are delivered through partnerships with universities (KTH, Chalmers, Lund), immigration support, event coordination, and business advisory services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Forest Innovation Summit: An international platform for exchange of knowledge, ideas, and experiences focused on transforming the future of forestry and encouraging sustainable practices.
• J-1 Visa Program
• Young Professionals

Products and services

• J-1 Visa Program An internship placement program that connects Bay Area companies with qualified Swedish interns for 6-18 month stays. SACC-SF/SV sponsors J-1 visas and provides recruitment, matchmaking, and support services for host employers.
• Business Delegations Customized visitor programs that connect Swedish companies with Bay Area businesses, facilitating introductions in sectors including ICT, Clean Tech, Life Sciences, Software Development, IT Infrastructure, and Hardware Development.
• Scholarship Fund (Stipendiefonden för Svensk Utlandsungdom) An annual scholarship program (Stipendiefonden för Svensk Utlandsungdom) that provides Management Trainee positions enabling Swedish nationals to work in San Francisco for one year.
• Forest Innovation Summit An annual international conference bringing together innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers from Sweden and the U.S. to explore forest-based innovation and climate solutions.
• Board Member Course (Effective Company Directorship) A Swedish board training program delivered in collaboration with StyrelseAkademien, providing certification in Effective Company Directorship across four half-day sessions.
• Corporate Partnership Premium membership tier at $5,000/year offering full access to the SACC community, exclusive J-1 Visa trainee program access, business introductions, 10 consultant hours (or co-host medium event), and partner exposure across all chamber channels.
• Core Partnership Enterprise-level membership at $10,000/year with prime community access, eligibility for a board seat, full J-1 program access, 40 consultant hours, introductory article and logo placement, and Core Partnership exposure.
• Business Partnership Small-to-mid-sized business membership at $2,000/year providing access to the Swedish-American community, 5 consultant hours (or co-host an event), and logo placement on the website and newsletter.
• Kick-Start USA Partnership A comprehensive startup support package at $1,500/year including legal company-setup guidance, HR & CPA referrals, investor tips, finance cost sheet, marketing strategy, bank requirements, webinar series, introduction article, and network access.
• Small Business Partnership Entry-level membership at $500/year offering community access, selected business services and events, and an introductory article with logo placement on the website.
• Individual Partnership Individual membership at $100/year providing access to the Swedish-American business network, event updates, and discounts on chamber events.
• Young Professionals Membership Specialized membership for professionals aged 21-35 at $45/year, offering access to Young Professional events and discounts on other upcoming chamber events.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• EricssoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEricsson is the Corporate Partner of SACC-SF/SV. As a world-leading telecommunications equipment provider, Ericsson participates in SACC events, hosts Swedish interns through the J-1 program, and provides executive leadership on the board and advisory board.
• Business SwedencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness Sweden is a Collaboration Partner helping Swedish companies grow global sales and assisting international companies invest in Sweden. They have 44 offices across Europe, Americas, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific.
• Silicon VikingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilicon Vikings is a Collaboration Partner with 45,000+ network connecting Nordic and Baltic innovation with Silicon Valley since 1997. They organize 20-25 events annually in the Bay Area.
• Nordic Innovation HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordic Innovation House is a Collaboration Partner and Silicon Valley headquarters for the Nordic Startup Community. Collaboration between Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark.
• GABA (German American Business Association)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerGABA is a Collaboration Partner fostering transatlantic knowledge-sharing and networking among German-American and Californian business and tech communities with programs in life science, semiconductors, venture capital, and corporate governance.
• Global:SFsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal:SF is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to international companies locating, investing, and growing in the San Francisco Bay Area through a public-private partnership with the City of San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development.
• AmCham SwedensecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerAmerican Chamber of Commerce in Sweden is a Collaboration Partner that believes in the power of a strong transatlantic network, welcoming membership from reputable companies and organizations.
• BizmakersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerBizmaker is a Collaboration Partner running a regional incubator and science park in Västernorrland, Sweden, with the mission to promote sustainable growth and innovation.
• San Jose SharksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSan Jose Sharks professional ice hockey team is a Collaboration Partner of SACC-SF/SV, providing community engagement and networking opportunities.
• Embassy of Sweden Washington DCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Embassy of Sweden in Washington D.C. is one of Sweden's largest missions, serving as the official link between Sweden and the United States under Ambassador Karin Olofsdotter.
• Honorary Consulate of Sweden San FranciscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Consulate General of Sweden in San Francisco promotes Swedish interests in the Bay Area through consular affairs, information, cultural affairs, and business-related activities.
• The Scandinavian School & Cultural CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Scandinavian School was founded in 2002 providing Scandinavian language and cultural immersion. Offers 20+ cultural events and 50+ language classes annually at three Bay Area locations.
• DittExjobbminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDittExjobb is Sweden's largest digital platform for thesis work and student programs, helping students with exam projects and providing employer branding opportunities.
• StiltasecondaryTechnology or IntegrationStilta builds AI-native software helping patent teams work faster by connecting data, automating workflows, and delivering insights across the patent lifecycle. Backed by Y Combinator (W26).
• IPscreenersecondaryTechnology or IntegrationIPscreener is an AI-based prior art search tool enabling anyone to explore knowledge hidden in patents using natural language. Validated by Austrian Patent Office study (September 2018).
• Diamyd MedicalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiamyd Medical is a clinical-stage diabetes company developing antigen-specific immunotherapy (Diamyd) and oral regenerative therapeutic (Remygen) for Type 1 Diabetes. Phase 3 trials in US and Europe.
• NefabsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNefab Group is a global industrial packaging manufacturer specializing in complete packaging solutions that reduce total costs while minimizing environmental impact. Serving Telecom, Energy, Industry, Vehicles, Healthcare, and Aerospace.
• PinevisionsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPinevision is a web design studio focused on helping small and medium-sized businesses with digital presence. Built SACC's website platform. Provides 20% discount to SACC members.
• Burks JohanssonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBurks Johansson provides cross-border legal and business advisory services with culturally diverse partners reconciling multi-jurisdictional laws and regulations. Nearly five decades of combined experience.
• K&L GatessecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerK&L Gates LLP is an international law firm with revenues exceeding $1 billion annually, representing global corporations, growth companies, and entrepreneurs in major industry groups.
• Old Possum Brewing Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCraft brewery in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County known for locally inspired beers and community-driven collaboration with local farmers, maltsters, and hop growers.
• West WinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily winery in Sonoma County owned by Bengt Akerlind and Katarina Bonde. Produces high quality wines served at fine establishments including the Nobel Awards Banquet.
• Stockhome RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily-friendly eatery in downtown Petaluma, CA by Chef Roberth and Andrea Sundell (owners of PLÄJ Restaurant), serving dishes inspired by current Swedish street food favorites.
• Spott, Lucey & WallminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal CPA firm providing full range of taxation and attestation services with over 30 years experience assisting domestic and international business and individual clients with cross-border transactions.
• ProGuard Security ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProGuard Security Services founded in 1998 provides personalized security services to San Francisco Bay Area buildings and facilities. Founder Nils Welin serves on SACC Advisory Board.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/saccsfsv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saccsfsv
• Instagraminstagram.com/saccsfsv
• Xx.com/saccsfsv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco & Silicon Valley