Ekström Invest

What Ekström Invest does

Ekström Invest AB is a privately held, family-owned investment holding company founded in 1974 and headquartered at Vasagatan 1 (Aschanska villan) in Umeå, Sweden. The firm invests primarily in unlisted, small-to-medium-sized growth-stage companies in northern Sweden, taking active ownership stakes and operating with a hands-on, direct-investment model led by CEO Sofia Ekström and Chairman Gunnar Ekström. Over its 50-year history, Ekström Invest has deployed capital into more than 50 companies spanning IT, healthcare, finance, real estate, telecommunications, industry, construction, media, and security, with notable exits including the sale of Konftel to Avaya (2010), COS Systems to Pivot (2020), Vimpol Systems to Kaustik (2020), Norrstyr to Bravida Sverige (2021), and AB Norrskydd to Prosero Security Group (2023).

The group's operating businesses are concentrated in three areas: (i) the 'Vi är Ekström' economics, finance, and corporate services cluster, which consolidates Resulterna AB (outsourced accounting/economics departments), Swesum Finans and Swesum Inkasso (invoicing, receivables, and collection), and Heinestams Bolagstjänst and HBAB Snabbavveckling (company formation, shelf companies, mergers, liquidations) — collectively scaled from 20 mkr to over 100 mkr SEK in revenue; (ii) NNJ Fastigheter, the wholly-owned residential property development arm in the Umeå area; and (iii) minority equity positions in NorrWatt (battery energy storage, including a 6 MW project in Umeå) and Norrpack Holding AB (foam plastic industrial packaging). Revenue is generated through dividends from wholly-owned and partially-owned subsidiaries, management and development fees, and capital gains on portfolio exits; investment decisions are made directly by the Ekström family with no external fund structure, and marketing is conducted primarily through regional entrepreneur networks, the company website, and earned media coverage.

Name

Ekström Invest

Legal name

Ekström Invest AB

Website

https://ekstrominvest.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ekström Invest is a family-owned investment holding company founded in 1974 in Umeå, Sweden, that invests in unlisted growth-stage SMEs across northern Sweden and operates a consolidated economics, finance, and real estate services platform under the Vi är Ekström brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity Investment Holding

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Investors, Nec (6799)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive/Full-Service RIAs & Independent Wealth Managers (FSAAACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Real Estate Investment Advisory (Acquisitions/Dispositions, Capital Allocation) (BPAJANAA)

Keywords

• Private equity investments
• Growth capital investing
• Real estate development
• Financial services holding
• Business advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Umeå

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Investment returns and portfolio management: Ekström Invest generates returns through capital gains on exits of portfolio companies, dividends from wholly-owned and partially-owned subsidiaries, and management/development fees. The firm has a consistent pattern of acquiring growth-stage companies, developing them with active ownership, and divesting at higher valuations to strategic or financial buyers. Notable exits include Konftel (sold to Avaya in 2010), Enycon (sold to Adven Holding), COS Systems (sold to Pivot PE), Vimpol Systems (sold to Kaustik), Norrskydd (sold to Prosero Security Group), Norrstyr (sold to Bravida Sverige).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ekström Invest is a family-owned investment company based in Umeå that acquires substantial ownership stakes in unlisted growth-stage companies in northern Sweden. It combines capital provision with active co-ownership, operational development, and hands-on management support, targeting founders who want an engaged investor partner rather than passive funding. In parallel, it owns and operates wholly-owned subsidiaries delivering real estate development, financial services, outsourced economics, and corporate services (shelf companies, mergers, liquidations).

Product overview

Ekström Invest is a family-owned investment company founded in 1974, operating as a holding company with a portfolio of subsidiaries across financial services, real estate, and business services. The core investment activities target unlisted growth companies with high return potential, while the consolidated economic services are unified under the 'Vi är Ekström' brand platform. The product portfolio includes: Swesum Finans (invoicing, accounts receivable, debt collection, financing), Resulterna (complete outsourced accounting department), Heinestams Bolagstjänst and HBAB Snabbavveckling (company formation and dissolution services) under the IVE concept; NNJ Fastigheter (real estate development); NorrWatt (battery energy storage); and Norrpack (foam packaging solutions). The company divested AB Norrskydd and Norrstyr in recent years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vi är Ekström (IVE - Ingen vanlig ekonomiavdelning): A brand under Ekström offering comprehensive economy, finance and company services including accounting, consulting, rational service systems, collection and financial products.

Products and services

• Ekström Invest Investment Activities Acquisition of substantial ownership stakes in unlisted growth-stage companies in northern Sweden with active co-ownership and operational development support, targeting sectors including finance, real estate, healthcare, telecommunications, industry, construction, media, and security.
• NNJ Fastigheter Real estate development and property management company in the Umeå area, focused on acquiring building rights for residential housing cooperative development over 3-5 year timelines and collaborating with external contractors.
• Swesum Finans Financial services company offering invoicing, accounts receivable management, debt collection, and financing services for businesses in the Västerbotten region. Wholly-owned subsidiary of Ekström Invest.
• Resulterna Consulting company providing a complete, tailored outsourced economics department to businesses, working on-site at client companies with staff ranging from bookkeeping assistants to financial controllers. Part of the 'Vi är Ekström' umbrella brand.
• Heinestams Bolagstjänst Leading supplier of company services in Sweden, including shelf companies (lagerbolag), quick wind-up services, mergers, and liquidations. Part of the IVE ('Ingen vanlig ekonomiavdelning') concept within Vi är Ekström.
• HBAB Snabbavveckling Quick company wind-up and dissolution services for Swedish businesses, complementing Heinestams Bolagstjänst within the Vi är Ekström corporate services offering.
• NorrWatt Umeå-based energy company specialising in battery energy storage systems, offering sales, delivery, installation, and support for residential and commercial installations from 100 kW upwards, including grid support services connected to Svenska kraftnät.
• Norrpack Foam plastic packaging company in Umeå designing, producing, and delivering custom protective interiors for plastic cases, aluminium boxes, and containers in bags and larger industrial packaging, focused on robustness, functionality and smart design.
• Vi är Ekström Umbrella brand under which Ekström Invest markets all of its economic services — accounting, finance, and corporate services — including Swesum, Resulterna, Heinestams Bolagstjänst, and HBAB Snabbavveckling, consolidated under one roof at Aschanska villan in Umeå.

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue growth from 20 mkr to over 100 mkr in the economics cluster through organic growth and acquisitions
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Prosero Security GroupminorOthers · 5 July 2023The leading security technology company in Northern Europe acquired AB Norrskydd from Ekström Invest. Prosero retained Norrskydd's local brand, management, and operations across Härnösand, Örnsköldsvik, Umeå, Lycksele, and Skellefteå. This represents a significant exit for Ekström Invest from the security sector.
• Bravida Sverige ABminorOthers · 13 September 2021Bravida Sverige AB acquired Norrstyr AB (property automation/BMS company) from Ekström Invest. Bravida is a leading provider of electrical, HVAC, and automation solutions with national coverage in Sweden. The acquisition was seen as creating synergies given Bravida's strong geographic reach in the industry.
• Kaustik ABminorOthers · 2 December 2020Gothenburg-based company that acquired Vimpol Systems AB from Ekström Invest. Kaustik delivers cloud-based system support for assistance, home care, and nursing homes throughout Sweden. The acquisition gave Vimpol access to expanded resources, competence, and industry networks.
• Adven HoldingminorOthers · 30 June 2016Adven Holding acquired Enycon from Ekström Invest. Enycon was involved in district heating network operations and was noted as a success story from the investment portfolio.
• Avaya Inc. (USA)minorOthers · 1 January 2010U.S. telecommunications giant Avaya acquired Konftel AB — a company founded by Ekström Invest in 1988 — representing one of Ekström Invest's most significant exits. The deal was completed in 2010 and demonstrated the company's ability to build companies of international strategic value.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EQT: Sweden-based global private equity firm with extensive Nordic mid-market coverage. Competes with Ekström Invest for northern European SME investments and strategic exit opportunities, though at much larger fund and operational scale.
• Industrivärden: Swedish investment holding company holding significant stakes in major Nordic listed companies. Compares to Ekström Invest as a long-term Swedish investment holding, though at substantially larger scale and focused on listed equity.
• Svolder: Swedish investment company that builds value through active ownership of listed Nordic SMEs. Similar in its focus on small/mid-cap Nordic companies and active ownership philosophy, though focused on public equities.
• Investment AB Kinnevik: Swedish investment holding company with a diversified portfolio spanning consumer internet, fintech, healthcare, and other sectors. Comparable in structure as a multi-sector investment holding, though at much larger scale and focused on listed/VC-stage assets.

Direct peers

• Latour: Swedish family-controlled investment holding company combining a listed industrial operations business with a portfolio of wholly-owned subsidiaries. Comparable in active ownership approach and Nordic mid-market focus.
• PartnerInvest Övre Norrland: Regional venture capital firm based in Umeå that co-invests alongside Ekström Invest in northern Swedish growth companies (e.g., COS Systems, The Craaft Legacy). Operates an almost identical investment thesis targeting SMEs in the same geography, with public co-investment relationships.
• Lundbergs: Swedish family-controlled investment holding company (the Lundberg family) with a diversified portfolio of listed and unlisted holdings. Similar to Ekström Invest in being a multi-generational family-owned investment vehicle with active ownership and patient capital.

Emerging players

• Almi Invest: Sweden's state-backed VC and early-stage investor with regional presence. Targets Swedish early-stage and growth companies in similar geographies to Ekström Invest, providing an alternative capital source for founders.
• Saminvest: Swedish state-owned investment company that invests in and develops Swedish venture capital funds. Tangentially related as part of the broader Swedish SME investment ecosystem in which Ekström Invest operates.

Regional players

• Norrlandsfonden: Regional venture fund operating in northern Sweden (Norrland) with a focus on growth-stage companies in the same geographic footprint as Ekström Invest. Direct overlap in target geography and company profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Ekström Invest