Maria Mattsson Mähl is an entrepreneur and business leader with extensive experience in building successful companies across multiple industries. Creating societal impact has been a consistent thread throughout her career. She now joins UIC as a Business Development Manager and Head of the UIC Accelerate program, where she will support innovative growth companies in scaling their operations, strengthening their business models, and expanding into new or international markets.
Maria began her entrepreneurial journey in the late 1990s within the IT sector, co-founding companies during a period of rapid technological development. Working on the digital front line gave her valuable insights into how innovation, timing, and business strategy interact when scaling new ventures.
In 2012, she founded the education and recruitment company AlphaCE with a clear mission: to help people who are far from the labor market find employment. By combining strong business acumen with social responsibility, she built a company that demonstrates how growth and societal impact can go hand in hand.
“Combining growth with clear value creation has been a common thread throughout my entrepreneurial journey. At UIC Accelerate, I look forward to contributing those perspectives and supporting companies that are preparing to take the next step in their scaling journey”, says Maria Mattsson Mähl, Business Development Manager and Head of UIC Accelerate.
Commited to national and international business development
Beyond her own ventures, Maria has played an active role in strengthening entrepreneurship through networks and investments. She is the founder of the prominent 17 Network, a platform for women in business who want to grow, develop, and create business opportunities together. She has also been active as a business angel and contributed to the business climate in Uppsala, including through the initiative Entreprenörsstaden, which she helped establish.
Her experience, spanning operational company building, investments, and ecosystem development, has given her a valuable network and a holistic perspective that benefits other companies. For businesses within UIC Accelerate, this means access to new strategic insights and relevant connections.
Maria is also a partner in Sabuni & Partner, an investment firm focused on growth projects in Africa, a continent currently undergoing a strong phase of development.
— Africa has a young, tech-savvy, and highly driven population. We will see both innovation and growth there. It is rare to witness countries make this kind of developmental leap. That is why it feels both important and exciting to be part of Sabuni & Partner, even though I am not operationally involved in the company.
A broad network and a passion for innovation
Throughout her career, Maria Mattsson Mähl has demonstrated that entrepreneurship is not only about building successful companies – it is about creating opportunities for others, promoting inclusion, and driving development.
Her operational experience, board assignments, and extensive national and international network provide a strong platform that strengthens both UIC and the companies admitted to its programs. Maria’s achievements as an entrepreneur have been recognized with several awards, including the title Female Gazelle of the Year from Dagens Industri, an award celebrating fast-growing companies. Her ability to lead, develop, and create value has made her a prominent voice in Swedish business, where she has also served on the board of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.
Read more about the business development program UIC Accelerate