When a company is in the startup phase, new challenges arise. The need for structure, strategy and the right expertise at the right time can be crucial to a company’s survival. UICs accelerator is designed to support exactly those areas. With tailored content, handpicked business coaches, and the opportunity to receive up to SEK 500,000 in credit for various business services, companies are given the chance to build a solid foundation and grow in the long term. All of this happens without UIC taking any equity.
– Many companies move quickly, but without a map. The accelerator helps them pause, sort things out, and focus in the right direction, says Camilla Oldgren, business coach at UIC
” It’s easy to start building a company without a blueprint. Often you have an idea and a strong team, but everyone is running in different directions at once.“
A business coach with over 30 years in life science
Camilla Oldgren has worked for over 30 years in life science, within pharmaceuticals, MedTech, and service companies. Camilla is a pharmacist by training with a business degree. She has served as CEO for over 15 years, scaled companies across the Nordics and the Baltics, and has extensive experience coaching and supporting employees and other leaders.
– It’s easy to start building a company without a blueprint. Often you have an idea and a strong team, but everyone is running in different directions at once. I help companies draw that first map: Where are you now? What do you want? And what is needed to get there? Camilla explains.
Camilla describes her role as a mix of advisor, sounding board, and strategic conversation partner, someone who can prioritize questions and help a company avoid common pitfalls.
The biggest pitfall for a company in the early phase
A common mistake among startups is trying to do everything at once. Everyone in the team wears many hats, and without a clear strategy, efforts become scattered.
– I often see companies lose energy because they lack structure. Communication breaks down, responsibilities become unclear, and the pace becomes stressful. Then it’s about building a stable foundation, even if you’re only four people, Camilla adds.
She also emphasizes the importance of identifying early what competencies the team actually has, and what is missing. Many companies are built around a core of researchers or technicians but lack commercial, legal, or financial expertise. That doesn’t need to be solved internally, but it needs to be made visible, Camilla says.
That’s where UIC Accelerate becomes a critical support. In addition to coaching, companies gain access to a broad network of experts, partners, and investors. The program is also long-term support can extend for up to two or three years, and companies choose both their coach and focus area based on their needs.
Camilla’s three tips for companies that want to grow sustainably
- Set a clear direction early. A simple map is enough, but you need to know where you’re going.
- Build for the future from the start. Structure is needed even in small teams.
- Get help from experts. You don’t have to do everything yourself. There are experts to lean on – those who’ve gone through the same process before.