Fredrik Löfgren: Transformative shift that catalyses genuine growth in Nordic SMEs

Meet Fredrik Löfgren – a growth strategist and board leader known for turning complexity into clarity. With experience from over 150 founder-led companies, he combines strategic insight with hands-on leadership, guiding businesses from scaling to successful exit.

From strategy to scale

• Scaled the company from SEK 14M to 100M+ turnover. Led acquisitions, international expansion and sale to Indutrade.

• Delivered 40% EBIT margin while repositioning for acquisition. Increased profitability and structured operations for investor handover.

• Advised 150+ SMEs on commercial acceleration, team development and growth strategies across sectors.

INSIGHT by Fredrik Löfgren

Below, Fredrik shares his reflections in his own words on growth, clarity and leadership:

The transformative shift that catalyses genuine growth in Nordic SMEs

Fredrik Löfgren, Senior Advisor at Advisory on demand

There’s a common narrative among growth-stage companies in the Nordics:

"We need more leads. We need capital. We need to hire fast."

But often, that’s not the core problem. The real unlock lies in something far less glamorous - yet absolutely essential: structure.

Not bureaucracy. Not heavyweight processes.

I’m talking about clarity – in ownership, goals, decision paths, roles, and delivery.

Too many companies I’ve advised – from MedTech scale-ups to SaaS start-ups and founder-led industrial firms – hit a wall because the internal architecture hasn’t kept pace with their ambition. They’re running harder, but not smarter. Revenue may grow, but margins don’t. Teams scale, but accountability dilutes. The vision is bold, but execution is foggy.

The shift? From personality-driven to system-driven growth.

In the early stages, founders are the company. Their intuition, relationships, and energy drive everything. That’s fine – until it isn’t. Eventually, a company must evolve from “who decides?” to “what decides?”

That means:

• Real KPIs, not just gut feel

• Roles with accountability, not overlapping heroics

• Commercial structure, not ad-hoc hustle

• A scalable go-to-market motion that isn’t dependent on one brilliant closer

I’ve seen this shift multiply enterprise value, unlock investor confidence, and retain talent that would otherwise walk away in frustration.

What’s the takeaway?

If you're serious about scaling – especially in complex B2B or regulated environments – stop chasing more. Start building better. Structure isn’t the enemy of growth; it’s what makes growth repeatable.

So the next time you think you need a new sales rep or a funding round, ask yourself:

Do we need more – or do we need clearer?

That one question can change everything.

Insight by Fredrik Löfgren, Senior Advisor at Advisory on demand