Meet the Skills 2 Grow-Partners: GU Ventures

From the left: Daniel Poté, Melisha Linnell and Catharina Axelzon Popovic

From Gothenburg, Sweden: GU Ventures is building bridges through the new ÖKS collaboration Skills 2 Grow! 

GU Ventures is the University of Gothenburg’s holding company, supporting the commercialisation of research- and knowledge-based ideas. Through business development, early-stage financing, active ownership and access to a strong network, GU Ventures helps researchers, entrepreneurs and innovators build sustainable companies with long-term potential. As part of Skills 2 Grow, GU Ventures contributes with experience from academic innovation and a strong track record of developing initiatives that support growth and strengthen the innovation ecosystem in West Sweden.

“Startups don’t grow without the right people. With Skills 2 Grow, we are creating a more connected Nordic talent market, where founders can access the skills, they need to scale,” says Catharina Axelzon Popovic, GU Ventures. 

Beyond its work with portfolio companies, GU Ventures also drives and contributes to several strategic initiatives that strengthen the wider innovation ecosystem. These initiatives support areas such as sustainability, digitalisation, internationalisation, capital access, industrial collaboration and skills development. 

Through projects as Massiv+, Energo, Mobility Booster, GoWest – Nordic Capital Venture Forum, New Modality Support and now – Skills 2 Grow – as well as 7 investment companies, GU Ventures helps create stronger bridges between research, startups, investors, industry and society.

– "We are giving companies better conditions to grow, recruit, commercialise and scale", says Daniel Poté, Business Developer, GU Ventures. 

Acting as a bridge between academia, business and society, GU Ventures contributes to transforming academic knowledge into new solutions, growth companies and societal value – strengthening the role of research-based innovation in Sweden and beyond. 

From GU Ventures, Catharina Axelzon Popovic, Daniel Poté and Melisha Linnell are working with Skills 2 Grow. 

–“As the Project Lead for Communication at Skills 2 Grow, I am responsible for building a clear and relevant voice for the project with excellent support from our webmaster Melisha Linnell. With my background as a Business Operations Manager, I have a strong focus on structure, results and translating ideas into concrete impact,” says Catharina Axelzon Popovic, Project Lead for WP 1 Communication. 

Melisha Linnell works as Marketing and Digital Development at GU Ventures, supporting the organisation’s communication, web and digital content. In Skills 2 Grow, Melisha contributes to the project’s digital presence, content production and visual storytelling, helping present the programme in a clear and engaging way for startups, partners and the wider innovation ecosystem. 

Supporting startups through the Skills 2 Grow programme journey 

For GU Ventures, Skills 2 Grow is not only about communication and visibility. It is also about supporting companies throughout the programme and helping them move from interest to participation, learning and long-term value. Daniel Poté from GU Ventures is one of the Business Coaches in the project.

“My role in this project is to support companies in their journey through the program. This includes from first contact understanding where the company stands, via recurrent touchpoints throughout the different activities to completion, or one could call it ‘graduation’,” says Daniel Poté. 

A practical programme built around how founders learn 

For GU Ventures, what makes Skills 2 Grow unique is its integrated approach. The programme combines practical skills development with personal coaching and real-world experiences. 

Instead of focusing solely on what participants will learn, great importance is placed on how they learn – through interactive learning, reflection and direct application. In addition, the programme creates a strong community through the upcoming business network, where participants can support each other and strengthen both motivation and long-term results. 

For startups preparing to build and scale their teams 

“We want to invite startups that are preparing to build their first teams, as well as companies entering a scale-up phase. In both situations, needs can change quickly. Skills 2 Grow gives founders a practical knowledge base tailored to their context, helping them feel more prepared when recruiting, building and retaining talent,” says Daniel Poté, Business Developer at GU Ventures. 

For startups, having the right people in place can be decisive for growth. Skills 2 Grow supports founders in developing the knowledge, tools and confidence needed to recruit and retain talent across borders. 

Thinking about joining?

“If you are indecisive of joining the program, why not just test it out! Skills 2 Grow meets needs by focusing on concrete skills, self-leadership, and personal development. The program helps to strengthen individuals' self-esteem, employability and ability to navigate a changing future – something crucial for both the individual and society at large.” 

By bringing together partners from Sweden, Denmark and Norway, Skills 2 Grow aims to strengthen startups, connect talent with opportunities and support a more integrated Nordic startup ecosystem through practical learning, collaboration and cross-border exchange. 

GU Ventures looks forward to being part of a collaboration project that is both interesting and developing for the organisation and for the people involved. A key motivation is to help startups grow and expand their cross-border perspective, while also working with experts selected specifically for the programme and its intentions. 

The project also creates an opportunity for the partners to share experiences with each other and learn across organisations, regions and national borders. 

About GU Ventures AB 

GU Ventures builds companies from breakthrough ideas that have the potential to shape a better future. It is top-ranked by UBI Global as one of the world’s 20 leading university-affiliated incubators. 

We finance and develop innovative business ideas with strong connections to the University of Gothenburg, one of the largest universities in Northern Europe. Our mission is to commercialise these innovations, enabling the use of research and expertise, driving renewal of industry, creating jobs, and contributing to sustainable growth. 

Our dedicated team of company builders, financial experts, and specialists in IP and legal matters works closely with our portfolio companies to support their development and long-term success. 

Since its founding in 1995, GU Ventures has developed more than 240 new business ideas. Today, over 140 companies are active, of which 15 are publicly listed. Our portfolio includes around 80 holdings, along with a number of ongoing projects. 

In the latest survey, 87% of the companies align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. GU Ventures is wholly owned by the Swedish state and managed by the University of Gothenburg. 

Learn more: www.guventures.com