# Sting

Sting is a Private Equity based in Stockholm, Sweden.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Private Equity
- **Headquarters:** Stockholm, Sweden
- **Region:** Europe
- **Address:** Stockholm, Sweden
- **Founded:** 2002
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** sting.co
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/sting

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Sting is Sweden’s leading startup accelerator and a community of entrepreneurs united in action. It offers strategic support, coaching, investor access and a network designed to accelerate early-stage startups. Sting works with founders in Climate, Health, AI and DeepTech and is proudly independent and non-profit, owned by the Electrum Foundation.

## Sectors

- ClimateTech
- HealthTech
- DeepTech
- Enterprise Software
- AI/ML
- FinTech
- PropTech
- EdTech

## People

- Pär Hedberg — Founder
- Karin Ruiz — CEO

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Sting?

Karin Ruiz is CEO, and Sting coaches are embedded with each portfolio company several hours per week, which means selection and support sit with the program team rather than a standalone investment committee. The accelerator is non-profit and owned by the Electrum Foundation, so there is no GP carry structure driving allocation decisions.

### How does Sting source proprietary deal flow?

Sting runs open applications for its twice-yearly Sting Core cohort and also draws from the Electrum Foundation's corporate and academic network — Ericsson, IBM, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University all hold board seats. The accelerator's 400-plus alumni further feed referrals, and its public-sector ties via Vinnova and Region Stockholm create a pipeline that reaches early-stage researchers and spinouts before they hit commercial radar.

### How is Sting related to the Electrum Foundation?

The Electrum Foundation is Sting's owner, a public-private foundation whose board includes representatives from Ericsson, IBM, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University, the City of Stockholm and Region Stockholm. This structure makes Sting a non-profit where any surplus is reinvested into the Stockholm startup ecosystem.

## Related profiles

- [Still Water Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/still-water-foundation)
- [Stipple Ventures](https://altss.com/profile/stipple-ventures)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:08:11.274Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/sting

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