SACCNY Newsletter: Top News & Initiatives
Dear SACCNY Members and Friends,
Global business conditions are shifting rapidly. Geopolitical instability, growing protectionism, and recent military escalations in the Middle East and elsewhere are contributing to an increasingly uncertain economic climate. In the U.S., new trade policies introduced this spring have pushed average U.S. tariff levels to their highest point in nearly 90 years, prompting many companies to reassess supply chains and investment plans. Meanwhile, President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which proposes sweeping tax cuts and spending reforms—further adding to an already elevated public debt—is expected to be voted on by July 4.
At SACCNY, we are actively monitoring these and other key developments to understand their potential impact on our members and the broader transatlantic business community. Our mission to strengthen U.S.–Sweden ties has never been more vital. We are adapting to meet the growing demand for our services: more agile, more member-focused, and committed to being a steady and constructive partner in uncertain times.
At our Executive Women’s Conference in Stockholm in March, we gathered some of the most influential voices in the tariff and trade debate. At our recent inaugural Market Watch event in New York, we delved into Section 899 of the One Big Beautiful Bill and its implications for Swedish investors and businesses operating in the U.S. Through our Executive Insight Series, we explored transformative shifts in tech innovation. And since September, we have led three impactful acceleration programs that fast-track the entry and expansion of groundbreaking entrepreneurs into the United States.
This spring also marked two important milestones: the launch of our new website and our move to a beautiful new office space at 250 West 55th Street. A new address—but the same Gateway mission.
None of this would be possible without the incredible dedication of the SACCNY team—some of whom we are now bidding farewell to, and others we are excited to welcome.
Equally, we are deeply grateful to you—our members, partners, and close collaborators, including Team Sweden, and in particular the Consulate General of Sweden in New York, led by Erik Ullenhag—for your ongoing trust and engagement.
Thank you all for supporting the Chamber!
Warmly,
Barbara Wennerholm
President of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, New York
Recommended Resources
Upcoming Events
The Skyline Acceleration Program
The Skyline 2025 acceleration program has officially kicked off.
Initiated by the Swedish Energy Agency in collaboration with SACCNY and Build Edison, the program is designed to support Swedish SMEs developing innovative and scalable solutions for energy-efficient and low-carbon buildings.
Following a highly competitive recruitment process, we are proud to announce this year’s cohort: Comsys, Copa Solar, Elvaco, Midsummer, Mivo, Nodon, Nrlyze, Quandify, and Trifilo.
The Skyline 2025 program kicked off in Stockholm this June and will continue in New York during Climate Week. It focuses on market immersion, strategic matchmaking, and tailored introductions to the city's dynamic network and innovation ecosystem.
The 2024 edition resulted in three of the eight participating companies securing pilot projects in New York—highlighting the program’s impact and the increased demand for sustainable, scalable building technologies.
We look forward to welcoming the 2025 cohort to New York!
SACCNY Highlights
SACCNY Market Watch
SACCNY proudly launched its new initiative, Market Watch, with the first edition held in collaboration with Cleary Gottlieb. The session focused on Section 899, a highly debated provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill, which could have far-reaching implications for foreign investors and companies operating in the United States.
This quick-turnaround session is a testament to SACCNY’s ability to stay ahead of the curve and deliver timely insights on emerging trends that directly impact transatlantic businesses and investors.
Cecilia Malmström, former EU Commissioner for Trade, and Barbara Wennerholm, President of SACCNY
Executive Women’s Conference
In March, we hosted the 22nd edition of our annual Executive Women’s Luncheon at Operaterrassen in Stockholm, in collaboration with Dagens Industri. Over 100 business leaders joined us for a dynamic conversation on navigating disruption in trade, diplomacy, and global strategy.
Our panelists—Cecilia Malmström (former EU Commissioner for Trade), Jessica Span (CEO, Volvo Cars Sweden), and Bridget Fawcett (Global Head, Sustainability & Corporate Transitions, Investment Banking, Citi)—emphasized the growing importance of transatlantic collaboration and EU resilience in today’s volatile global landscape.
This memorable luncheon was made possible thanks to the support of our main sponsors, Linklaters and Citi. And a special thank you to Lotta Edling, Editorial Director at Bonnier News.
Warm thank you as well to our contributing partners, Oddbird, Accenture Women in Sweden Löfbergs, Play MIG, Pändy, Verso, Louise Boije af Gennäs, Pärlans Konfektyr, and Angelina Jolin, who helped make the event truly special.
We are proud that this important conversation was featured in Dagens Industri, amplifying the voices and insights shaping the future of business leadership. Read the article here.
Lotta Edling, Editorial Director at Bonnier News, Jessica Span, CEO of Volvo Cars Sweden and Bridget Fawcett, Global Head, Sustainability & Corporate Transitions, Investment Banking at Citi
Photo by All My Friends Are Stars
Innovate Nordics
In May, we concluded this year’s Innovate Nordics acceleration program, an initiative designed to equip high-potential Nordic companies with the tools, insights, and networks needed to successfully scale in the U.S. market.
With a focus on life sciences in 2025, this year’s program brought together eight groundbreaking companies in biotech, pharma, and medtech: Anyo Labs, BrainZell, Epigenica, Ironic Biotech, Mavatar, MedBeat, Multi4 Medical, and NEOGAP Therapeutics.
In collaboration with our valued partner EY, and with support from leading investors, mentors, and corporate partners, the program featured hands-on workshops, matchmaking, expert panels, and tailored networking.
The journey culminated in the Grand Pitch Finale, where Multi4 Medical and NEOGAP Therapeutics were named winners of the Innovate Nordics Pitch Competition for their outstanding work in bladder cancer surgery and personalized immunotherapy.
We want to extend our sincere thank you to our partners at EY, Elisabeth Granhage and Carl Pihlgren, as well as to the Consulate General of Sweden in New York for making this year’s program a success.
Innovate Nordics Cohort at the Grand Pitch Finale: Anyo Labs, BrainZell, Epigenica, Ironic Biotech, Mavatar, MedBeat, Multi4 Medical, and NEOGAP Therapeutics. Picture by Bryan Bills
Innovative leaders meet the next generation of visionary scaleups at Getinge Experience Center - with Elin Frostehav, President of Acute Care Therapies at Getinge and Dan Frohm, Deputy Chairman of Carl Bennet AB
Executive Insight Series
Executive Insight Series
This spring, our Executive Insight Series, held in partnership with the Consulate General of Sweden in New York, featured thought-provoking sessions with leading voices in global tech and business.
In May, we had the privilege of hosting Börje Ekholm, CEO of Ericsson, at the Swedish Residence for a timely discussion on Europe’s role in the global tech race. Börje emphasized the urgent need for increased investment in digital infrastructure and a shift away from overregulation to boost European competitiveness. The conversation also touched on U.S. policy dynamics, capital access, AI, and the strategic positioning of European innovation on the global stage. We are proud this dialogue was featured in Dagens Industri and Forbes.
Barbara Wennerholm, President of SACCNY and Christian Luiga, CFO of Spotify
Later in the spring, in conjunction with our Annual General Meeting, we welcomed Christian Luiga, CFO of Spotify, for an insightful session on Spotify’s evolution from a fast-growing Swedish startup to a global platform anchored in the U.S. market. Christian reflected on Spotify’s platform strategy, profitability journey, and the transformative role of AI in both user experience and creator tools.
We extend our sincere thanks to Börje Ekholm and Christian Luiga for sharing their insights, and to Erik Ullenhag and Youn Hee Pernling Frödin at the Swedish Consulate General in New York for great collaboration, as always.
Stay tuned for our next Executive Insight Series event this August at The House of Nobility in Stockholm, organized in partnership with EY and the Consulate General of Sweden in New York.
Young Professionals
Emon Maasho, Executive Board Member, Orrefors & Kosta Boda North America and Paulina Bergbom, Young Professionals Ambassador
Young Professionals
This spring, we kicked off the Young Professionals network with a season full of events. The program began with a inaugural mingle featuring DJ Kristo Kraft—over 70 Young Professionals joined!
Next, we hosted Madlene Olander, founder of Drivvers, for a breakfast seminar on Building Your Professional Brand & Navigating U.S. Work Culture.
To close out the spring, we partnered with Orrefors & Kosta Boda for an evening on Mastering the Art of Networking, featuring the one and only Emon Maasho, who shared his spot-on advice. A big thank you to Ferrane Bakery for sponsoring the event with delicious cardamom and cinnamon buns.
Collaborations & Events
Collaborations & Events
Collaborations & Events
This spring offered a dynamic mix of events that showcased the depth and diversity of SACCNY’s partnerships.
We had the honor of welcoming Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh to Gateway for an event hosted by PLAN International. She joined a thought-provoking panel on gender equality and women’s rights.
In collaboration with Oddbird, we hosted a member-exclusive non-alcoholic wine tasting. Guests sampled four curated selections, guided by the head sommelier from The Carlyle Hotel.
We also welcomed several Swedish parliamentary delegations, discussing Sweden’s global reach and SACCNY’s support of Swedish businesses in the U.S. market.
Finally, together with La French Tech New York and fellow European partners, we co-hosted a Transatlantic Tech Gathering that featured pitches 26 tech startups.
These events are just a few examples of how SACCNY engages with members and partners across borders and sectors. If you are interested in co-hosting an event, please reach out to us at info@saccny.org.
We look forward to an equally exciting lineup this fall.
Oddbird exclusive wine tasting with Moa Gürbüzer, CEO of Oddbird
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh - at Gateway
La French Tech Pitch Night co-hosted with SACCNY