In Linköping, 22 people are currently working to build a platform that will simplify the search for EU funds and other grants. By combining AI with human expertise, the new LEAD company Grantigo wants to make the process accessible even to those who have never applied for grants before.
It all started with a big frustration. Fredrik Lundberg was working as a partner in an AI Vision company based in Norway that was developing an AI to prevent fires in the recycling industry. To realize the technology behind the idea, he needed capital, and he was frantically searching for grants.
– I finally found one that suited our project. But it was a pain in the ass to apply for it. It took forever,” he says.
Meanwhile, Fredrik’s co-founder Max Norling, a childhood friend from Mantorp, had experienced the same problem – but in Sweden.
– Then we started brainstorming on how to solve this problem and quickly realized that there was a lot to do.
They decided to apply to LEAD’s BootUp program to explore the idea further and started the company Grantigo. Now, one year later, they have been accepted into the LEAD incubator program.
– It feels great that LEAD believes in us and our idea and that we can now take the next step. It is a confirmation that the company has matured in the right direction. We have received great support from LEAD,” says Fredrik.
Today, there are other platforms to facilitate grant applications, but Fredrik believes that Grantigo will invest significantly more in user-friendliness with the help of AI and expert consultants.
– We feel that no one has fully invested in a complete solution that is also user-friendly. We are completely user-driven. You shouldn’t need to have applied for a grant before to understand how it works.
In January, the company started a test period for users and hopes to launch the platform at a discounted price for early birds in the spring. Going forward, the plan is to raise capital to market the platform throughout Sweden.
– Calls for proposals and soft funds are an important cog in driving Sweden forward. If you find it difficult to understand what grants are available, how can you get them? “It’s about democracy. Everyone in Sweden should be able to understand and apply for this money, if it’s a grant that suits their business,” concludes Fredrik.
