2025-01-17
From a Small Apartment to a Multi-Billion Dollar Company – Consid Turns 25
Twenty-five years ago, the energetic, relationship-focused salesperson Peter Hellgren met the technically brilliant Henrik Sandell. Despite their differences, they found common ground and decided to start what has now become a multi-billion-dollar company with over 2,000 employees.
The year was 2000, and Sweden was booming with business ideas, driven in part by the so-called “Swedish IT Miracle.” Amid this entrepreneurial fervor, Peter Hellgren and Henrik Sandell founded Consid, a name inspired by the English word “consideration.” It was an ideal time to launch a business, but the reality shifted dramatically with the infamous “.com crash,” which struck with full force in March 2001, devastating countless IT companies.
– We had salaries to pay, but we didn’t have substantial capital built up. But then something changed and we the luck was on our side! The Premium Pension Authority (PPM) had just been established and purchased a massive IT system to handle its needs. The problem? The system wasn’t ready in time. PPM found itself in a position where they had to delay the rollout of this critical system, says Henrik Sandell.
He continues:
– This was an opportunity for us. My father happened to be consulting for PPM at the time, and as we discussed the situation, we decided to create a prototype. For three intense weeks, we worked tirelessly, and in the end, we had a solid prototype to present to PPM’s leadership team. They were impressed, and as a result, we were tasked with building the system.
From that pivotal moment, the company began to grow. Today, 25 years later, Consid is one of Northern Europe’s leading IT and tech companies, with 42 offices across Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Finland, and Poland, and over 2,000 employees. With unwavering ambition, the company continues to drive digital innovation and deliver value to its clients.
– It’s incredible to think back to where it all started—in a small rental apartment in Vetlanda, fueled by big ambitions and a love for the craftmanship. Our journey has been about hard work, the ability to attract and retain the right people, and the courage to take risks. I’m extremely proud of everything we’ve achieved together with our employees, and we’re far from finished. While the journey so far has been exciting, we’re really just getting started, says Peter Hellgren.
In 2025, the company will celebrate its 25th anniversary by reflecting on all that Consid has accomplished and channeling its energy toward the future.