We are three Swedes who started this blog. We have different backgrounds but a shared mission to facilitate the launch of Nordic business in Silicon Valley – simply because Nordic business needs the US market, and the US market needs Nordic business!
Olivia Gorajewski is a Swedish trained corporate legal counsel and business advisor. She used to be head of legal at a large gambling conglomerate until she moved to Silicon Valley. She is currently working on her California legal license and also help companies work smarter with external law firms in their focus shift from Nordics to Silicon Valley.
From the start of my specialized master in intellectual capital management through executing multiple due diligence’s as head of legal I’ve been fascinated by how legal and business understanding can be combined to capture value and reduce risks. I’ve learned that getting simple things right, such as supplier/sales contracts and employment agreements, can be as critical to business success as strategic questions. I’m looking forward to guide newcomers and established start-ups that are “crossing the chasm” to establish themselves in Silicon Valley.
Maria Ingelsson is a Swedish trained lawyer, who is licensed to practice law also in the State of California. She used to be a partner at one of the larger Swedish law firms, before moving to Silicon Valley in 2015. Today, she is the in house legal counsel with Favro AB, a Swedish IT company selling a cloud based app for project management. In addition, she is the board member of several companies and NGO’s.
Ever since I started practising business law, I wanted to do more than just the “law” part of it – I wanted to use my legal knowledge to help entrepreneurs succeed and make clever business decisions and deals. To me, the principle of “Access to Justice” has always been central – meaning not only that everyone should be able to understand what the laws mean, but also that everyone should be able get the legal advice they need.
Sara Maxence is a Senior Marketing expert, with a developed passion for international businesses. She has spent a large part of her professional life helping companies grow their business, both as an external consultant and in-house. She moved to Silicon Valley two years ago and she works with start-up companies in different sectors, assisting them commercialise their products and services.
I met Maria and Olivia over coffee and I immediately felt that I wanted a place in this project. I had just started my own business and was overwhelmed by all the legal stuff and the fear of getting sued. To help companies understand the legal climate and facilitate to do business and make their American dream come true, is definitely something that I’m passionate about.