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(November 21, 2023) - After competing with 71 other businesses in the Västra Götaland region, Icebug received the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year award from Företagarna - Sweden's largest business organization. The regional final was held on September 7 at Åhaga in Borås, and the winner's motivation was as follows:
Many companies that disrupt the status quo have their share of doubters when they launch. But one mother and her son refused to let doubters and nay-sayers deter them. They stubbornly persisted, and over time, more like-minded people joined.
After more than 20 years of stable growth, this creative company owns its niche and can withstand close inspection of its products and business practices.
The Entrepreneur of the Year has never lost his grip. Through their company, they are an industry-changing player who leaves their mark with a steadily shrinking ecological footprint – on the ice, in the mud, and up the mountain.
“It is very nice to receive recognition for what you do. We have spent many years and a lot of work trying to create a good company. What makes me most happy that we are being noticed is that it gives us an even better opportunity to try to drive a sustainable transition in the industry,” says David Ekelund, CEO at Icebug.
Now, Icebug has taken second place in the competition to determine Sweden’s best company. First place went to Woolpower, with whom Icebug frequently collaborates. Icebug and Woolpower have come together to produce boots and shoes made with re-felted wool, such as Adak BUGrip®, Grove ReWool Michelin®, and Eide Biosole™.
About Entrepreneur of the Year
Entrepreneur of the Year is awarded yearly at the local, regional, and national levels by Företagarna, which represents around 60,000 entrepreneurs in various industries. The award is given to an entrepreneur who has shown evidence of being extra creative and enterprising and is a source of inspiration and a role model for other entrepreneurs. The Young Entrepreneur of the Year is also named at the award ceremony and is given to a young entrepreneur aged 35 or younger who has achieved something extra with their business.
Icebug makes shoes with grip that help people get outside every day – even when it's slippery outside. The Gothenburg-based company carries out intensive work to reduce its impact on the climate and to help the shoe industry adapt. Icebug has no growth targets and always puts nature and society before profit. Icebug’s Metro2 is the world's best-selling studded shoe.
Icebug is the world’s first climate-positive footwear brand. Based in Sweden, Icebug was founded to save the world from slipping. They also want to get people outdoors more often. Whether you run or walk and at what pace you do things doesn't matter. Getting people off the couch and spending time outdoors creates change. Icebug makes shoes that allow you to be outside, no matter the season or weather.
The vision for Icebug is to be a changemaker for a society where people can thrive on a planet in balance.
Though they didn’t set out to be climate activists, Icebug’s love of the forest and spending time in nature quickly made it apparent that they couldn’t stand by and return to business as usual as the climate crisis escalated. The guiding commitment for Icebug is to do the right thing for people and the planet, even when it hurts their bottom line. They are moving into a new paradigm where growth and profit are not prioritized above everything else. A world where business is a driving force to improve the livelihoods of many and is not fueled by exploiting people or exceeding planetary boundaries. Improving their practices is not enough for Icebug; they are encouraging the rest of the footwear industry to join them in using business as a force for good.