Tech talk | Doing good through business: blunt reflections on purpose, profit and the rules of the game - 12 May 2026

“Doing good through business” sounds appealing – but what does it actually take to build tech-based companies that create real impact? In this talk, Stefan Krook explores the opportunities and limitations of purpose-driven entrepreneurship, based on his experience of building companies at the intersection of technology, markets, and societal value. Register now to secure your seat.

Starttid: 2026-05-12 at 12:15

Sluttid: 2026-05-12 at 13:00

Plats: Stockholm School of Economics. Registration required.

Stefan will reflect on how purpose can unlock energy within teams, attract partners, and help build strong ecosystems – while also examining where it falls short, particularly in consumer markets shaped by human behavior and market dynamics. A central theme is acceptance: understanding and working with the rules of the game, rather than ignoring them.

Blending personal experience with inspiration from people who have shaped his thinking – such as the Dalai Lama and Ingvar Kamprad – along with learnings from Nobel Prize laureates in both economics and peace, the talk offers a pragmatic perspective on how purpose, incentives, and profit interact.

While grounded in today’s realities, the session also looks forward: if the current system is powerful but not a law of nature, how might it be improved? Students will leave with a clearer understanding of what it means to build companies that matter – and how to navigate, accept, and ultimately help evolve the rules of the game.

Stefan Krook is a Swedish entrepreneur focused on building companies that combine technology, business, and societal impact. While studying at the Stockholm School of Economics, he founded Glocalnet, a pioneer in IP telephony that was later listed on the stock exchange. After stepping down as CEO, he returned to complete his degree before going on to found GodEl and GodFond – companies that donate all profits to charity – within the GoodCause Foundation, where he serves as Chairman today. He is also co-founder and Chairman of Kivra, and Chairman of the energy tech company Flower. Stefan is Practitioner in Residence at the House of Innovation and author of The Laghum Economy.

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