- When you graduate from high school, you are suddenly expected to know everything and understand how society works. I myself had zero life skills. I want to make the start of adult life more equal and safe," says Nick Sandström, founder of YoungNest. The start-up has now created a life skills bank that prepares young people and young adults for adulthood.
Youngnest.se guides you to everything you are expected to take responsibility for yourself - jobs, unions, housing, insurance and taxes. The goal is to create a platform, accessible to all schoolchildren and young adults, where important information to facilitate the path to adulthood is gathered. Largely in the form of video content.
- The first step is the web, then we build a game that is launched towards schools and municipalities and finally a subscription-based app. Here you will find everything you think you need, but also everything you don't know you need to know," says Nick, who last year won first prize in Revenuir's business idea competition for young people under 21.
Now he and the rest of the team behind YoungNest have developed and refined their concept within the framework of BizMaker's Youth Wellness Accelerator program, for digital solutions to combat mental illness in children and young people. The accelerator helps startup companies to identify their business, test and verify solutions, find funding and communicate their value to future customers.
- I went straight from being in the BizMaker incubator to participating in this accelerator. BizMaker has helped us become a real impact company!
Nick Sandström, Youngnest
Nick explains that since the whole idea of the business is to solve problems for young people, the company needs to start by creating a change in attitude where more people realize that this service is needed for an equal society.
- The partners participating in the program have given us a huge number of contacts and doors. Thanks to Almi, we have applied for and received innovation checks, which in turn enabled major market research throughout Sweden. We have also been able to start pilot groups and test the game at five schools in Sundsvall municipality. The response from the young people has been great, and also the response from their parents. We will continue to test and develop the game in cooperation with them in the future," says Nick.
One of the partners from the program that collaborated with YoungNest is Bron Innovation. Their innovation manager within GovTech*, Hanna Wallin says:
- I think YoungNest is on the right track. Getting young people to understand consequences and life skills themselves through games and information makes it easier for everyone who currently talks to young people about consequences, responsibilities and rights. For the public sector, it can save time and resources, and for society as a whole, it can be a great benefit if this service can help ensure that fewer people end up in trouble because of wrong choices in life. Looking ahead, I see a digital service that can support young people, parents and other adults in their conversations with young people.
Nick Sandström's own development journey continues alongside his ambition to help as many other young people as possible.
- Through all the workshops we have conducted, we have learned a lot about running a business, managing social media, understanding the stock market and how to work as an impact company. It has been incredibly rewarding. Not only for the company but also privately.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT:
Impact companies: companies characterized by innovative and cutting-edge solutions that contribute to a sustainable society.
GovTech: new smart welfare services and products for employees and citizens co-created by innovative companies and the public sector.
CONTACT:
Cecilia Nordlund, Project Manager Youth Wellness Accelerator and Business Advisor, BizMaker
070-557 9003
cecilia.nordlund@bizmaker.se
Nick Sandström, Founder YoungNest
nick@youngnest.se
Hanna Wallin, innovation manager Bron Innovation
hanna.wallin@broninnovation.se
