How Swedish innovators are reshaping recruitment with AI and community-driven solutions

Fearless Founders
Mar 16
3 min read

Updated: Mar 18

In Sweden, like many parts of the world, a striking 40% of graduates struggle to find employment within their field of study within the first year. The disconnect between academia and industry creates a widening talent gap, leaving companies with unfilled roles and candidates disillusioned. But Swedish innovators are stepping up, combining AI, networking, and grassroots initiatives to build bridges where the old systems are failing.

under’s vision

Henry Fisher, co-founder of phoneWise AI, knows this challenge firsthand. “There’s a huge gap between academia and industry,” he explains. “Graduates struggle to find jobs, hiring managers have unrealistic expectations, and recruitment systems are often outdated or broken.” His personal mission? To create AI-driven tools that support recruiters and HR professionals in making smarter, fairer hiring decisions—and ultimately, to give more people a chance to thrive in today’s complex job market.

For Henry, bridging this gap isn't just about tech—it's about fostering real conversations and communities. Last week, he attended the Bridging the Talent Gap in Sweden panel and a pitching workshop, both of which underscored the urgent need for collaborative innovation.

PhoneWise AI is an AI co-pilot designed specifically for recruiters and HR teams. It helps professionals streamline the hiring process, filter through applications more efficiently, and identify candidates based on a holistic view of their experience and skills—not just what’s written on a CV. By integrating machine learning and natural language processing, phoneWise AI offers recruiters a powerful tool to make smarter, faster, and fairer hiring decisions.

Unlike traditional recruitment platforms, phoneWise AI focuses on reducing unconscious bias, improving candidate matching, and providing a better experience for both job seekers and employers. Henry’s vision is clear: a more human-centered recruitment process, powered by AI.

The problem and market gap

Despite Sweden’s reputation as a leader in innovation and tech, the gap between academic training and industry needs remains significant. Monica, founder and CEO of Open Hack 2020 Australia, highlighted during the event how educational systems globally shape many of the challenges in today’s job market. Even in Sweden, she noted, AI-related degrees can be outdated by the time students graduate.

There’s an urgent need for continuous learning, adaptable skillsets, and recruitment processes that can keep up. Current solutions often fail because they rely on traditional, rigid models that no longer serve the dynamic nature of the job market. Henry’s phoneWise AI and Monica’s hackathon-driven innovation management approach directly address these pain points.

Societal and economic impact

By empowering recruiters with AI tools like phoneWise and fostering collaborative innovation through initiatives like Open Hack, these founders are creating new pathways to employment and economic growth. Their work supports lifelong learning, bridges cultural gaps for immigrants entering the Swedish workforce, and helps businesses fill critical roles faster and more effectively.

Marina, a biotech professional who transitioned from academia to industry in Sweden, shared her perspective:

“For the second time in a row, we’re doing an elevator pitch workshop where participants can safely present their ideas. It’s a transformation journey—for both individuals and the system.”

Workshops like these give voice to untapped ideas and foster a community of practice. They create safe spaces where newcomers and seasoned professionals alike can pitch their ideas, get feedback, and refine their vision.

Challenges and entrepreneurial journey

Both Henry and Monica have faced significant barriers along their journey. From overcoming skepticism about AI-driven recruitment to building trust with corporate partners, their path hasn’t been easy. Monica emphasizes the power of networks and mentorship:

“Stop looking outward and start looking into your network,” she advises. Her success with Open Hack shows the value of long-term relationships and shared knowledge.

For Henry, creating phoneWise AI meant navigating complex technological and ethical challenges, ensuring fairness and transparency in AI decision-making, and securing the partnerships necessary to bring his vision to life.

Future vision

Henry’s next goal is to scale phoneWise AI beyond Sweden, expanding into other European markets where the recruitment gap remains vast. His team is also working on integrating new features, such as predictive analytics to identify emerging talent trends.

Meanwhile, Monica plans to grow Open Hack’s global footprint, helping more companies innovate through hackathons and collaborative problem-solving. Both founders share a belief in the power of community, technology, and lifelong learning to shape a better future.

Their call to action? As one speaker urged during the panel: “Start now. Make a plan and take action on what you’ve been hesitant to do.”