On 19–20 February, Stockholm Business Expo 2025 will take place at Kistamässan, and Antaros Medical stands out among the nominees for ‘Rising Star of the Year’. With an innovative and pioneering business in the life sciences sector, they have gone from humble beginnings to becoming an internationally recognised player. The company’s CEO and one of its four founders, Johannes Hulthe, shares their journey – a story filled with challenges, pride and memorable moments.
Challenges That Laid the Foundation for Success
The key to our success was our innovative image analysis methods using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and PET (positron emission tomography) to understand what happens in various parts of the body, such as the kidneys and liver, and thereby analyze the effects of different drugs.
The challenge here is to always stay one step ahead of our customers’ research. To know which drugs and disease areas will have the largest patient populations and greatest needs in 10–15 years.
Johannes describes how the company has also faced several other challenges:
“Recruitment has been a key issue. Finding the right talent in such a niche field isn’t easy. That’s why we made an early commitment to hiring an HR manager and recruiting internationally through our subsidiaries in the U.S. and the U.K.,” he explains.
Compliance requirements in the life sciences sector are another challenge that has necessitated meticulous internal processes involving the QA and legal departments. Research and development costs have also been significant, placing high demands on striking a balance between recruitment, innovation, and sales.
“Cash flow was one of the biggest challenges in a growing company—especially one as research-intensive as ours. But we’ve built stable relationships with financial institutions like SEB and Almi, as well as a dedicated group of owners who support us for the long term,” says Johannes.
From a Motorhome to International Success
Antaros Medical’s story literally began on wheels.
“We couldn’t afford an office, so we used my motorhome. To get good Wi-Fi, we’d park near larger companies and log into their guest networks,” Johannes says with a smile.
Another memory that stands out is their first meeting with SEB:
– We walked into a central SEB branch to open a business account and casually asked if we could borrow 10 million. I don’t think they thought we were in our right minds—and maybe we weren’t. But we got an account, a box of pens—and just like that, we were up and running! Today, our relationship with the bank is much stronger, and borrowing money when needed isn’t a problem.
Pride and Memorable Moments
Johannes is proud of the impact the company has on the pharmaceutical industry.
“Knowing that we help ensure the right medication reaches the right patient at the right time makes all the hard work worthwhile. I’m also incredibly proud of our team, which always delivers despite high demands and tight deadlines,” he says.
Another memorable moment was the company’s fifth anniversary, when the entire staff celebrated together with the founders and owners.
“Celebrating successes together is important. It strengthens the team and reminds us why we’re doing this,” he adds.
Lessons and Advice for Future Entrepreneurs
In closing, Johannes shares some advice with others who dream of building something great:
- Dare to make decisions without having all the facts. Trust your gut—even if it goes wrong, you’ll learn something.
- Maintain a strong customer focus—listen. Dare to create prototypes and also be willing to scrap them if they aren’t viable.
- As your company grows, prioritize structure and cash flow. Without them, it will be difficult to expand.
- As soon as your finances allow, invest in a strong HR department. It’s the key to successful recruitment and sustainable growth.
Antaros Medical’s journey is an inspiring story of how courage, vision, and collaboration can lead to success. Their story reminds us that even the largest companies can start with an idea, a camper van—and perhaps a box of pencils.
