Welcoming Carl Axell to The Scale Factory

Carl has seen what scale-up success really takes, and it’s not flashy headlines or rushed growth. It’s alignment. “Real momentum comes from transparency, financial clarity, and bringing people with you, not pushing them forward,” he says.

Now joining The Scale Factory as an advisor, he brings that perspective with him. At Winningtemp, he joined the board during a challenging period and worked closely with investors to lead a turnaround from -65MSEK to +15MSEK. That experience reinforced his belief that culture, numbers, and direction need to move together, otherwise, scale simply adds pressure without progress.

When it comes to entering new markets, Carl believes the most effective strategies are grounded in structure and trust. “You can’t fake readiness,” he says. “You need a clear go-to-market plan, early investor confidence, and open communication across teams. Whether it’s Germany, China, or the Nordics, people move faster when they see the full picture—not just the next task.”

What drew him to The Scale Factory is the combination of ambition and real-world impact. “It’s a team that leans into complexity but cares about outcomes. That’s rare,” he says. He’s especially excited to support areas like financial modeling, governance, and expansion strategy, and to help scale-ups grow faster by building trust, not just speed.

Carl brings sharp focus and a steady hand to fast-moving scale-ups, the kind of perspective that helps teams move with confidence and clarity.