Vermiculus First Six Month in Umeå

About six months ago, Nils-Robert Persson, Chairman and Founder of Vermiculus, shared on LinkedIn that we had welcomed our first employee and partner in Umeå. This milestone was later officially announced in both Vermiculus' newsletter and in Västerbottens-Kuriren, a Swedish daily newspaper from Umeå. Since then, the office has expanded significantly, quickly becoming an integral part of the company’s operations and reflecting both the progress made and the dedication of our team. 

The Umeå office has rapidly developed into a dynamic working environment, bringing together skilled individuals who contribute to Vermiculus' broader goals. With a strong foundation in place, the team continues to grow, strengthening the office’s role within the company. 

The first member to join the Umeå office team was John-John Markstedt. In the early stages of the office’s development, he played a pivotal role in establishing a strong foundation. Together with a few key colleagues from the Stockholm office, their contributions were instrumental in shaping the office’s growth and laying the groundwork for future expansion. 

John-John Markstedt, the first official day in front of Vermiculus' new Umeå office.

John-John, what have been the biggest challenges and opportunities in being part of the early development of the Umeå office? 

The biggest challenge has definitely been recruitment. The initial hires have a significant impact on the office culture, so it’s crucial that they excel in their roles while also fitting into the team and setting a positive example for future hires.  

For me personally, the greatest opportunity has been the chance to build something from the ground up – from selecting office space, to recruiting the right people, and helping Vermiculus’ transition from a single-office company to one with multiple locations. 

How has the office developed over the first six months? 

Over the first six months, the office has taken shape both practically and in terms of the team. The office space we chose was a great fit, with all practical arrangements already in place. With help from a few colleagues from the Stockholm office, who assisted with interior choices and helped make the two offices feel like the same company, the space has quickly become both functional and comfortable. At the same time, we have established ways of working that ensure smooth collaboration with colleagues several hundred kilometers away. Setting up clear processes has been important to make work efficient and to create a strong foundation for future team members to integrate seamlessly. And I’m also extremely happy with the people we have managed to hire. 

What are you looking forward to in the coming months? 

There’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months! The Umeå team is getting onboarded to more projects and becoming a bigger part of the company, interest from Umeå University is growing, and we’re preparing for the summer internship we’ll be offering here in Umeå, says John-John. 

The collaboration between the Umeå and Stockholm offices has been smooth, with regular travel between the two locations to ensure close and effective teamwork. As John-John mentioned, the local engagement has grown, with increased interest from Umeå University, opening up exciting possibilities for future collaboration. Looking ahead, it will be fascinating to see how the Umeå office continues to evolve, strengthening its role within Vermiculus and contributing to the company’s growth in the months and years to come.