“Sweden is known for being highly innovative, and I wanted to understand why”
Vitor Ortega, an entrepreneur from Brazil, shares his inspiring journey from co-founding a startup in Brazil to pursuing an MSc in Knowledge-Based Entrepreneurship (KBE) at the School. His story highlights the transformative impact of the MSc KBE programme and its strong ties to the startup ecosystem.
Choosing the MSc KBE programme
“At the time, I was co-founding a startup in Brazil called Mascotinn, which was like a Booking.com for pets. The platform was running well, but I decided to move to Sweden and saw a strong connection between the KBE programme and the startup world. I was curious to see how the programme could help me connect the dots. Sweden is also known for being highly innovative, and I wanted to understand why,” Vitor explains.
Vitor’s academic reflections
Reflecting on his academic journey, Vitor shares, “Honestly, I liked all the courses because they all contributed to my learning. The programme as a whole has a strong connection to entrepreneurship and the startup world. It’s all about facing the unknown and working with new ideas, with theory as a foundation.”
He particularly appreciated the unique opportunities to connect with various stakeholders in the fields of innovation and decision-making. “The programme also gave us access to unique tools like the Clifton Strengths test, where we learned more about ourselves. It was great to reflect on how these learnings could impact our future,” he adds.
“The professors were always available and helpful. The hands-on projects we worked on were really interesting. We frequently collaborated with Swedish companies, giving us valuable connections within the local network. The programme also mixed students from different classes, which brought fresh perspectives and made it feel like real-life teamwork,” Vitor recalls.
One of the standout aspects of the programme was the strong connection with businesses and organisations. “This was one of the highlights. We had access to great companies and the local network, with opportunities to visit places and meet guest lecturers. The university also offers additional programmes like Eutopia and study trips, which were really valuable,” he notes.
Connections lead to career success
Having secured a job in Gothenburg thanks to the connections he made during the programme, Vitor plans to stay in the city. He advises prospective students to reach out to professors and current or former students to align expectations and achieve better outcomes. “The programme offers different perspectives during and after studies, especially for those interested in the theory behind entrepreneurship and its real-world application. The opportunities after the programme are limitless,” he says.
Professional life
Currently, Vitor is the Head of Sales and Partnerships at CMG and serves as Project Manager for the Women’s Football Expo. In his role, he oversees the planning and execution of the annual event, aiming to amplify the visibility and growth of women in football. His responsibilities include strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, financial and time management, team leadership, and marketing and public relations.
“The programme instilled a mindset of always seeking new knowledge and learning, which I carry with me in my professional life,” Vitor reflects. He credits the School’s alumni network for helping him secure his current job, emphasizing the value of being proactive and leveraging the resources provided by the university.