Fredrik Blomberg started as an intern at Fidelio, drawn to the entrepreneurial spirit. Now, after helping grow our London office, he reflects on a culture of challenging the status quo and pushing boundaries.

Fredrik shares how the team adapted to opening a new office, while keeping collaboration strong across countries.

How did your journey at Fidelio begin?
I started as an intern after my studies in Copenhagen. After various internships at larger firms, I realised I was looking for a smaller, more entrepreneurial environment, and by chance connected with Fidelio, which I at the time did not know much of. Turning down full-time offers for an intern position felt in some ways like a risk, but I was drawn to the firm’s ambitious and energetic team, working in what seemed like a highly dynamic environment.

Ever since I started at Fidelio, I’ve told people around me that I feel the year ahead will be the most exciting yet, which I think is a testament to us as a team being committed to always evolving.

What has stood out most to you, looking at Fidelio’s culture and ways of working?
We have a unique mandate on paper, but it’s up to the team at Fidelio to use that mandate to its full potential, which is what enables the truly entrepreneurial mindset. We don’t follow rigid structures or settle for conventional methods. Instead, we continuously question established norms and processes, whether internally or when working with external partners. Our goal is always to find the best possible solution and way forward — often by thinking outside the box and pushing boundaries.

This shapes not just our investment philosophy but also our internal culture. It’s a place where challenging the status quo is encouraged, and that’s something I’ve always appreciated and found intellectually stimulating. 

You started off in the Stockholm office but two years ago, you relocated to London. What has that experience been like?
Having worked in Stockholm for the previous four years, I was eager for something new. Being born in London, I had always felt a pull back to the city and the move has been super exciting. When the opportunity arose to help establish our London office, I was eager to be part of that journey. Building something new with the team here has been incredibly rewarding.

On a personal level, London’s energy is unmatched, and I love exploring everything the city has to offer in terms of people, culture and experiences. In general, I’m most comfortable in smaller environments with stable routines. I think London offers a great mix of the “small” and the “grand”, the “loud” and the “quiet”.

Professionally, London offers a vibrant market, with a broad network of companies and advisors and a proximity to Europe which fits perfectly with our ambitions to grow internationally.

I imagine starting up in a new city in a new country requires quite a bit of hard work. What challenges have you faced in setting up the London office, and how have you adapted?
I think the main difference for us as a firm was moving from a single office to having offices in different countries. There is a lot we’ve had to experiment with to make sure we keep our culture and ways of working collaboratively, also between the teams in London and Stockholm. We’ll continue our trial-and-error approach until we get it right but I’m sure this step will pave the way for eventually adding more locations. I think our willingness to make mistakes, learn and adapt has been a key factor in our success, even for such a seemingly simple task as opening a new office.

What’s next for you and Fidelio?
Personally, I’m itching to get going with a recent investment we have just signed. Up to signing, it’s always nerve-racking; trying to cover all eventualities. Now, we can look forward; the decision is non-reversable, and the real job starts, with the same mindset that drives all our investments: to unlock full potential.

Looking ahead, again I have that feeling that this next year is the most exciting yet, and I’m eager to see how we can further scale our businesses, including Fidelio itself, and continue to build our culture. I also look forward to continuing to explore London’s pubs, one scotch-egg at a time, which has become a personal favourite.