Meet our Accelerators

Andreas Hallbert, Senior Advisor at Ventures Accelerated

Andreas Hallbert

Your background spans both design and business. What first drew you to work at the intersection of these fields and eventually, into the life science sector?
I've been hooked on design since I was a kid. One of my strongest memories is discovering KISS—not for the music, but for their graphic identity: the logo, the face paint, the entire visual expression. Despite the fairly terrible music, I plastered my room with their posters. That taught me early on that design can be a powerful message—a way to create presence, make an impact, and truly reach people. 

My background is in the advertising world, where design always had a clear purpose: to create results and build business. That’s where I learned that design isn’t art—it’s the art of making something that works and, ideally, can be measured. I was immediately drawn to that moment where strategy meets visual expression—solving a problem and finding the right visual voice for that particular situation. 

You’ve worked with a wide range of companies and teams. What have those collaborations taught you about leadership and communication in high-stakes environments? 
I see my job as a service profession, with multiple layers of “clients”—stakeholders, project managers, and end-users—all of whom I need to build trust with and deliver for. That requires respect for each other’s time and contributions, and a clear, shared goal. 

What I’ve learned about leadership is that clarity and structure don’t limit creativity—quite the opposite. Constraints make it possible to create something truly innovative. But that only works if everyone knows what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and who’s responsible for what. 

Things work best when there’s a clearly defined project lead—either on our side or the client’s—who keeps both the big picture and the deliverables together. I prefer lots of small check-ins over a few big ones. It saves both time and misunderstandings. 

You’ve helped shape how clients present themselves to partners and investors. What do you think distinguishes a truly strong and memorable pitch or company narrative? 
The most important thing isn’t that your audience walks away knowing everything—or even more—about your product, investment, or company. What matters is that you’ve sparked something: curiosity, interest, emotion, trust, or desire. That’s what makes someone want to learn more. And it starts with finding your story. 

The most common mistake is trying to say everything—often twice. My advice: dare to simplify. Be pedagogical. And when appropriate, use humor. It increases the chance you’ll actually be remembered. And of course—strong, thoughtful design that supports the message instead of distracting from it. 

Personally, I think in three steps: Start with something that sparks curiosity and highlights what makes you unique. Then walk through the story and the facts, step by step. End with a clear summary of your offer and what the next step is. Use visuals and graphics to support your message where they help strengthen it. If it feels simple, clear, and engaging, it also creates a sense of confidence. 

And when it’s time to follow up—share something relevant: an article, a new idea, or a concrete question about what it would take to move forward together. Show that you listened—and that you’re ready for what’s next.

You’ve worked with SwedenBio and Ventures Accelerated—both key players in the Nordic life science sector. What common communication challenges do you see in the sector, and how can design help overcome them? 
A common challenge is the amount of complex information, tight regulations, and limited time. It can be hard to absorb everything, identify what’s most important for the audience, and still create something that works. To be safe, people often try to say everything—which makes communication scattered and hard to digest. Here, AI tools have become an invaluable support. They help us get up to speed, get an overview, and ensure we're communicating the right things in the right way. 

Design—especially well-thought-out information design—can make a huge difference. It's not just about making things look nice, although that helps. It’s about packaging the content in a way that helps the audience understand, remember, and trust. 

Good design brings clarity—but also pride and business value. It makes decision-making easier, internal communication smoother, and helps you be taken seriously externally. 

From a design perspective, what are the biggest opportunities and challenges you see for small and mid-sized life science companies when it comes to communicating their value and innovation effectively? 
The opportunity is to actually create world-class communication. There are no technical barriers—only time, budget, and ambition. The challenge is that you can become blind to your own story—or too in love with your innovation. That’s where external sounding boards are incredibly valuable. They can look at the narrative with fresh eyes. That’s one of the strengths of Ventures Accelerated: the experience and communication expertise is tailored to exactly this kind of company. 

Small companies sometimes lack the confidence that comes with size and brand recognition. That can lead to over-explaining—just in case. But often, it’s enough to be simple, clear, and trust that your uniqueness will shine through if you strip away what doesn’t add value. 

One major advantage is that decision-making paths are often shorter. That means strong ideas can survive the journey from strategy to execution without being watered down. Be brave—try new approaches. Communication is important, but rarely life-or-death. Even if the products you’re developing actually are.