From Palo Alto to Sweden’s Grand Journalism Award
Serial entrepreneur Jens Nylander, who spent years in Palo Alto as the CEO and co-founder of Automile until its acquisition, is now gaining recognition in Sweden for his latest innovation—an AI-powered tool that has uncovered millions in potential public sector savings.
Jens Nylander has been nominated for Sweden’s Grand Journalism Award for his work with Ormeo, a groundbreaking AI database used to analyze invoices across municipalities and regions, identifying discrepancies in public spending.
“After my time in the U.S., I thought a lot about how to bring change to Sweden, to discuss efficiency, and modernize our unique principle of public access. My work with Ormeo began as a hobby project where I wanted to see if information could drive change,” he explains.
Using Ormeo, Nylander conducted an investigation into Vinnova, Sweden's innovation agency, uncovering instances of procurement irregularities. His analysis revealed that a consultant with close ties to Vinnova's Director General, Darja Isaksson, secured a contract valued at 8.6 million SEK through manipulated procurement processes. Although the contract initially specified work for two to three days a week, significantly more hours were invoiced than agreed upon. Nylander's findings have sparked a debate about transparency and accountability within public procurement in Sweden.
Between 2014 and 2022, Nylander led Automile, a rapidly growing company specializing in real-time vehicle tracking to help businesses optimize routes, save fuel, and enhance safety. Automile established its headquarters in Palo Alto in 2014 and quickly expanded, serving customers across Europe and the U.S. In 2020, Automile was acquired by Norwegian telematics company ABAX, leading to the relocation of its headquarters to Utah,
“I often miss the SF Bay Area and the American energy,” Nylander reflects“
Despite his extensive experience in tech, this is Nylander’s first award nomination.
“I’ve never won an award for any work, and being nominated for Sweden’s Grand Journalism Award is truly touching. It’s a recognition of the technology and the approach to spreading information and knowledge,” he says.
The award ceremony will take place at Bonniers Konsthall in Stockholm on November 21.