The founder of a transparent and conscious footwear brand, David Ekelund, founder of Icebug, is Silver winner of the global award Founder of the Year Medium Size Companies

David Ekelund, founder of Icebug received the Growth Rings in Silver for the global award Founder of the Year category Medium Size Companies at the Founders´ Awards Gala held at Stockholm City Hall on September 22.

David Ekelund founded Icebug 2001 together with Elisabet Törnkvist, Rudolph Chang and Cyril Chiang. The company is headquartered in Jonsered, Sweden with subsidiaries in Norway, USA and Germany. The brand is sold in Europe, USA, Canada, Japan and Hong Kong. Icebug is a footwear brand specializing in traction technologies striving to lead in transforming a necessary but dirty industry. 

Making better footwear for people who want to get outdoors every day. Icebug is a change maker towards a society where people can thrive, on a planet in balance. The commitment is, that when there is a conflict between what's good for the company short term and what's good for the planet long term, Icebug prioritizes the planet. Icebug is a transparent footwear brand, sharing the product journey and the impact of their products.

David's driving force is uniting business development, sustainable transformation and living a good life (for him and others).

The finalists have earlier introduced themselves and their companies to a jury of qualified founders consisting of: Chairwoman of the jury - Monika Liikamaa - Enfuce, Anastasia Georgiadou - Alminia, Tom Sulzer - Sulzer & Schmid Laboratories, Robby Yung - Animoca Brands and Thomas Rogalin - Workz.

Founder of the Year

Founder of the Year is Founders Alliance's main award, and aims to draw attention to and highlight global large scale founders who own and operate sustainable companies, and thus stimulate more medium-sized and large internationally expanding companies.

The founders and their companies are ranked based on the Founders Alliance (FA) Index, which takes into account past performances, future potential and societal achievements.

To pay attention to the highest performing founders in several company development phases, and to highlight female and male winners, Founder of the Year is awarded to male and female founders in three categories based on financial results the year prior.

In the category Founders of Medium Sized Companies are active founders of a company with a revenue of approximately 10-50 MEUR with at least 20% ownership in a profitable company.