Chief Operating Officer (COO)
100% | Hybrid, Gothenburg | Build Europe's leading forum where deep tech meets capital.
GoWest is one of the Nordics' leading venture capital forums, bringing together investors, startups, corporates, academia and public stakeholders around deep tech, innovation and capital.
Following our recent spin-out into an independent company, we're entering an ambitious growth phase. Our goal is to double participation from 1,200 to 2,500–3,000 participants over the next three years while strengthening our position as one of Europe's leading meeting places for venture capital and deep tech.
Our ambition is not simply to grow an event, but to build Europe's leading year-round forums where capital, technology, industry and entrepreneurship come together to accelerate innovation, attract international investment and create lasting relationships.
To realise this ambition, we're now looking for a COO who can help scale the organisation, strengthen our international position and build the operational foundation for the next stage of growth.
The Opportunity
We're looking for an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our leadership team and help shape the future of GoWest.
This is not a traditional COO role.
As one of the first members of a lean and ambitious organisation, you'll work closely with the CEO to shape how GoWest grows. Rather than stepping into a predefined role, you'll help define it. Your responsibilities will evolve based on your experience, strengths and network.
We're looking for someone who enjoys building rather than maintaining and who wants to have a genuine impact on how the organisation evolves.
This is a role for someone who enjoys rolling up their sleeves. As a small organisation, we combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution every day. You'll be expected to work independently, take ownership, make decisions and move projects forward. During peak periods—particularly in the months leading up to the conference—the pace is high and the workload naturally increases.
Depending on your profile, your responsibilities may include
· Helping scale GoWest into one of Europe's leading venture capital platforms.
· Leading the operational delivery of the annual conference and year-round activities.
· Building relationships with international investors, LPs, VCs and ecosystem partners.
· Driving growth in audience, international participation and strategic partnerships.
· Leading programme and content production.
· Developing commercial partnerships and sponsorships.
· Managing consultants, suppliers and external agencies.
· Creating scalable processes, systems and organisational foundations.
· Establishing KPIs and performance reporting.
· Recruiting and leading future team members.
We're particularly interested in candidates who bring deep expertise in one or more of the following areas:
Conference & Platform Scaling
You've successfully grown an international conference, membership organisation or forum and know how to scale without compromising quality.
Investor & Venture Capital Network
You have an established international network among venture capital firms, LPs, founders, family offices or innovation ecosystems and enjoy building meaningful long-term relationships.
Commercial Growth
You know how to develop strategic partnerships, attract sponsors and create sustainable revenue models.
Operational Excellence
You build organisations that work. You enjoy creating structure, leading teams and delivering ambitious projects.
Who You Are
· A senior leader with experience from high-growth organisations, international conferences, venture capital, startups or innovation ecosystems.
· Comfortable operating both strategically and operationally.
· Equally comfortable switching between strategic leadership and hands-on execution.
· Entrepreneurial, pragmatic and collaborative.
· Self-driven, resourceful and motivated by building something from the ground up.
· Able to build trust with senior stakeholders while motivating teams.
· Excited by building something new rather than joining a mature organisation.
· Fluent in English. Swedish is an advantage.
Why Join GoWest?
This is a unique opportunity to join GoWest at the beginning of its next chapter. Rather than stepping into a predefined organisation, you'll help shape its future.
Working alongside the CEO and leading ecosystem partners, you'll play a key role in establishing one of Europe's most ambitious meeting places for venture capital, deep tech and innovation.
As the organisation grows, so will your role, your responsibilities and your opportunity to make a lasting impact.
If you're motivated by creating long-term impact rather than simply managing operations, we'd love to hear from you.
Scope & workplace
The role is a full-time position.
We work in a hybrid environment with Gothenburg as our home base. While we're open to candidates based elsewhere, regular on-site presence in Gothenburg is an important part of the role. Face-to-face collaboration is essential during planning, partner meetings and key production periods, and full on-site presence is expected around the conference itself.
We see hybrid working as an opportunity to attract exceptional talent and strengthen GoWest with international experience and networks, while remaining firmly rooted in Gothenburg..
GoWest 2027 takes place 13–15 April 2027 in Gothenburg.
How to apply
Please send us:
· Your CV or LinkedIn profile.
· A brief overview (1–2 pages or a few paragraphs) describing the most relevant experience you've had in building, scaling or transforming an organisation, conference, community or forum. We'd love to understand your role, the challenges you faced and the results you achieved.
· Any supporting material you'd like to share (presentations, articles, interviews, references or similar).
No cover letter is required.
Application deadline: October 5, 2026.
We review applications and conduct interviews on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early. The position may be filled before the application deadline.
Send to: Sofia Hjelmberg, CEO, sofia@gowest.capital
About GoWest
GoWest is one of the Nordics’ top international venture capital forums for startups, scaleups and investors, with a strong focus on companies from pre-seed to Series A. Rooted in West Sweden’s industrially and academically heavy R&D legacy and its growing position as a leading deep tech and innovation hub, GoWest brings together high-potential entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and key ecosystem stakeholders in a multi-day conference focused on matchmaking, investments and business opportunities.
GoWest was originally launched in 2014 as Connect2Capital – West Nordic Venture Capital Forum, initiated by Connect Väst. The event quickly became one of Sweden’s and the Nordic region’s fastest-growing meeting places for investors and entrepreneurs to build relationships, exchange ideas and do business.
In 2022, the conference was relaunched as GoWest – Nordic Venture Capital Forum by GU Ventures, that successfully established GoWest over the following years. GoWest became the flagship initiative within their “KRAFT” project, which aimed to strengthen access to capital for startups and scaleups. The project was mainly co-funded by EU and Region Västra Götaland and it increased the region's international visibility and attracted investors, talent and industry stakeholders from across the world.
In 2026, GoWest entered its next phase, when it was spun-out by GU Ventures to an independent company co-owned together with Chalmers Ventures and strengthened to transition with a long-term European vision. GoWest is continuously supported by the Chalmers Ventures, GU Ventures, Region Västra Götaland, Business Region Göteborg and Göteborg &Co:s Trade and Industry Group, who are serving as founding partners, and by many other partners.
Together, we are building GoWest as one of Europe's leading meeting places for venture capital, deep tech, innovation and industrial transformation - connecting founders, investors, corporates and policymakers to accelerate the growth of the next generation of innovative companies.