Kristoffer Persson and co-founder Gustav Bild-Tofftin wanted their business idea to address the teacher shortage and make the most of existing expertise. The Göran Bredinger Scholarship marked the start of their journey. Humly, as the company is now called, currently has global revenue of 150 million Swedish kronor.
It all began in 2013 when Kristoffer Persson and Gustav Bild-Tofftin were studying industrial economics at Chalmers University of Technology. They frequently filled in as substitute teachers and began to wonder why more people weren’t doing the same. At the same time, they saw a significant need in society due to a severe teacher shortage.
“As students, we saw that there were many people around us who could contribute their skills and enthusiasm for learning to schools across Sweden. We wanted to address the shortage of substitute teachers and teachers by encouraging students to take on part-time jobs in schools; this would allow students to put their skills to use and help more people discover the teaching profession,” says Kristoffer Persson.
Developed a digital system
As engineering students, they began developing a digital system and a service that made it easy to register as a substitute teacher and then be matched with clients.
– We figured there must be a system that works on the student’s terms. It has to be flexible, allowing students to choose which subjects and days work for them. For schools, it’s an efficient and simple way to find quality-assured substitute teachers. It results in significant administrative savings. Schools don’t have to call around, and as a substitute teacher, you don’t have to be called almost every morning,” says Kristoffer Persson.
The idea is simple: someone who wants to work as a teacher is matched with an assignment from a preschool or school. Through the service, the digital platform, and the app, students—as well as others who want to work as teachers—can easily find an assignment. At the same time, a preschool or school can quickly find a substitute teacher to step in when the regular teacher is sick.
– I think the secret lies in the flexibility and simplicity. As an educator, you decide for yourself when and where you’ll work. There are no requirements regarding how much or where you should work. This has allowed us to attract many talented people to make a difference in schools. Around 90 percent of all placements happen directly between the school and the substitute teacher without any intervention from Humly, which gives both schools and substitute teachers a great deal of control and freedom, says Kristoffer Persson.
Received the Göran Bredinger Scholarship during its first year
Studentvikarie was launched ahead of the spring semester of 2015. That same year, Kristoffer Persson received the Göran Bredinger Scholarship of 50,000 kronor. The company generated 7.5 million kronor in revenue during its first year. In total, nearly 30,000 hours of substitute teaching were provided at schools.
– We received the Göran Bredinger Scholarship in the very first year of our business, and it was the first time we’d been recognized by an outside party. It gave us a real boost and boosted our confidence. We received confirmation that our business idea was sound and viable. Göran also personally gave us a lot of good advice based on his experience as an entrepreneur. At the same time, the grant was an important financial boost for the company. It costs a lot of money to start up and grow a business, and during the first few years, we barely had any opportunity to pay ourselves any significant salaries,” says Kristoffer Persson.
The business has developed and grown significantly
Since its inception, the company has developed and grown significantly. Kristoffer Persson and Gustav Bild-Tofftin have mostly financed the business with their own capital. Business angel Peter Gustafsson invested 100,000 Swedish kronor, and in 2019, the Norwegian firm Viking Venture invested in the company and the app—which changed its name to Humly Edtech AB—to enable international expansion and broaden the business. In 2021, Humly acquired the companies Simply Supply, Supply Teaching, and Eyears. A total of 100 people now work at the company, with 3,500 educators and 2,000 preschools and schools connected to the platform. There is no shortage of optimism and ideas for the future.
– We want to remain the go-to choice for municipalities, schools, and preschools in Sweden, as well as for people who want to work as substitute teachers. In the UK market, we want to continue growing and developing our business. The UK market is 50 times larger than the Swedish one, and there is a great need for a service like Humlys there, so it’s very exciting to follow the company’s development in that market. At the same time, it’s extremely challenging, as the culture, school system, and market differ greatly from the Swedish ones in both big and small ways,” says Kristoffer Persson.
Why do you think people should apply for the Göran Bredinger Scholarship?
– Simply applying for the scholarship is a great way for you to think through your business idea and get feedback on your company, so I recommend it to anyone running a business that meets the scholarship’s criteria. If you’re lucky enough to win, you and your company will be featured in a prestigious setting, and the financial grant makes a huge difference at the start of a company’s journey. At the same time, you’ll gain a valuable network of contacts with Göran Bredinger and others in the field of social entrepreneurship. There’s simply nothing to lose by applying, but plenty to gain!
Facts about Humly
2015
Student substitute awarded the Göran Bredinger Scholarship.
2017
A student intern is named Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the magazine Dagens samhälle.
2018
Student intern takes third place in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition.
2019
Studentvikarie changes its name to Humly and expands into the UK.
2021
Just over 80 percent of the positions were filled, compared to a normal fill rate of over 90 percent in non-pandemic times. A total of 490,000 hours of substitute teaching were provided across approximately 2,000 schools.
2022
Humly has 100 employees in Sweden and England. In Sweden, the company has offices in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Skåne, Katrineholm, and Umeå. A total of 3,500 people work as substitute teachers through Humly, the majority of whom are in elementary schools.
Learn more about Humly on their Swedish website here and their English website here.
Read more about the Göran Bredinger Scholarship here.