An unusual but common digital agency

They both resigned in 2006 with their sights set. They would build a digital agency at the forefront of technology to develop applications on the Internet with a workplace where they themselves would enjoy working. A company where you could be proud of your deliveries. A place without sharp elbows and where everyone helps each other, with premises where you could socialise and enjoy yourself together, with employees in both Sweden and India but with Swedish working conditions in both countries.

IT competence in India

Jonas and Niklas had worked with Indian colleagues at their previous workplace and noticed early on how quickly IT competence was growing in India. Mutual friend Gabriel Mannheimer worked at Gunnebo in Mumbai, also called Bombay. He had the necessary contacts and became a partner and manager at the office in Mumbai. Johannes Stjernquist joined as a partner and manager at the then-office in Lund. Jonas and Niklas found a location in Stockholm where the head office has been ever since.

Being able to offer affordable digital solutions with developers in India but also Sweden, and at the same time offer project managers in Sweden for safe contact, became the business idea. Functioning as a technical production supplier in collaboration with other creative agencies became the initial basis of Bombayworks' offer.

Satisfying? Absolutely.

The desire for an attractive workplace where the employees thrived, and colleagues helped each other was immediately realised. And the office in India quickly became an attractive workplace for IT staff in Mumbai. The idea that the working climate should reflect a Swedish workplace was appreciated.

In India, Saturday was part of a normal working week, but not at Bombayworks. Working overtime, a lot of overtime was more the rule than the exception. But not at Bombayworks. With a Swedish manager placed locally, it was also possible to ensure that the work culture remained Swedish. The rumour spread, and quickly Bombayworks' small office in Mumbai became a talking point among other Swedish companies in India.

Among several others, Volvo has made study visits to the office to see how we work with a Swedish work culture.

Challenging? Oh, yeah.

Sure, Gabriel had experience working in India, but it would prove challenging to find the manpower needed. Mumbai was, at this time, a financial center, but the IT mecca in India was then, as is now, Bangalore. And even in Sweden, it was complicated. The Internet and its business opportunities were still in their infancy, and developers were hard to come by. Business-wise then? In collaboration with classic advertising agencies, it was difficult to get the deal together financially.

Creative forces & technical excellence

In 2011/2012, the company went to its knees. Offering only technical delivery with creative collaboration with other agencies had proven to be a difficult deal to put together. The decision was therefore made to hire Bombayworks' first designer, and the offer was changed. The agency began to work more broadly and was able to take over a larger part of the business towards the end customer. With an excellent technical understanding and new creative forces, the agency was able to find its way to more and larger customers quickly. More developers and designers were hired, as were content managers, project managers, analysts, SEO experts and testers. The workforce in Sweden grew rapidly, as did the office in Mumbai, which has continued to focus on developers and testers.

In 2018 and 2019, the company received the Gasell Award as one of the fastest-growing companies in Sweden. In 2023 and 2024, Bombayworks was awarded Agency of the Year in the Digital Transformation category.

Bombayworks' business model works as intended, and the workplace culture continues exactly as it began, with a workplace where you, as an employee, can thrive and develop.