Our team ranges from PhDs in computer science to self-taught whiz kids
We are a group of database engineers and business visionaries with a mission. We believe that database technology could be much faster, much easier to use and much more well integrated with your computer language. Our R&D team range from PhDs in computer science to self-taught whiz kids.
The founder
The founder of Starcounter is Joachim Wester, a serial entrepreneur, with successes within the software industry building products and companies around business applications. In 2003 he started a company where he wanted to create an extremely normalized model to simplify reuse of program code for system development by building a global generic class library that included all possible business system objects.
To support this model he needed an extremely fast database. When investigating the alternatives in the market he was disappointed that nothing met his criteria. He then decided to build this database himself, and this was the embryo to the database Starcounter.
Management Team
Joachim Wester founded Starcounter in 2006 and his efforts and vision are taking the database industry to the next level of performance. He has founded multiple successful companies, including Medea System AB with software translated to over 16 languages and Aldata Solutions AB, where he built the company up to a turnover of over 100 MSEK with an EBIT of 25 MSEK. A computer whiz from the start, Joachim is a self-taught programmer, building his first computer in the fifth grade. At age 14, he won first place in the Commodore International Computer Art Challenge and began his journey as a successful technology entrepreneur.
Asa Holmstrom is the Chief Executive Officer of Starcounter. Asa brings more than 20 years of executive leadership in the IT industry to her role as CEO of Starcounter. Most recently, Asa served as President of Columbitech, where she successfully established its U.S. operations. Prior to Columbitech, she served as CEO of technology consultancy firm, Kvadrat. Asa also spent time as a Management Consultant, where she focused on sales, business development and leadership within global technology companies such as Ericsson and Siemens. Asa holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Stockholm University.
Peter Idestam-Almquist is the Chief Technology Officer of Starcounter. Peter has more than 20 years of experience in software development and management of IT companies. In 1996, he founded web technology consultancy company, SITE, and two years later, Peter founded consultancy broker company, Konsultmarknaden. He served as a Chief Technology Officer of both these companies before he joined Starcounter. Peter has a Ph.D. in computer science from Stockholm University, where he also taught as a Professor of Computer Science for ten years.
Board of Directors
Fredrik Uhrström is Chairman of the Board. Fredrik brings extensive experience to Starcounter, having served as a Board member for more than 15 public and private companies. Most recently, he served as co-owner and member of the Board/Chairman of EPiServer AB from 2000-2010. Throughout his career in financial management, Fredrik has successfully completed a number of mergers and acquisitions, as well as negotiated and conducted several IPO, sales and capitalization processes. Fredrik holds an MBA (Finance) from the Stockholm School of Economics.
Mikael Runhem is a Board Member. Mikael is a tried and true Swedish Internet entrepreneur. He founded the company EPiServer (under the name ElektroPost), initially focusing on systems for electronic mail. Over the years EPiServer transformed into a software company and became the de facto standard for Web Content Management systems in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the U.K., powering several thousand web sites. EPiServer was sold in 2010 to IK Invest Partners, and that same year, Mikael brought home the Guldmusen Award for “IT Entrepreneur of the Year.”
Joachim Wester is a Board Member and the founder of Starcounter. Joachim founded Starcounter in 2006 and his efforts and vision are taking the database industry to the next level of performance. He has founded multiple successful companies, including Medea System AB with software translated to over 16 languages and Aldata Solutions AB, where he built the company up to a turnover of over 100 MSEK with an EBIT of 25 MSEK. A computer whiz from the start, Joachim is a self-taught programmer, building his first computer in the fifth grade. At age 14, he won first place in the Commodore International Computer Art Challenge and began his journey as a successful technology entrepreneur.