Picture this: pristine mountain landscapes, adrenaline-pumping descents, and a platform dedicated to curating unforgettable heliski experiences. Yet, behind the scenes, there's more than meets the eye. This blog invites you on a journey deep into the minds of the visionaries who birthed Heliski International.

So, lace up your virtual boots, grab your metaphorical ski poles, and join us as we uncover the extraordinary journey that birthed Heliski International - let the adventure begin.

Meet the Founders

The founders, the heartbeat of our story, open up in this exclusive interview where personal and work-related questions peel back the layers, revealing the stories, challenges, and aspirations that have shaped both individuals and the industry they've redefined. But first, who are they?

💡 Patrik Gunnarsson - The Visionary

Patrik Gunnarsson, the principal founder of Heliski International, is an experienced skier and entrepreneur with a rich history of exploring numerous heliski destinations worldwide. His vision for this platform started with an ambitious goal: to create a comprehensive coffee table book covering all significant heliski spots across the globe. This book, set to release in 2024, aims to be an essential guide for every heliski enthusiast. Patrik's entrepreneurial spirit and deep love for skiing have been the driving forces behind the inception of Heliski International. Patrik has founded several businesses, including Brocc.se, a digital bank.

⛷️ Sebastian Bond - The Ski Trip Maestro

Sebastian Bond, is another seasoned skier whose expertise extends beyond the slopes into the entrepreneurial realm of traditional ski trip businesses. His extensive knowledge and experience in organizing ski trips add a unique perspective to our team, ensuring that every heliski experience we market is not just adventurous but also well-organized and customer-focused. He is a world-leading communicator and as a non-native Arabic speaker, he founded Kitab Sawti, the world’s largest Arabic audiobook company.

🚁 Marcus Boström - The Flying Skier

Completing our trio of founders is Marcus Boström, a name synonymous with excellence in both skiing and aviation. Marcus, is an accomplished skier and serial entrepreneur known for founding educations.com/ among several other businesses. He brings an extraordinary skill set as a commercial helicopter pilot with a Swiss mountain rating. His past ventures include successfully running two helicopter companies. Beyond his love for skiing, Marcus is deeply invested in aviation safety, especially in the context of heliskiing. His unique blend of skills and passions ensures that safety is at the forefront of every adventure we curate.

The Interview

What motivated you to start this company? And what keeps you motivated now?

S.B.: First and foremost, I have a passion for skiing, and the luxury of working with something you love is truly rewarding. Second, embarking on a heli-ski trip is a dream for many ski enthusiasts—it's the kind of experience people fantasize about throughout their lives. Consequently, I believe it is essential to ensure that both customers and operators are paired in the best possible way. If we can assist customers in discovering the most suitable heli-ski trip for themselves and, simultaneously, make their bucket list aspiration more attainable by providing an extraordinary experience, that would truly make my day!

What significant challenges have you faced when working at Heliski International? And the greatest achievement?

S.B.: Gathering information from various sources and consolidating it is always a time-consuming and labor-intensive task, and this case was no exception. However, we collaborated closely with our partner operators, receiving invaluable support from them in the form of information, pictures, and more for our new website. Our most significant accomplishment thus far is the successful launch of a diverse range of heli-ski experiences worldwide, catering to the preferences of a wide array of customers. Looking ahead, we anticipate that our greatest achievement in a year will be the satisfaction of having assisted numerous customers in discovering exceptional heli-skiing adventures. Simultaneously, we aspire to foster strong relationships with our heli-ski partners, aiding in the growth and enhancement of their operations.

What are the trends you are observing in the heliskiing world right now and what’s the role of Heliski International? Do you see this sport evolving in the future?

S.B.: Compared to a few years ago, we observe a growing interest in heli-skiing, with some operators expanding to become sizable enterprises. There is also a heightened focus on both safety and environmental considerations. Certain operators are actively engaged in measuring and reducing their CO2 footprint through various activities, and they offset their current emissions by supporting diverse initiatives. As the environmental threat becomes more tangible, and considering that our sport relies heavily on nature and climate conditions, I believe it is crucial for our industry to figure out how we can build a sustainable heli-skiing sector for future generations. It is not only about ensuring safety and enjoyment for present enthusiasts but also about preserving the environment and fostering a responsible approach that considers the well-being of our grandchildren.

Throughout your startup journey, what insights have you gained or discovered?

P.G.: In other companies I’ve founded, I’ve come to realize the value a proper marketplace can bring to both service providers and end-users. Within heliskiing and the role Heliski International can bring to clients, information is key. Our mission is to make it as easy and convenient to book a heliski trip as it is to order delivery pizza.

M.B.: Throughout our journey at Heliski International, we've discovered that the market for heliski experiences is in an early stage of commercialization, yet there's a high level of public interest. This burgeoning demand presents a unique opportunity to shape the industry's future. We've learned that balancing supply and demand is crucial, especially in niche markets like ours. Our focus has been on creating a user-friendly platform that offers a wide variety of options to our customers from the outset, which we believe we have successfully achieved.

What’s your must-read book and why?

S.B.: I primarily listen to documentaries, but one exceptional business book that stands out is "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz. I read it at the onset of my last startup endeavor, and it proved instrumental in helping me comprehend and make some challenging yet crucial decisions.

How close to product-market fit are you?

P.G.: I think that question should be answered by the end-users rather than myself… Having said that, I wouldn’t opened up for business if I didn’t think we already add value to both the clients and the heliski operators. However, that doesn’t mean I think we are “done”. Like any other business, if you don’t continue to move forward, you’re moving backward.

M.B.: We believe we are very close to achieving a strong product-market fit. The enthusiastic response from skiers, who are eager to discover and compare heliski experiences, aligns perfectly with our platform's capabilities. Simultaneously, heliski operators are seeking to broaden their reach to potential customers, a need that our platform addresses effectively. This symbiotic relationship between supply and demand underlines our close alignment with the market needs.

Long-term goals?

P.G.: More than double the global population going heliskiing. I think there is so much potential with all people, who are certainly interested in heliskiing but have never gone.

M.B.: In the long run, our ambition is to not only lead in market size but also market influence. By fostering a more inclusive and diverse customer base, we aim to expand the market itself. Our platform will play a pivotal role in empowering operators to innovate and evolve, offering even more unique and tailored experiences. Additionally, we are deeply committed to environmental sustainability and safety, striving to set new industry standards in these areas. Our vision extends beyond being a marketplace; we aim to be a catalyst for positive change in the heliski industry.

What does the future of the company look like?

P.G.: No idea! Most likely we’ll continue to invest more in the platform to make all parts of our services as available and easy to use as possible. I think our clients represent an amazing opportunity to enhance the business. It could be anything from reviews, recommendations, or even a society.

M.B.: Looking ahead, we envision Heliski International becoming the world’s largest website for the discovery, comparison, and booking of heliski experiences. Our goal is to drive the market forward by broadening customer groups, lowering entry thresholds for new skiers, and enabling operators to grow and create more unique experiences. We are committed to helping the industry transition to climate-neutral operations and driving higher safety standards. In the long term, our objective is to be at the forefront of innovation in the heliski industry, constantly elevating the experience for both operators and customers.