About

Konrad Bergström is a world-leading entrepreneur whose companies have been recognized for excellence in design, marketing, technology, and fashion. He is most well-known for founding leading Swedish electric boat manufacturer, X Shore, and Zound Industries—the Swedish tech giant that produces consumer electronics for Marshall Amplification and Adidas.

Konrad grew up in the small village of Norrskedika, Sweden, in a family imbued with creativity and entrepreneurship. His mother was a theatre director, and his father, a former math and engineering teacher, left academia to sell boats., inspired by his passion for the ocean. His father's life change and the family influence more generally inspired in Konrad an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age, and which led to a decades-long career as the successful businessman he is today.

““When my father turned his love of the ocean into a career as a boat salesman, it showed me how it was possible to turn your passion into a successful career.  I started to work from an early age and have always tried to put my soul into everything I do.”

At the young age of 16, Konrad moved to New Zealand to pursue his dream of becoming the world's best windsurfer. A few years later, he returned to Sweden and began studying economics in Uppsala. After his studies, at the age of 21, he became group commander in the Lapland Ranger Regiment, one of the Swedish military's toughest divisions. When his military duties were over, he went back to the sea and ran a surf shop in Grebbestad, a small village on the west coast of Sweden, blending his love for the sea with business.

Never afraid of taking chances, Konrad founded the lifestyle distribution company Megascine Agency, and began distributing action sports brands such as Burton, Sector 9 and Liquid Force to the Scandinavian market. He then joined the clothing brand WeSC, and helped grow the company into a global success story. It was at WeSC that he began to see a connection between tech and fashion, which inspired him to develop the WeSC headphone line. 

In 2008, amid the global financial crisis, Konrad co-founded Zound Industries with seven like-minded friends. The company quickly gained a reputation for its innovative consumer electronics, developing products under the brand Urbanears and licensed products for Marshall Amplification and Adidas. Zound Industries transformed iconic Marshall rock'n'roll amps into a popular range of home speakers, selling in 130 countries and becoming a global leader in consumer electronics. In addition to Zound Industries,  Konrad became a member of Marshall Amplification’s board of trustees and today remains an advisor to the company. Konrad’s vision and leadership were instrumental in this success, and he later facilitated Zound Industries’ acquisition of Marshall Amplification, forming the Marshall Group.

“Before the big office and before the success, there was just an idea, and I wanted this idea to be run like a rock band.”

After many years at the helm of Zound Industries, Konrad left the company in 2018 to pursue one of his greatest passions – electric-powered boats. Although he trademarked the X Shore name in 1996, it wasn’t until two decades later that he was able to develop the company’s first electric boat prototype. 

“To achieve you have to believe.”

With new technology and innovations, smart design and sustainable materials, X Shore is pioneering the electric boat trade, and has taken the world by storm. It is shipping boats to three continents and is by far the world's largest electric boat company.

Konrad’s dedication to environmental sustainability extends beyond X Shore. He has founded and invested in several ventures focused on protecting the planet. This includes Soeder, a Zurich-based collective producing natural care products with organically-sourced ingredients where he is Chairman and the largest investor. He is also co-Founder of ÓGIN Distillery, which makes organic gin from handpicked wild botanicals.

Konrad supports wildlife conservation through the Wildhood Foundation, a charity dedicated to protecting endangered species from poaching and illegal trade. He has served as a UNOPS Innovation Advicer for the UN, and is personally involved in several charitable programs protecting the environment and wildlife. In 2018, Sweden’s Royal Patriotic Society, awarded Konrad the highest honours for his extraordinary achievements: The King’s Medal.