When shaping the skills of the future, much begins with curiosity, determination, and courage. That’s why Speed engages every year in the Entrepreneurship Program, acting as a mentor company for high school students who, over three years, follow us, learn from our daily work, and develop their own entrepreneurial ideas.
One of this year’s student companies is Read n Feel, run by Calle Carlsson, Lily Olsson Eriksson, Mille Andersson, and Eloheiariel Nsoh. Through their year in the program, they want to make a real difference: creating children’s books that both spark a love of reading and highlight diversity in a natural and inclusive way.
The team behind "More than just football" - Calle, Eloheiariel, Lily and Mille.
The idea for Read n Feel was born from the group’s desire to make an impact. They noticed how many children read less today and how stereotypical stories still persist.
- Children’s books shape values early in life. We want to create stories that all children can relate to, where differences are a strength, the group explains
With Lily as the writer and a clear vision to make reading fun and accessible, the idea of an inclusive children’s book became the natural choice. And since football is the world’s biggest sport and a setting where many children feel at home, it became the theme for their first book.
The target group is children aged 6–9, a period when reading often takes off. Together with a teacher from Hestra Midgård School, Read n Feel has created short chapters, clear illustrations, and language that is easy to grasp. The plan is to produce books at different difficulty levels so that every child can read at their own pace without comparing themselves to others.
For Read n Feel, Speed’s mentorship has meant both inspiration and security. Calle, who has Speed as a mentor company, and the rest of the group have gained practical insight into everything from sales and CRM systems to how structure and culture influence a business.
- Speed has helped us think long-term and see our idea as a real company.
For Speed, the support is more than mentorship. We want to help ensure the student's idea actually reaches out and makes a difference. That’s why Speed is supporting the project by purchasing 50 copies of Read n Feel’s first book. The plan is for these to be used in a school class in a way that strengthens both reading enthusiasm and inclusion. Exactly how is still to be decided, but the ambition is clear: the books should end up where they make the greatest impact.
Writing, producing, and publishing a book has involved many steps the students didn’t expect: everything from illustrations and audience analysis to printing, sales, and marketing. But it has also given them the insight that anything is possible if you dare to try and collaborate.
- This feels real. Like we’re creating something that can truly make a difference!
Read n Feel is already planning two more books, with slightly different difficulty levels but still with team sports as the theme. Their vision is to continue creating stories that strengthen children’s empathy and increase their love of reading.
The program journey has also sparked a curiosity about entrepreneurship within the group—something they want to explore even after high school.
Through its support for the Entrepreneurship Program and initiatives like this, Speed wants to give young people the chance to test, develop, and grow. Read n Feel is a clear example of how far driven students can go when they get the right support and conditions.
We are proud to be part of their journey and proud that Read n Feel’s books will soon inspire a school class to read, think, and dream bigger.