Aksel Venner-Gren Swedish millionaire, inventor of the modern refrigerator and close friend of Hermann Goering, founder of Electrolux Date of Birth: 05.06.1881 Country: Sweden

1. Early Life and Education
2. Early Business Ventures
3. The Breakthrough: Discovery of the Vacuum Cleaner
4. Establishing Electrolux
5. Rapid Expansion and Innovation
6. Continued Success and Innovations
7. Diversifying Interests
8. Philanthropy and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Axel Lennart Wenner-Gren was born on June 5, 1881, in the Urhagen estate in the Swedish province of Uddevalla. During his secondary school years, he excelled in geography and mathematics, subjects that would serve him well throughout his life. At an early age, Wenner-Gren displayed an entrepreneurial spirit by selling his father's old business letters, which bore valuable British and Swedish stamps.

Early Business Ventures

After graduating from school at the age of 15, Wenner-Gren moved to Gothenburg and found work in a food import company. Despite his lack of formal education, his ambition drove him to pursue knowledge. He took piano lessons during his lunch break and studied French, German, and English in the evenings.

In 1902, at the age of 21, Wenner-Gren embarked on a journey to Germany, where he enrolled at the Berlin Commercial School. In just a year, he completed a two-year program, graduating with a solid business foundation.

The Breakthrough: Discovery of the Vacuum Cleaner

After graduating, Wenner-Gren returned to Sweden and began selling agricultural machinery. However, his dissatisfaction with the product's quality led him to search for an "ideal commodity." In 1908, while visiting Vienna, he stumbled upon a gleaming metal canister with a hose attached, displayed in a store window. Intrigued, he realized this was the product he had been seeking. With its universal appeal and ease of demonstration, Wenner-Gren saw immense potential in vacuum cleaners.

Establishing Electrolux

Wenner-Gren contacted the American manufacturer of the vacuum cleaner, Santo, and initially proposed becoming their exclusive distributor in Europe. However, faced with resistance, he joined Santo's Austrian representative, Gustav Faalen. As commercial manager, he revolutionized vacuum cleaner sales by introducing direct sales. By demonstrating the product in customers' homes, Wenner-Gren achieved astonishing success.

In 1912, after a falling out with Faalen, Wenner-Gren returned to Sweden and persuaded the Swedish kerosene lamp manufacturer Lux to produce a replica of the Santo vacuum cleaner. His bold proposal to sell 500 units in Germany was initially met with skepticism. However, his persistence paid off, and he secured an agreement with Lux.

Rapid Expansion and Innovation

Within a year, Wenner-Gren became Lux's general agent in the United Kingdom and France. However, the outbreak of World War I halted his export activities. During this period, he developed his own improved vacuum cleaner design, which he called Elektron. Its innovative use of an electric motor from another Swedish company, Elektromekaniska, significantly reduced its weight.

In 1916, Wenner-Gren acquired a controlling stake in Elektromekaniska, further strengthening his position. In 1918, a merger was arranged between Lux and Elektron, creating a new entity: Elektrolux.

Continued Success and Innovations

Wenner-Gren tirelessly worked to transform Elektrolux into a global leader in home appliances. In 1921, the company introduced the groundbreaking Model 5 vacuum cleaner, which featured a horizontal engine and a torpedo-like shape, setting a new standard in the industry.

In 1926, Elektrolux established its first overseas factory, and a year later it launched its first refrigerator. By 1928, the company had five factories and 25 international branches, with sales reaching 70 million Swedish crowns.

Diversifying Interests

As Elektrolux flourished, Wenner-Gren gradually shifted his focus towards other ventures. He became heavily involved in world politics and maintained close ties with Hermann Göring, the second-in-command of Nazi Germany. He also pursued scientific and engineering projects, investing in early computer development and the construction of the world's first monorail system in Sweden.

Philanthropy and Legacy

Following the tradition established by Alfred Nobel, Wenner-Gren founded the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research in New York in 1941 and the Stockholm-based Wenner-Gren Center for Scientific Research in 1956. Both foundations continue to operate today, supporting scientific and cultural initiatives.

In 1956, Wenner-Gren sold his majority stake in Elektrolux to his former employer, Separator. He spent much of his later years on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. His influence extended to various industries and areas of society, leaving behind a lasting legacy as an innovator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.