The human side of IT - meet Steve Zimmerman of ShepherdTech

Some founders arrive quietly. Steve Zimmerman arrived with delicious bagels and a grin. A Delaware native now living in Malmö, he leads ShepherdTech, a sharp team building modern, self-service IT for SMEs and scale-ups. 
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Think automation-first, no dusty contracts, and job titles with a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) inspiration, wink (hello Design Ranger and Automation Wizard). Day one at the Minc Incubator, they plugged into the community with their Friday fika and always-happy-to-help mindset. 
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This is IT with heart: built so founders can ship, not babysit servers.

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Who are you, and what does Shepherd Tech do?

I’m Steve Zimmerman, CEO of ShepherdTech here in Malmö. We give SMEs and scale-ups the IT they actually need: fast, sustainable, and self-service. Tight product catalog. Lots of automation. Minimal friction. The goal is simple: help founders ship, not worry about IT.

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What problem are you solving - and why now?

“This is how it’s always been done.” That mindset slows companies down. We replace it with tools and workflows that let small teams move like big ones. Pre-configured services, smart automations, and soon an infrastructure mapping tool, so you can visually build what you need and scale it yourself. Fewer tickets. More momentum.

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Who’s in your party?

We’re nine people (one on sabbatical) with a bit of fantasy-meets-tech energy.

• Kerrina (Kerry) Simonsen: business development (and my wife).
  
  
• Lumi Nertan: our Design Ranger; everything she touches looks and feels right.
  
  
• Ken White: systems engineer/R&D, the bridge between EU and US.
  
  
• Logan Watermann: business process + service hub; maps the full customer journey.
  
  
• Riley Garrett: code + project management + Microsoft admin (SharePoint/Teams).
  
  
• Betty Louise: front-end dev; while I just play around in the sandbox, she actually builds the sandcastles.
  
  
• Zachary Muniz: automation/orchestration; you click a button, a server appears.
  
  

We cover enterprise-grade depth without losing startup speed.

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What makes your approach different?

We’re not a classic consultancy and not a typical MSP. We built the MSA-Managed Service Accelerator for scale-ups: more hands-on support when it matters, technical mentoring, someone to jump on the tough calls, and fair discounts across services. Everything’s month-to-month. Deployments in days or weeks, now minutes or hours, are the target. And we pick hardware partners that cut e-waste with upgradable, self-repairable, and sustainable machines.

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You say IT is about people. What does that look like in practice?

At ShepherdTech, it always starts with people. We build around real life. Core hours with failovers so if someone steps away, nothing drops. We created Pathfinder roles, not dictators, but teammates who check feasibility of our team’s dream projects and direction, helping the team move at the right time. Mental health matters.

While we were building, one of our teammates lost both in-laws. A standard policy would have failed them. We changed it. That experience shaped how we think about support. Our products and services are built the same way. Easy fixes if you drop a laptop or spill coffee on a keyboard. Flexible remote setups when life calls for it. Space to unplug. A culture that avoids burnout. 
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When people feel supported, they build better systems and products. And better companies.

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Why Malmö and why Minc Incubator?

Community. Day one at Minc, we brought local bagels and met half the corridor. People showed up. That matters. We’ve started Friday fika, because cake + conversation = culture. The incubator gives us mentors, peers, and energy; we try to give back with the same openness.
Minc made Malmö feel like home fast. 

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What are you focused on right now?

Sales and marketing, growing end-users, telling our story better, and keeping the automation engine humming. Also, our new website is live, which makes it easier to see how everything fits together.

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Who’s the perfect customer for Shepherd Tech?

Founders who are tired of the old way and want to scale on their terms. Teams that like to do things themselves, with a steady hand nearby. We also speak with VCs; not for the headlines, but because their portfolios often need sane, fast IT to hit milestones.

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Why should people follow your journey or join it?

We’re a little nuts, in the best way. The fun part is watching teams (our customers) jump forward once the right infrastructure is in place. Faster iterations. Failing early without fear. More wins, sooner. Through us, others succeed. That’s the point.

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When you’re not building Shepherd Tech…?

Game days (Baldur’s Gate, Civ VI). And we’re lining up a team D&D campaign - seasonal arcs when things slow down. Also: fika is back. Come for the coffee, stay for the chat. That’s where good ideas start.

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Be honest: how are you handling Swedish seasons?

The light is… a thing. Long summer days, long winter nights. We lean into rituals: fika, game nights, saying yes to corridor chats. Good gear, daylight lamps, and a community that actually shows up. That warmth makes the dark months lighter. Minc’s welcome helped a lot. It’s easier to adapt when your neighbors knock and ask you to join.

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If you’re a founder who wants IT that works like your best teammate - fast, smart, and human - ShepherdTech is your crew. They’ve got the know-how to keep you shipping, the heart to keep you sane, and the coffee to keep the conversation going.
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Stop wrestling with outdated systems. Start scaling on your terms.
👉 Visit https://shepherdtech.se to see how your next big leap can start with a single click (and maybe a bagel).
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At Minc, we’re proud to see founders like Steve and his team turning technical expertise into real startup momentum. They’re proof that with the right mix of skill, heart, and community spirit, even the most complex systems can be built to feel simple.
And human.

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About Minc

At Minc, we believe in creating something bigger than yourself. We offer everything an entrepreneur needs to go from concept to market in-house. Our international network of advisors and award-winning programs will help your startup scale faster and smarter. Welcome to the startup house of Malmö.

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