AI-powered storytelling: Helping people talk less – and say more
“The story isn’t written by those who talk the most, but by those who make others feel something,” says Erik Dahlkvist, CEO and founder of Hilmatell. In the age of endless meetings, Hilmatell is reimagining how people connect and communicate.
Meetings that could have been an email. Presentations that fail to inspire. Sleep-inducing slide decks that never end.
Most of us know the feeling — and the statistics back it up: research shows that half of all presentations fail to deliver their message, and only 40% of meetings are productive.
That’s the challenge Hilmatell set out to solve. The company’s vision is simple but bold: to help people communicate with more meaning, emotion and clarity.
“Communication isn’t about filling silence,” says Erik Dahlkvist, founder and CEO of Hilmatell. “It’s about creating direction, understanding and engagement.”
Erik Dahlkvist, CEO of Hilmatell.
Turning ideas into stories that stick
Hilmatell describes itself as the world’s first coaching presentation platform: a digital environment that guides users from idea to impact. The platform helps individuals structure thoughts, set goals, build narratives and practice delivery — all with the support of AI and decades of research in rhetoric and presentation techniques.
Erik explains:
“We’re seeing a strong movement around ‘storytelling’ and strategic narrative. People talk about the strongest story winning, but most still struggle to make their message land. That’s where Hilmatell makes a real difference.”
Over the years, that vision has taken shape through a close collaboration with Mpya Digital, Hilmatell’s long-term development partner.
Building with the right partners
Hilmatell has collaborated with Mpya Digital for more than six years — a partnership that has evolved naturally as the company has grown and its AI ambitions have expanded.
The Hilmatell team. Erik Dahlkvist, CEO of Hilmatell, together with Vilma Ahlholm, Valeria Helle and Pontus Holgersson from Mpya Digital.
Currently, Valeria Helle, software engineer consultant at Mpya Digital, is leading the development work. One of the major focuses over the past year has been developing the AI features that define Hilmatell’s coaching engine.
“We’re working with OpenAI” Valeria explains. “The key is to describe what we want from the AI clearly — that’s the real challenge. But the technology keeps improving, and the results get better all the time.”
She smiles as she recalls one of her favorite development hurdles:
“We wanted the user to be able to choose an emotional tone for their presentation — one of them being ‘dramatic’. But at first, the AI didn’t quite get it. It started talking about a dark shadow… I spent a lot of time teaching it what ‘dramatic’ really means.”
Communication that matters
Hilmatell’s product is grounded in scientific and pedagogical research, and built on decades of combined experience in rhetoric and presentation techniques.
But for Erik, the mission is about more than just smarter tech. It’s about reclaiming the human side of communication.
“I’m convinced that people can inspire and move others — they just need the right tools and good coaching,” he says. “Everything we do is about helping people find their voice and make it clear and strong.”
That human-first philosophy also drives Mpya Digital’s work with the platform, combining technical precision with a deep understanding of how people learn and connect.
“Communication can either be background noise or a force for change,” Erik adds. “If we can reduce the noise and instead inspire dialogue, better relationships and communication that actually matters — then we’ve done our job.”
The next chapter
Hilmatell continues to expand its offering, with new tools like Impact Talk, Get-it-done Meeting and Argumentation Template. They are designed to make everyday communication faster, clearer and more engaging.
And the innovation is far from over.
“There are still many features left to develop,” Valeria says. “With how fast everything is moving, I think we’ll see many mind-blowing updates within just a year.”
Yet Hilmatell’s innovation isn’t just technical; it’s deeply human. By helping people communicate with purpose and clarity, it’s transforming everyday meetings into moments of real connection.
The Hilmatell development team. From the left: Pontus Holgersson, Erik Dahlkvist (Hilmatell), Valeria Helle and Vilma Ahlholm.