+150
corporate
partners
+100
startups
accelerated
+144
MNOK raised in 2020
+250
research
partners
Launchpad startup
FAST TRACK TO MARKET LAUNCH AND SUCCESS
Launchpad Startup is the ultimate arena for validating your business model and developing a solid go-to-market strategy. During the program you will receive tailored mentors from our pool of experienced advisors, and meet other success seeking founders.
We provide ambitious ICT startups with
Capital
We expose you to early stage investors and soft founding
Customers
We introduce you to our network of +150 customers and partners
Competence
We connect you with the competence you need to grow
We help startups grow
- Receive valuable mentoring from serial entrepreneurs
- Learn together with other success seeking founders
- Participate in workshops with domain experts
- Get inspired by successful startup stories
- Learn best practice from Silicon Vally
- Gain traction
WHY PARTICIPATE IN LAUNCHPAD STARTUP
The program is powered by Smart Innovation Norway – Norway’s leading A.I. environment
CAPITAL
We help prepare you for fundraising and applying for grants
CUSTOMERS
We introduce you to our network of +400 corporations and research partners
COMPETENCE
Valuable mentoring from serial entrepreneurs and investors who want to see you succeed
CASH PRIZE
The best business case will be rewarded with NOK 100.000
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
We have domain expertise in ICT, renewable energy, sustainability
NETWORK
Join our innovation platform to expend your network
WHY PARTICIPATE IN LAUNCHPAD STARTUP





WHO IS THE PROGRAM FOR?
You do not need a fully functional product, but you should have a clear concept, ideally a prototype.
You should also have made some reflections on the choice of technology.
These are the requirements:

All selected startups have to pay a program fee of NOK 6 000.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The program lasts for nine weeks from the 10th of March to the 25th of May in Halden. Startups graduate from the program by attending Demo Day, where the startups pitch to a panel of investors in our awesome Simulation Centre.
We give startups the skills, knowledge and network they need to succeed in the market at record speed, through best practice from Silicon Valley and tailor-made advice from experienced mentors and serial founders.
All selected startups have to pay a program fee of NOK 6 000.
Kickoff
Get to know the other participants and go on speed dates with the mentors. Network with our team and get an introduction to the program. Dinner is on us, this is where it all begins.Go-to-market
We teach you best practices and methodologies for running a startup. Learn how to collect valuable market insight to position your company for market success through market research and segmentation.Business Modeling
We show you how to build a strong business model that investors love, and which metrics they are looking for. Learn the fundamentals of pricing and monetization and how to scale your business.Fundraising
Get insight in modern startups financing and liquidity management. We teach you how make a good funding strategy and introduce you to the variation of funding sources and help you with applications for soft funding.Product Management
Learn about how to plan and launch an MVP and the importance of customer- oriented development. We teach you how to protect and monetize you IPR and provide you with valuable pitch and sales techniques.Team Development
We teach you how to lead and manage a startup and how you can work together as a team and how to build a performance culture. Learn valuable insight on how to organize you team and how to prioritize.Demo Day
This is your golden opportunity to show off all you learned and impress our panel of investors. Every participant will present their investor pitch on stage and the “best startup” will be reworded with NOK 100 000.Program Directors

Lorenzo Ruscelli
Program DirectorLorenzo Ruscelli is a leader with a passion for people, technology, and business. He partners with new ventures and corporations to develop disruptive business models and growth strategies. After spending several years working in management, Lorenzo has developed relevant leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

Lorenzo Ruscelli
Program DirectorLorenzo Ruscelli is a leader with a passion for people, technology, and business. He partners with new ventures and corporations to develop disruptive business models and growth strategies. After spending several years working in management, Lorenzo has developed relevant leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
Program Advisors
Inge Bilet
Business Developer, Smart Innovation Norway
Expert on international business and market research
Inge has broad experience from both Norwegian and international business, covering market research, FMC, energy and automobile industry. He has been an entrepreneur and part of large international companies. Inge is business oriented with a passion for sustainability, digitalization, new business models and circular economy, and helps companies innovate and create sustainable businesses.
Nicholas Richards
Business Developer, Smart Innovation Norway
Expert on new innovative technology and concept development
Nicholas Richards is an advisor, mentor, and serial entrepreneur with passion for the environment, CSR, charity, philanthropy, and creating technology. His in-depth knowledge of designing technical solutions combined with the ability to analyze the business and launch turnarounds creates new customer-centric streams of revenue, aiding new and existing businesses to think outside the box.
Ståle Bjørnstad
Ståle is Co-founder of ABCB AS, a consulting company in technology management, equity financing and Go-To-Market strategy. He has also been CEO of a listed technology company (Cxense ASA) with sales offices in Oslo, London, Buenos Aires, Singapore, New York and Tokyo. He has a long career as an equity analyst, stockbroker and corporate manager for DNB Markets and Handelsbanken Capital Markets.
Tor Frydenlund
Senior Advisor, Smart Innovation Norway
Expert in business development and product management
Tor held the position of CEO at Ericsson from 1999 to 2010, having held several management positions in Norwegian business. Today, Tor is involved in several startup companies, and has personal experience with the challenges one encounters as an entrepreneur. He currently serves as an investor, board chairman and board member in several startups.
Lars Gunnar Fledsberg
CEO, Wittario
Expert in fundraising and marketing
Lars Gunnar is a serial entrepreneur and investor and has started seven successful companies over the past six years. One is Skooler, which currently has 30+ employees and customers in over 111 countries. He has 23 years of managerial experience in the ICT industry and specializes in software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies, his expertise lies within fundraising, sales and marketing strategy.
Salvador Baille
CEO, Intelis
Expert in startup fundraising and internationalization
Salvador has strategic and operational management experience in technology, telecom, media, retail and digital content and services. He has a good understanding of market trends in technology, the internet economy, and digital ecosystems. Salvador has a strong international profile and has also contributed to the establishment and restructuring of several Norwegian companies internationally.
Lisa Long
Product Manager, Wood Mackenzie
Expert in products development and digital transformations
Lisa is the founder of BeforeYouCode and conducts product due diligence for Spring Capital. Alongside running Product Tank Oslo, she has served as a product mentor for several organizations including INSEAD Product Games, Seedcamp, and Startuplab. She is a grizzled product veteran and has 20 years of experience leveraging a strong combination of technical, business and statistical skills to implement organizational and digital transformations.
Knut Johansen
CEO, eSmart Systems
Expert entrepreneur with proven track record
Knut has more than twenty years of experience in innovating, developing and delivering IT solutions to the energy industry worldwide. He has experience in leading and navigating from early start-up phases to successful, lasting and international business. Knut is a product architect with extensive experience in developing IT products that are focused on energy trading, energy exchange, customer systems, smart grids and Big Data & Analytics.
Sean Percival
Partner, Spring Capital
Expert in business development and marketing
Sean is an American entrepreneur, investor and experienced marketing executive. Through his work in acclaimed accelerator programs like 500 Startups and Katapult Accelerator, Sean has helped to mentor thousands of startups in growth marketing and fundraising. He has also invested in 100+ startups and founded several of his own.
Launchpad Startup is powered by Smart Innovation Norway in collaboration with









Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding Launchpad Startup, do not hesitate to contact us

Matias Heggdal
Project Coordinator
matias.heggdal@smartinnovationnorway.com
+47 466 92 606
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