Venture Capital Norway
Venture Capital Norway
Venture capital financing occurs through deals. Through these types of transactions, portions of a company are generated and sold off to investors. Firms come up with these deals, which place a high priority on companies that are new to the industry. Although these are seen as risky moves, more companies are beginning to take a chance at the lucrative results that start-ups potentially bring to the table.
In Norway, there is a wide range of promising start-ups in the fields of technology, finance, healthcare, and education. It is no surprise that the venture capital market thrives in the area, especially since investors are beginning to see a considerable amount of profit return. Start-up owners who value autonomy might have difficulty with this type of financing since investors will be consulted about decisions relating to the company.
The Norwegian economy owes a lot to energy sources such as oil and gas. These industries are not exactly sustainable, despite the financial security that they offered during times of economic crisis and stock market crashes. In recent years, oil and gas have become less powerful due to changes in manpower. Investors are also beginning to look into more sustainable ways to produce energy, which is why there is considerable interest in eco-friendly start-ups in places like Oslo.
During the early half of the 2010s, venture capital financing was limited in Norway. However, the country began to experience an uptick in interest from foreign firms during the latter portion of the decade. This rise coincided with the emergence of several start-ups in the country, many of which are a contrast to the environmentally taxing industries on which Norway has built its economy.
Well-Known Start-ups From Norway
One of the most popular start-ups in Norway is called Unloc. The company was founded in 2017 and centered on digitizing keys. These are done through text messaging, which allows people access to delivery, cleaning, and door unlocking. The promise of efficiency was a hit among investors, and the company has raised over €600,000 in funding.
Much like Unloc, Boost.ai is another start-up that aims at making things more convenient for humans. The start-up’s main thrust is its artificial intelligence software that can engage in conversations with its users. What sets it apart is that it is not tailored just for individuals but entire organizations and companies as well. Because of the promise it shows to the future of customer service, over $5,000,000 has been raised to fund the start-up.
Ayfie is another promising Norwegian start-up. It is a tool that answers difficult questions from people, all through the power of sifting through long files of text. Combining the power of linguistics and technology, it has been a favorite among investors. In just three years, it has raised over €9,000,000 in funds.
Another artificial intelligence, Timely, has become a known player in the Norwegian start-up community. It benefits employees, helping them boost their productivity by generating timesheets in real-time. The start-up began its rollout in more than 160 countries, raising over $6,000,000 in five years.
Oslo’s Start-up Ecosystem
The capital city of Oslo is a hotspot for creatives, scientists, and business owners. Many of these brilliant minds have banded together to come up with products and services that forward society to greater heights. To take collaboration to the next level, the Oslo Startup Ecosystem is a group of emerging businesses in the city. They have experienced success both locally and internationally, in part due to a boost from the network they have built among themselves.
What makes the ecosystem unique is that it also involves investors and financial institutions. These groups are carefully assessed to ensure that they represent the best interests of innovation and entrepreneurship. These start-ups and institutions all have a shared enthusiasm for growth. This makes the ecosystem a sustainable group for discovering the future of many industries.
Venture Capital Exits in Norway
There are multiple ways in which a venture capital exit can happen. For instance, some agreements specifically state conditions for exits. These clauses are present to prevent losses for both the start-up and the investor. Usually, exits are done in ways that prevent tax leakage. These, however, depend on factors such as location and portfolio. Norway has its own set of criteria for exits as well.
The beginning of the 2010s featured a trend of higher divestments in Norway. Multiple venture deals were involved in exits. In 2011, seventeen of these transactions involved trade buyers associated with venture sales. This number continued to grow in the following years.