Tech startups are international by nature and nations are competing to attract and support them. While other European countries have strengthened their options programs, incentivized risk investments and created startup and scale-up visas, Norway fails to fully understand the importance of the startup scene, and the tech sector. The gap between us and our neighboring countries is widening, and as they are speeding up their innovation, we are adding taxes and focusing elsewhere…
The growing gap and the latest exit clause have spurred discussions nationally and internationally within the startup community. This is the first time since the inception of Mesh 12 years ago, that many are advising founders to relocate. How did we end up here!? And what can we do about it!?!
Norway has an educated and tech-savvy population, massive wealth, high levels of trust, AND a modern startup scene that shows a lot of promise and potential! We cannot sit on the sidelines and watch barriers to innovation rise. The startup scene has taken the initiative to establish a lobby organization, the Norwegian Alliance for Startups & Tech, to influence the political direction and agenda.
Together with NAST, we’re hosting a special edition of our TechTownHall series. We will discuss the most important political topics we are facing as a startup scene and how to influence the 2025 election.
Join us on Monday the 8th of April for a heated debate and help strategize what we can do!
You’ll hear from:
Eldri Coll Mossige, CEO at Folq
Wouter Merkestein, Co-founder & CEO at laiout
Johan Brand, Founder at Kahoot! & We Are Human
Anders Mjåset, CEO and Founder at Mesh Community

Program:
15.00-15.15 Doors Open
15.15-16.30 Debate and NAST’s political fundament
16.30-18.00 Discussion
Venue: Workbar, Mesh Youngstorget