Top News

1. TechArena is the tech event to attend in Stockholm. Big names, such as Al Gore and Steve Wozniak were on stage, with many founders, investors and ecosystem enthusiasts attending the conference. Climate and AI were standout topics throughout the event. (link)
2. Antler released their list of Industry Trends defining 2024, including AI, gaming, climate, healthtech and more. (link)
3. Per-Ivar Nikolaisen (Shifter) highlights that there is a tendency to report negatively about startups that fail rather than be supportive of the risks and efforts involved in starting a business. He uses Vibrent as a recent example. (link)
4. The Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre will join a conversation about the policies on tax, talent and capital in Norway, together with founders Merete Nygaard, Vegard Vik and Anders Mjåset, who represent NAST. (link)
5. According to Shifter’s survey, 1 in 5 people with a background from Remarkable have a leading position in a Norwegian startup today. (link)
6. Top 10 Norwegian startups to watch out for in 2024 according to EU Startups. (link)
7. Valerie Leung from Reodor Studios debunks four corporate myths about the sustainable transition. (link)
8. Residents of Lillehammer will be able to get their groceries delivered to their doorstep with an autonomous drone through Kyte! (link)
9. Interview with Sagar Chandna and Peder Hjermann from RunwayFBU on how they utilize AI when assessing companies. (link)
10. Mistral AI’s partnership with Microsoft sparked controversy, with discussions referring to its initial commitment to be an open-source platform and European alternative to the US giants. (link)

Latest on Funding

💰 Verdane closed its Edda III fund past its target, at €1.1 billion. Verdane has managed to close two funds within 6 months totalling €2.2 billion. (link)

🎧 sensibel, developing a chip for microphones, raised €7 million led by Sennheiser in collaboration with existing main shareholders such as Trumpf Venture, Skagerak Capital, Investinor, SINTEF Venture, MP Pensjon and Halden Kommunale Pensjonskasse (link)

♻️ Inherit Carbon Solutions, a carbon removal solution, raised 30 million NOK, led by Japanese Sumitomo, with participation from Farvatn Venture, Momentum, Arkwright X and existing investors Equinor Ventures and Stratel AS. (link)

💻 Skyfall Ventures joined the seed extension round of €1.5 million raised by Januar, a Danish financial infrastructure provider for crypto, along with CMT Digital, Third Prime and Michael Grønager among others. (link)

⚡️ Cartesian, developing energy storage systems for heating and cooling systems, raised 30 million NOK of which it is made up of equity, convertible loan and a grant from Innovation Norway and Research Council of Norway. (link)

💻 Mobai, SaaS based biometric company, raised 30 million NOK led by TD Veen and they got Patrick Pichette, former CFO at Google and former chairman of Twitter, on board. (link)

💻 3LC, AI startup, raised 19 million NOK from existing shareholders EV Private Equity and Shell Ventures, and existing angel investors and shareholders in Europe and the US. (link)

⛰️ Hyttetjenester, an online marketplace connecting cabin owners with services, raised 17 million NOK from Ignite Capital (link)

🤝 Antler invests in Aevy, a platform created for companies that produce renewable energy. (link)

Latest on Talent

🚪 When a Silicon Valley star and a Norwegian startup come together, it opens a creative door…(link)

🎤 Read this Maddyness Interview with Max Samuel, GP at SNÖ Ventures (link)

☀️ Glint Solar gets Magnus Willumsen, formerly at Viking Venture, as an advisor to help them with their scaling journey. (link)

🎙️ Marit Rødevand, CEO of Strise, shares the growth journey and their podcast The Laundry. (link)

🌱 Katapult is going through changes, where Kaptault Climate will be discontinued, but Katapult Africa and Katapult Ocean will continue. (link)