Start Norge
Start Norge is a non-profit student entrepreneurship organization, founded in 2002 in Norway, that operates local chapters at universities nationwide and runs the Venture Cup pitch competition and Start Forum events to support student founders.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Start Norge does
Start Norge is a non-profit student entrepreneurship organization founded on 5 November 2002 in Norway, originating from student initiatives at NTNU in Trondheim and NMBU in Ås. It operates as Norway's largest organization for innovation and entrepreneurship within higher education, serving university and college students interested in launching ventures, developing ideas, and accessing mentorship and industry networks. The organization is governed by a 7-member national board of students drawn from local chapters and operates without charging membership fees to participants.
Start Norge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Start Norge
- Legal name
- Start Norge
- Website
- https://startnorge.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Start Norge is a non-profit student entrepreneurship organization, founded in 2002 in Norway, that operates local chapters at universities nationwide and runs the Venture Cup pitch competition and Start Forum events to support student founders.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Start Norge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Entrepreneurship Programs
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching) (BPAEANAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Entrepreneurship, Business & Innovation Camps (EDAMALAL), Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD)
Keywords
Where Start Norge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Start Norge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Sponsorship and Partnership Revenue: Start Norge operates as a non-profit organization funded through sponsorships and partnerships with companies like Innovasjon Norge, SIVA, and commercial partners. The organization does not charge students for membership or participation in its programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Start Norge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Start Norge is a non-profit student entrepreneurship organization that runs a portfolio of free programs for students across Norway. Its offerings include Venture Cup (Norway's largest student pitch competition, operated since 2004), Start Forum (a semi-annual national gathering with lectures, workshops, and pitch competitions), and a nationwide network of Lokallag (local chapters) at universities and colleges. All programs are delivered free of charge and funded through sponsorships and partnerships with public and private organizations.
Product overview
Start Norge is Norway's largest organization for innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education. The organization operates a portfolio of three interconnected programs: (1) Venture Cup, the national pitch competition that has been run by Start Norge since 2004; (2) Start Forum, the semi-annual physical meeting place featuring lectures, workshops, and pitch competitions; and (3) a network of approximately 12-14 local chapters (Lokallag) at universities and colleges throughout Norway. Together, these programs create a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among students, facilitating synergy effects between students, academia, and business.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Venture Cup: Norway's largest pitch competition for students, operated by Start Norge since 2004. Has served as a springboard for startup companies including Hoopla and Costail.
- Start Forum
Products and services
- Venture Cup Norway's largest student pitch competition, operated by Start Norge since 2004. Students pitch business ideas and the competition has historically served as a launchpad for startups such as Hoopla and Costail.
- Start Forum
Quantifiable outcome
- Norway's largest pitch competition for students - Venture Cup
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Start Norge
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Start Norge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Start Norge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Innovasjon NorgecoreInnovasjon Norge is a key collaboration partner providing financing, consulting, and networking opportunities. Together they work to support startups, promote innovation, and create new growth opportunities across Norway.
- SIVAcoreSIVA is a central partner contributing infrastructure and expertise to strengthen regional startup communities. Through their collaboration, they facilitate development and sustainable growth throughout Norway.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Start Norge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Innovasjon Norge: Norway's national innovation agency and core Start Norge partner. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler and source of programmatic/funding support for student entrepreneurs in Norway, but operates as a public agency rather than a peer organization.
- Ashoka U: Global network that supports universities in embedding social entrepreneurship and innovation into higher education. Comparable as a thematically related organization fostering entrepreneurship within university ecosystems, but focused on institutional change rather than student programming.
- SIVA: Norwegian state-owned company that develops innovation infrastructure and incubators across Norway, and core partner of Start Norge. Comparable as an ecosystem participant providing infrastructure for student founders, but at a different organizational scale and mandate.
Direct peers
- ENACTUS: International non-profit operating student-led teams at universities worldwide that run entrepreneurship projects and compete in national/international competitions. Most directly comparable peer: same university-chapter model, same competition format (Enactus World Cup mirrors Venture Cup), same sponsorship funding.
- Startup Weekend (Techstars): Global network of weekend-long entrepreneurship events for aspiring founders, organized via local chapters and powered by a central brand. Comparable in event-driven, community-led student entrepreneur engagement and pitch competition format.
- Venture Cup Denmark (Venturecup): Danish counterpart running the largest student entrepreneurship competition in Denmark. Directly comparable program structure, Nordic context, university-targeted pitch competition model, and historical role as a startup launchpad.
Emerging players
- MassChallenge: Global non-profit startup accelerator running cohort-based programs and competitions for early-stage founders. Comparable as a non-profit, sponsorship-supported accelerator ecosystem, though it targets post-student founders rather than university members.
- Kairos Society: Global community for young entrepreneurs and student founders, hosting summits, fellowships, and competitions. Comparable as a younger, international student entrepreneurship network with similar pitch and networking events.
Broad incumbents
- Junior Achievement (JA Worldwide): Global non-profit delivering entrepreneurship and workforce readiness education to students from primary school through university. Comparable as a much larger, established peer in the student entrepreneurship education category, with similar mission, volunteer-led chapters, and sponsorship-funded model.
Regional players
- Startup Extreme: Norwegian summit/community event for startups and investors held in Hønefoss/Finse region. Comparable as a Norwegian entrepreneurship community platform referenced in Start Norge's history gallery, but operates at a different cadence and audience.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Start Norge social profiles
Digital presenceStart Norge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Start Norge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Start Norge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Start Norge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Start Norge
What does Start Norge do?
Start Norge is a non-profit student entrepreneurship organization that runs a portfolio of free programs for students across Norway. Its offerings include Venture Cup (Norway's largest student pitch competition, operated since 2004), Start Forum (a semi-annual national gathering with lectures, workshops, and pitch competitions), and a nationwide network of Lokallag (local chapters) at universities and colleges. All programs are delivered free of charge and funded through sponsorships and partnerships with public and private organizations.
Is Start Norge a public or private company?
Start Norge is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Start Norge founded?
Start Norge was founded in 2002. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Start Norge based?
Start Norge is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Start Norge make money?
One revenue line is on record: sponsorship and Partnership Revenue.
Who are Start Norge's main competitors?
Others on record are Innovasjon Norge, Ashoka U and SIVA. Direct peers are ENACTUS, Startup Weekend (Techstars) and Venture Cup Denmark (Venturecup). Emerging players are MassChallenge and Kairos Society. Junior Achievement (JA Worldwide) is listed as a broad incumbent. Startup Extreme is listed as a regional player.
Does Start Norge have an API?
No public API is recorded for Start Norge.
What industry is Start Norge in?
Start Norge's product category is Student Entrepreneurship Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEANAN, Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching), with a secondary code of EDAMALAL, Entrepreneurship, Business & Innovation Camps. Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8200.