TheFactory

What TheFactory does

TheFactory is a privately held Nordic venture capital and accelerator platform headquartered in Oslo, Norway, founded in 2015 by serial entrepreneurs. It operates three structured accelerator programs — GründerAcademy (a free 3-month general accelerator running twice yearly in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, and Kristiansand with up to 40 entrepreneurs per cohort), Sportstech Academy (a 6-month program co-run with Igloo Innovation focused on international scaling of Nordic sports-tech startups), and DefSec Accelerator (a 12-week program for defence, security, and dual-use technology startups). GründerAcademy is offered free to participants, while Sportstech Academy combines equity investment with a program fee component. TheFactory also operates a media layer — StartupBeat Magazine, StartupBeat Podcast, and a Newsletter — covering the Norwegian startup community and supporting ecosystem brand-building.

The business model combines fund management and investment returns. TheFactory Asset Management AS manages multiple investment vehicles (TheFactory Angels I-VIII, Sportstech Fund, Norway Fund I, and Growth/Ventures) and offers LPs access to early-stage Nordic tech deals through angel syndicates and regulated alternative investment funds. Revenue is generated from management fees on assets under management, carried interest on portfolio exits (6 exits to date out of 90+ investments), and accelerator program fees paid partly in equity. The company has accelerated 550+ startups, invested in 90+ companies, and screened 8K+ opportunities across fintech, proptech, sportstech, greentech, retail, defsec, and impact verticals. Notable portfolio names include Firi, Propely, The Zeipt Project, Nordic Convenience Group, and SafeDesign. Strategic distribution partners include SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge (main partner, co-distributes GründerAcademy) and Haavind law firm (2026 strategic partnership). TheFactory has a wholly-owned subsidiary structure comprising Thefactory AS (parent), TheFactory Asset Management AS, TheFactory Growth AS, and TheFactory Academy AS, with a small core team of 8-12 staff plus extended scouts.

Name

TheFactory

Legal name

Thefactory AS

Website

https://thefactory.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TheFactory is a privately held Nordic venture capital and accelerator platform based in Oslo that runs three accelerator programs (GründerAcademy, Sportstech Academy, DefSec) and manages multiple angel and venture funds (Angels I-VIII, Sportstech Fund, Norway Fund I), having accelerated 550+ startups and invested in 90+ companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator and Early-Stage Venture Capital

NAICS

Open-End Investment Funds (525910), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Venture Capital Fund-of-Funds (FSANAGAC), Climate / Clean Tech & Decarbonization Funds (FSANAJAA)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator programs
• Early-stage venture capital
• Fintech proptech investments
• Nordic seed investing
• Founder mentorship services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns (Carried Interest): TheFactory invests in pre-seed and seed stage startups, typically securing significant minority stakes with board participation and rights. Returns are realized through exits over time, including secondary sales of stakes.
2. Fund Management Fees: TheFactory Asset Management manages investment vehicles and funds for external investors, generating management fees from the assets under management across funds including TheFactory Angels I-VIII, Sportstech Fund, and Norway Fund I.
3. Accelerator Program Fees: Part of the investment in Sportstech Academy is paid as a program fee to cover the accelerator program and active support. TheFactory provides funding in exchange for equity plus program fees.
4. GründerAcademy (Free Program): GründerAcademy is described as a free 3-month accelerator program, suggesting cross-subsidization from other revenue streams or partner funding rather than direct program fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

TheFactory runs Norway's largest accelerator programs (GründerAcademy, Sportstech Academy, DefSec Accelerator) and operates as an early-stage venture capital investor for Nordic technology startups. Through TheFactory Asset Management, the company manages multiple investment vehicles (TheFactory Angels I-VIII, Sportstech Fund, Norway Fund I) that provide seed and pre-seed funding to startups in fintech, proptech, sportstech, greentech, retailtech, impact, and defence & security sectors.

Product overview

TheFactory operates as a Nordic startup accelerator and early-stage venture capital platform, combining accelerator programs with investment services. The core offerings include three distinct accelerator programs—GründerAcademy (general startup accelerator), Sportstech Academy (sports technology vertical), and DefSec Accelerator (defence and security technology vertical)—alongside investment management through TheFactory Asset Management. Supporting content products include StartupBeat Magazine, Podcast, and Newsletter. The company has invested in 90+ startups across fintech, proptech, sportstech, greentech, retailtech, impact, and defence & security sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GründerAcademy Norway's largest early-stage accelerator program, a free 3-month initiative targeting Norwegian startups in fintech, proptech, retail, SaaS/business, and impact sectors. The program runs twice yearly in four regions (Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, and Kristiansand), with up to 40 entrepreneurs per cohort, including workshops, mentorship, investor access, and a concluding Demo Day.
• Sportstech Academy An intensive 6-month accelerator program co-run with Igloo Innovation for Nordic sports technology startups. Provides hands-on mentorship from sports industry veterans, investor-ready coaching, product validation, access to pilot opportunities, and potential investment from TheFactory in exchange for equity with part of the investment paid as a program fee.
• DefSec Accelerator A specialized 12-week accelerator program for early-stage startups developing defence, security, and dual-use technologies including cyber security, autonomous systems, and drone technology. Provides hands-on mentorship from seasoned CISOs, product experts, and investors; tailored technical and go-to-market support; access to TheFactory's enterprise pilot network; and investor-ready pitch coaching, concluding with a Demo Day.
• TheFactory Asset Management Investment management arm of TheFactory, responsible for venture investments, portfolio management, and investment vehicles (TheFactory Angels I-VIII, Sportstech Fund, Norway Fund I). Offers access to early-stage technology investment opportunities through angel syndicates and regulated alternative investment funds for investors seeking Nordic startup exposure before traditional VC rounds.
• StartupBeat Magazine Publication series covering insights on entrepreneurship and innovation, including topics like startup and venture investments, scaling and growth stories, and startup-corporate collaborations, with downloadable PDF editions covering fintech and growth strategy guides.
• StartupBeat Podcast Norwegian-language podcast featuring interviews with founders, investors, corporates, mentors, and politicians who share insights about the Norwegian startup community.
• TheFactory Newsletter Regular email updates on TheFactory, portfolio companies, upcoming programs, and events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 550+ startups have gone through TheFactory's accelerator programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HaavindcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2026Strategic partnership with Haavind - one of Norway's leading law firms - strengthening the ecosystem for founders, investors, and growth companies. The partnership provides legal expertise and support to the accelerator ecosystem.
• Igloo InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-runs the Sportstech Academy accelerator program with TheFactory, bringing together a strong network of investors, partners, and mentors from the sports industry to help portfolio companies grow internationally.
• CapusminorOthersPartner and collaborator in TheFactory's ecosystem supporting startup community activities.
• StormminorOthersPartner and collaborator contributing to TheFactory's startup ecosystem and community building activities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Heartcore Capital: Nordic- and Europe-focused early-stage VC investing in mission-driven tech founders. Comparable regional positioning and seed-stage focus, though operating as a traditional fund rather than accelerator platform.
• byFounders: Nordic/European early-stage venture fund founded by ex-founders with a strong Nordic founder network. Comparable as a Nordic-anchored early-stage investor targeting tech startups, though pure-fund rather than accelerator-operator.

Broad incumbents

• Seedcamp: European early-stage fund and pre-seed/seed investor with a long-running cohort-style program. Comparable as a European operator that combines fund management with structured founder support.
• Y Combinator: Premier global accelerator offering seed capital and Demo Day access in exchange for equity. Sets the benchmark that Nordic accelerators like TheFactory compete against in founder mind-share.
• Speedinvest: European early-stage VC with sector-focused funds and strong operational support. Comparable as a multi-sector, multi-vehicle European early-stage investor with active support programs.
• Techstars: Largest global accelerator network with industry-vertical programs, equity-for-mentorship model, and a large alumni community. Comparable operating model to TheFactory but vastly larger scale and geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• Startupbootcamp: Long-running global accelerator with sector-specific programs (including fintech, proptech, sportstech) and equity-for-services model. Comparable as a multi-vertical, partner-backed accelerator that takes minority equity stakes.
• Entrepreneur First: Global investor-operator that helps build companies from the earliest stage through talent pairing and cohort programs. Comparable as an accelerator/incubator platform that invests pre-seed in exchange for equity and offers intensive company-building support.
• Antler: Global startup accelerator and early-stage investor running cohort programs worldwide, including the Nordics. Directly comparable as a founder-first accelerator offering investment plus mentorship and an integrated venture platform model.

Others

• Igloo Innovation: Norwegian sportstech innovation hub that co-runs the Sportstech Academy with TheFactory. Adjacent ecosystem participant — a co-development partner rather than a direct competitor, with overlapping sportstech focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thefactory.no
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thefactory-oslo-
• Instagraminstagram.com/thefactory_norway
• Xx.com/thefactory_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments16 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TheFactory