TheFactory
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
TheFactory firmographics
Firmographics- 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
TheFactory industry classification
Industry- 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
Where TheFactory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
TheFactory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Free 3-month accelerator program targeting Norwegian startups |
| Hybrid | Multi-year contract | 6-month sportstech accelerator with potential equity investment |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
TheFactory product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use TheFactory
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
TheFactory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
TheFactory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HaavindcoreStrategic 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 InnovationcoreCo-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.
- CapusminorPartner and collaborator in TheFactory's ecosystem supporting startup community activities.
- StormminorPartner and collaborator contributing to TheFactory's startup ecosystem and community building activities.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TheFactory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional 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
TheFactory social profiles
Digital presenceTheFactory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TheFactory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
TheFactory subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
TheFactory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TheFactory M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments16 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TheFactory
What does TheFactory do?
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.
Is TheFactory a public or private company?
TheFactory is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was TheFactory founded?
TheFactory was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TheFactory based?
TheFactory is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does TheFactory make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Investment Returns (Carried Interest) is the primary driver. The others are fund Management Fees, accelerator Program Fees and gründerAcademy (Free Program).
Who are TheFactory's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Heartcore Capital and byFounders. Broad incumbents are Seedcamp, Y Combinator, Speedinvest and Techstars. Direct peers are Startupbootcamp, Entrepreneur First and Antler. Igloo Innovation is listed as an others.
Does TheFactory have an API?
No public API is recorded for TheFactory.
What industry is TheFactory in?
TheFactory's product category is Startup Accelerator and Early-Stage Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of FSANAGAC, Venture Capital Fund-of-Funds. Its NAICS code is 525910 and its SIC code is 6282.