What First Tuesday Bergen does

First Tuesday Bergen AS is a Norwegian private limited company operating an informal networking network within the high-technology sector in Bergen, Western Norway. Founded on January 4, 2000, by Trond Drager, the organization connects entrepreneurs, investors, technology leaders, and innovators through approximately ten free annual events, averaging more than 250 attendees each, against a member base of roughly 6,000. Nearly half of attendees are decision-makers in regional companies, and event programming spans topics including nanotechnology, AI, space technology, and climate technology.

The organization's core offerings are free membership, a program of ten annual knowledge-sharing and networking events, and the Rising Star Vestland award co-organized with Deloitte since 2005 to recognize high-growth companies in Western Norway. Revenue is generated through partnership arrangements with a small set of enterprise sponsors rather than membership or ticket fees; partners include DNB (since inception), Deloitte, Aider, Webstep, Innovasjon Norge, Bergen Kommune, VIS, Connect Vest, and others. There are no software products, APIs, AI capabilities, or proprietary technology assets — the platform is the event series and the underlying member network.

First Tuesday Bergen is led by Christina Sundli-Härdig with a small core team of 1-10 people supported by long-standing institutional partnerships. The organization celebrated its 25th anniversary in January 2025 with 400 participants and operates as a community-led, sponsor-funded initiative rather than a venture-backed commercial enterprise.

Name

First Tuesday Bergen

Legal name

First Tuesday Bergen AS

Website

https://firsttuesdaybergen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Tuesday Bergen is a Norwegian informal networking organization founded in 2000 that connects entrepreneurs, investors, and technology leaders in Western Norway through ten free annual events and the Rising Star Vestland award, funded by enterprise partner sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Networking Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Product & Innovation Summits (Roadmap, Launch Readiness, Innovation Days) (THAHAMAG), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Technology networking events
• Startup networking community
• Innovation community platform
• High-tech industry network
• Entrepreneur networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Partner sponsorships: First Tuesday Bergen generates value through partnership arrangements with companies like DNB, Webstep, Aider, Deloitte, and others. Membership is free, and events are free to attend. Revenue appears to come from partner sponsorships and collaboration agreements rather than direct会员 fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

First Tuesday Bergen is an informal networking organization within the high-technology sector in Bergen, Norway, founded in 2000. It convenes entrepreneurs, investors, technology leaders, and innovators through 10 free annual networking events, and operates the Rising Star Vestland annual award competition for promising regional tech ventures. The community is funded by long-term corporate sponsors and supplemented by a website, blog, and event video library.

Product overview

First Tuesday Bergen is a networking organization, not a traditional product company. It operates as an informal network within the high-technology sector in Western Norway, connecting innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, and technology professionals. The core offering consists of regular networking events (averaging 250+ attendees with approximately 6,000 members), the annual Rising Star Vestland award competition for growth companies, and a blog content platform. The organization does not offer software products, APIs, or AI-powered technology solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rising Star Vestland: An annual award co-organized with Deloitte to recognize promising growth companies from the Vestland region.

Products and services

• First Tuesday Bergen Networking Events Series of 10 free annual in-person networking events held in Bergen that convene entrepreneurs, investors, technology leaders, and innovators across topics such as AI, nanotechnology, space technology, climate tech, biotech, and robotics. Targeted at the Vestland-region technology ecosystem.
• Rising Star Vestland Annual award competition organized by First Tuesday Bergen that recognizes promising technology ventures in the Vestland region of Norway. Targeted at early-stage regional startups seeking visibility.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 250+ members attend each event, with nearly half being decision-makers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• De BergenskeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 January 2025De Bergenske became a new collaboration partner in January 2025, known for unique venues combining tradition, quality, and modern facilities.
• DNBcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDNB is described as a good, long-term partner that has been active since First Tuesday's inception. They focus on supporting SMEs and growth companies in Bergen from the smallest to the largest in the region.
• WebstepcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWebstep joined as a new partner in September 2023, bringing expertise in technology and digital solutions to the network.
• AidercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAider is a competence house offering services in accounting, payroll, HR, system solutions, and business development. They joined as partner in 2023 and have experienced significant growth.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeloitte has over 20 years of experience as an active participant and partner. They co-organize the Rising Star Vestland award annually and focus on radical innovation with technology and knowledge.
• Innovasjon NorgemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerArrangement partner supporting innovation events and connecting startups with international opportunities.
• Bergen KommunemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerArrangement partner supporting the local innovation ecosystem and entrepreneurship.
• SwecominorGTM or Marketing PartnerArrangement partner for sustainability and climate-focused events.
• Start BergenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArrangement partner supporting startup ecosystem development.
• VIS (Vestlandets Innovasjonsselskap)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerVIS is a key collaboration partner, particularly for events like Techfest and supporting the innovation district in Bergen.
• Bergen NæringsrådmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for industry events and discussions on entrepreneurship and innovation policy.
• Eviny VentureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration partner for climate tech investment events.
• MoreScopeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration partner for climate technology events.
• GC Rieber EiendomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration partner for Techfest and innovation district events at Marinehallen.
• Escalon ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner offering essential business services including CFO services, accounting, payroll, and HR.
• Bønes VirikminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration partner for board composition and governance events.
• SRFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration for data-driven sales success events combining sales and marketing expertise.
• Connect VestmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive partner with over 20 years of involvement, supporting startup ecosystem and investment networks.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Slush: Slush is a large-scale tech and entrepreneurship conference/community originating in Helsinki. It is comparable to FT Bergen in that it curates startup-investor networking events and has built a regional brand, but operates at a vastly larger international scale and is a much broader incumbent.
• Innovasjon Norge: Innovasjon Norge is Norway's national innovation agency. It is a broad incumbent providing innovation and startup support services across the country, and is a government arrangement partner of FT Bergen for events and international opportunity programs.
• TechBBQ: TechBBQ is the largest Nordic startup and tech community event, based in Copenhagen. Comparable to FT Bergen's community-led networking model and sponsor-funded events, but operates at a broader Scandinavian scale rather than a single Norwegian region.

Direct peers

• Bergen Næringsråd: Bergen Næringsråd is the Bergen Chamber of Commerce. It is a direct peer in serving the regional business community and is a major strategic partner of FT Bergen for industry events and policy discussions on entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Startup Norway: Startup Norway is a national membership organization supporting Norwegian founders. It is comparable to FT Bergen as a community/networking platform for entrepreneurs, though it operates at a national rather than regional level.
• Connect Vest: Connect Vest is a Western Norway startup and investment network active for over 20 years. It is a direct peer in terms of supporting regional startup ecosystem and investment networks, and is a major strategic partner of FT Bergen.
• First Tuesday (Original/London): First Tuesday is the original London-based monthly networking event for tech entrepreneurs and investors from which First Tuesday Bergen derives its brand. It is the most direct peer in concept and format, although the London chapter has had a different operating trajectory over the past 25 years.
• Start Bergen: Start Bergen is a startup ecosystem organization in Bergen. It is a direct peer in mission (cultivating the local startup community) and is explicitly listed as a collaboration partner of FT Bergen, sharing overlap on founders, events, and ecosystem programming.
• VIS (Vestlandets Innovasjonsselskap): VIS is the regional innovation company for Vestlandet. It is a direct peer in terms of building the Bergen innovation ecosystem and is already a strategic partner of FT Bergen, particularly around Techfest and the innovation district events at Marinehallen.

Emerging players

• Norwegian Tech Angels: Norwegian Tech Angels is a Norwegian angel investor network. It overlaps with one of FT Bergen's primary member segments (VCs/angel investors) and serves as a comparable regional investor-introduction vehicle, though with a narrower mandate focused on deal flow.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-tuesday-bergen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about First Tuesday Bergen