Kupa

What Kupa does

Kupa AS is a Norwegian innovation and consulting firm headquartered in Harstad (Margrethe J\u00f8rgensens vei 13, Equinorbygget) with additional offices in Troms\u00f8, Narvik, and Finnsnes, serving enterprises, SMEs, startups, and public sector clients across Northern Norway. Founded in 2008 (org. nr. 986 954 848), the firm employs approximately 30 professionals and reported revenue of 40M NOK in 2023/2024, up from 16M NOK in 2016. Its core offering is multidisciplinary consulting\u2014strategy, sustainability, innovation, project management, public funding navigation, and service design\u2014delivered alongside three operational pillars: (1) industry cluster management (Energiklyngen Nord, Betongklyngen CIC with 92 members, SeaNorth Tech Cluster), (2) the Arctic Accelerator and Siva-backed startup incubator (plus a Siva-approved defense incubator added in 2024), and (3) catapult and digital innovation hub services under Norsk Katapult (aquaculture) and EDIH Oceanopolis (EU-funded AI, cybersecurity, big data, robotics services for coastal regions).

The firm generates revenue through professional consulting fees (project-based, with multi-year framework agreements such as the 3-year Equinor deal signed in May 2023), program management fees from public funding bodies (Siva, Innovasjon Norge, Sparebanken Nord-Norge Samfunnsl\u00f8ftet, ENOVA, Forskningsr\u00e5det), subsidized EU/national innovation program delivery, and coworking space rental in its fully occupied Equinorbygget space. Technical capabilities center on service design methodology and data integration rather than software product development: the Akvainfo platform (8M NOK Havbruksfondet project with BarentsWatch) aggregates aquaculture data via APIs from SSB, Fiskeridirektoratet, Veterin\u00e6rinstituttet, Sintef, and Nofima into real-time dashboards. Kupas strategic positioning sits at the intersection of government support, industry knowledge, and regional capital, giving it a quasi-monopolistic role as the principal innovation intermediary in Northern Norway.

Name

Kupa

Legal name

Kupa AS

Website

https://kupa.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kupa AS is a Norwegian innovation and consulting firm that helps enterprises, SMEs, startups, and public sector clients in Northern Norway develop and scale innovations through strategy, sustainability, project management, and public funding advisory services. It also operates the Arctic Accelerator, a Siva-backed startup incubator, a defense incubator, and multiple industry clusters across ~30 employees and four regional offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation and Management Consulting Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

akta.pro primary industry

Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM)

Keywords

• Innovation consulting
• Startup incubation
• Industry cluster management
• Public funding advisory
• Regional development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Harstad

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Advisory Services: Kupa generates revenue primarily through professional consulting engagements, charging fees for project management, process leadership, strategy, sustainability, innovation, and cluster management services. Revenue is project-based and recurring as clients return for new engagements.
2. Incubator and Accelerator Program Management: Kupa operates the Arctic Accelerator startup program and the Siva-backed startup incubator, generating revenue through program management fees from public funding bodies (Siva, Innovasjon Norge, Sparebanken Nord-Norge).
3. Coworking Space Rental: Kupa leases office space in Equinorbygget, Harstad, offering coworking and private office solutions to startups and businesses. This generates rental income.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kupa is an innovation and consulting firm that helps Northern Norwegian businesses, startups, and public sector organizations develop and scale innovations. It delivers project management, strategy, sustainability, financing assistance, cluster management, and startup incubation services across aquaculture, energy, defense, construction, and maritime industries. The firm operates the Arctic Accelerator, a Siva-backed startup incubator, a defense incubator, a Norsk Katapult aquaculture catapult node, and multiple national industry clusters, and is a partner in the EU-funded EDIH Oceanopolis digital innovation hub.

Product overview

Kupa is an innovation and consulting company offering professional services rather than a software product. Their service portfolio includes project and process management, courses and workshops, innovation support, sustainability consulting, strategy and analysis, financing assistance, cluster and network management, and startup support. They operate various programs including the Arctic Accelerator startup program, a defense incubator, the Norwegian Katapult catapult environment for aquaculture technology, and the EDIH Oceanopolis digital innovation hub. Their offering is structured as a service-based consulting model rather than a software product or platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arctic Accelerator: Nord-Norge's accelerator program for early-stage startup companies
• Forsvarsinkubator i Nord
• The Ones 2 Follow
• Fra gründer til leder

Products and services

• Innovation and Management Consulting

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy reduction of up to 90% for railway infrastructure (Aune/LKAB-related projects)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• BarentsWatchmajorTechnology or Integration · 2 May 2024Kupa leads the Akvainfo project (8M NOK from Havbruksfondet) for Troms County Council, in partnership with BarentsWatch which provides the technical platform solutions. Akvainfo visualizes real-time aquaculture data aggregated via API from multiple government and research sources.
• EquinorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2023Kupa signed a 3-year framework agreement (extendable by 2 years) with Equinor to provide project development and project management services. The agreement was signed by CEO Hilde Svenning and Equinor's exploration and production director for Snøhvit, Johan Castberg and Barentshavet. The partnership builds on prior collaboration and leverages Kupas multidisciplinary expertise and network with maritime suppliers.
• Norsk Katapult / SivacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKupa operates as a catapult node under Norsk Katapult (a Siva instrument) focused on aquaculture technology. The environment includes four aquaculture companies (Nordlaks, Gratanglaks, Salaks, Ballangen Sjøfarm), two R&D partners (NORCE and UiT), and one technology/infrastructure provider (iTeam). They collaborate with NCE Aquaculture and Cod Cluster and their partners. The catapult provides subsidized access to test facilities for companies developing new aquaculture technology.
• EDIH Oceanopolis (EU DIGITAL Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKupa is a partner in EDIH Oceanopolis, one of 150+ European Digital Innovation Hubs supported by the EU's DIGITAL programme. EDIH Oceanopolis focuses on digitalization in coastal regions and sea-based industries. Services (50% EU-funded) include AI, cybersecurity, big data, robotics, and innovation support. In Northern Norway, additional financing comes from Sparebanken Nord-Norge Samfunnsløftet and Arktis 2030 (Troms og Finnmark fylkeskommune).
• Look North Trainee Program / Egga UtviklingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKupa partners with Egga Utvikling to operate the Look North Trainee program in Harstad, extending the program previously run only in Lofoten and Vesterålen. The program recruits talent (25-35 years) from across Norway to work in Northern Norwegian companies, with 85% retention as residents and 70% staying after 2 years. Partners include Kronsteingruppen, Hinnstein, Polarkonsult, Nordlaks, and Harstad Municipality.
• AFF (Andersson & Faf锟?majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKupa partners with AFF (Norway's largest leadership and organizational development environment) to deliver the 'Fra gründer til leder' (From Founder to Leader) executive development program. The program is funded by Samfunnsløftet to Sparebank 1 Nord-Norge and Innovasjon Norge. AFF provides coaching and expert facilitation.
• Ban Arctic (Business Angels Network Arctic)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerKupa collaborates with Ban Arctic to run courses for potential angel investors in Northern Norway. Ban Arctic is a non-profit association owned and governed by its members, mobilizing sustainable investments in northern Norwegian growth companies. Courses are funded by Samfunnsløftet and Innovasjon Norge.
• Sustainable Arctic Construction and Built Environment in Arctic Climate (SCABEAC) / Interreg AuroraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKupa is a partner in the three-year Interreg Aurora project SCABEAC, focused on sustainable construction in cold climates across the Nordic region. Partners include LTU Business / Luleå University of Technology, UiT, SINTEF Narvik, Betongklyngen, Oulu University, and Arctic Construction Cluster Finland. The project is financed by EU, Kupa, UiT, SINTEF Narvik, and industry.
• Energiklyngen Nord (EKN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKupa has led Energiklyngen Nord for several years, providing daily management, strategy development, project coordination, and financing for the cross-disciplinary business network. EKN (founded 2009, based in Tromsø) covers energy, maritime, marine, and construction sectors, with recent funding of 1.5M NOK from Troms og Finnmark fylkeskommune for green transition.
• Betongklyngen CIC (Concrete Innovation Cluster)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKupa leads the Concrete Innovation Cluster (CIC), a national innovation hub for sustainable transition in the Norwegian concrete industry. CIC has 92 members and aims for a carbon-neutral concrete industry by 2030. Kupa provides cluster leadership (Geir Frantzen is loaned from Kupa as daily leader). CIC is financed through Norwegian Innovation Clusters (Siva, Innovasjon Norge, Forskningsrådet).
• SeaNorth Tech ClusterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKupa supports SeaNorth Tech Cluster, a technology-focused business network in Harstad. Kupa helps facilitate networking events and digital transformation initiatives for cluster members.
• NorinnovaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorinnova is a Northern Norwegian incubator that co-participates with Kupa in The Ones 2 Follow and Kapital i Nord events, bringing startups from Scaleup IX program.
• KPB (Kunnskapsparken Bodø)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPB participates in The Ones 2 Follow initiative alongside Kupa, contributing startups from the Bodø region to the joint Northern Norway delegation at Slush.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SINTEF: Scandinavia's largest independent research institute and a partner in Kupas SCABEAC project. Comparable in its applied innovation focus and Siva-aligned cluster involvement, though at much larger scale across multiple sectors.
• Innovasjon Norge: Norwegian government's innovation and development finance agency — a key funding partner of Kupa and a broader operator of national innovation programs. Relevant as the institutional counterparty that shapes the demand environment for Kupa's services.

Direct peers

• Norinnova: Northern Norwegian innovation and investment firm based in Tromsø, co-participating with Kupa in The Ones 2 Follow and Kapital i Nord events. Operates its own startup programs and Scaleup IX accelerator, directly comparable to Kupa's Arctic Accelerator and cluster management activities.
• Kunnskapsparken Bodø (KPB): Bodø-based knowledge park serving Northern Norway, participating in The Ones 2 Follow alongside Kupa. Operates a similar mix of incubator services, cluster management, and innovation support in an adjacent Norwegian region.
• StartupLab: Oslo-based tech startup accelerator and coworking hub with a similar community-led, program-driven model. Comparable in offering accelerator programs, coworking, and startup support, but operating at national scale and focused on tech verticals rather than regional industries.
• Aleap: Norwegian health-tech incubator and cluster organization based at Oslo Science Park. Comparable as a Siva-affiliated incubator operating cluster management, accelerator programs, and startup support services in a specific industry vertical.
• Oslo Science Park (Forskningsparken): Norway's largest innovation hub combining research, startups, and cluster organizations under one campus. Operates a similar model to Kupa — incubator + coworking + cluster management — but at national scale and anchored in life sciences and tech.
• Connect Norge: Norwegian chapter of the global Connect innovation-matching network, linking startups, investors, and corporates. Comparable to Kupa's relationship-driven innovation facilitation and capital i Nord investor events.

Emerging players

• Nordic Innovation House: Nordic-focused startup accelerator with presence in Silicon Valley, New York, and Singapore. Comparable in helping Nordic startups access international capital and networks — overlapping with Kupas The Ones 2 Follow delegation to Slush.

Regional players

• NCE Aquaculture: Norwegian Centre of Expertise aquaculture cluster, a Kupa partner via the Norsk Katapult catapult node. Comparable as a Norwegian Innovation Clusters program with overlapping aquaculture industry focus, though based further south and operating as a member-owned cluster rather than consulting firm.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KupaInnovasjon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kupa-no
• Instagraminstagram.com/kupa.no

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Kupa