TheFactory Proptech Accelerator

What TheFactory Proptech Accelerator does

TheFactory is a Nordic accelerator and early-stage venture capital platform founded in 2015 in Oslo, Norway, operating through a holding structure of wholly-owned subsidiaries: TheFactory AS (parent), TheFactory Asset Management AS (fund management), TheFactory Growth AS (growth-stage investments), and TheFactory Academy AS (accelerator programs). It runs three specialized accelerator programs — GründerAcademy, a free 3-month program for early-stage Norwegian startups across fintech, proptech, retail, SaaS, and impact delivered twice yearly in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, and Kristiansand; Sportstech Academy, a 6-month program co-operated with Igloo Innovation for Nordic sportstech companies; and the newly launched DefSec Accelerator, a 12-week program for defence and security technology startups. TheFactory has screened more than 8,000 companies, accelerated 550+ startups across 25+ program runs, and invested in 90+ companies with 6 reported exits, while managing eight angel fund vintages (TheFactory Angels I–VIII), TheFactory Sportstech Fund, TheFactory Norway Fund I, and TheFactory Ventures.

The business model combines three revenue streams typical of integrated venture platforms: equity stakes taken in exchange for accelerator participation (notably in Sportstech Academy, where part of the investment covers program fees), management fees and carried interest from TheFactory Asset Management's regulated investment vehicles, and returns realized over time through portfolio exits and secondary sales of fund positions. GründerAcademy is free to founders, with TheFactory's investment taking the form of equity rather than cash fees, while investor access is distributed through direct outreach, information memorandums, and Demo Day events. The company supports founders through structured mentorship, hands-on company building, investor introductions, and a content ecosystem that includes the StartupBeat magazine, podcast, and newsletter.

TheFactory's go-to-market combines sales-led investor relations with event-driven startup acquisition: accelerator cycles act as a continuous deal-sourcing funnel feeding the underlying funds, while corporate partnerships (such as the 2026 strategic partnership with law firm Haavind and the ongoing financial partnership with SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge) anchor credibility. The platform expanded inorganically in 2025 by acquiring the Startup Norway portfolio through an Angel Challenge revival, adding more than 20 companies, and in 2026 launched the DefSec Accelerator to extend into defence and security technology — both moves indicating a strategy of broadening vertical coverage and deal flow within its Nordic core market.

Name

TheFactory Proptech Accelerator

Legal name

TheFactory AS

Website

https://thefactory.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TheFactory is a Norwegian accelerator and early-stage venture capital platform, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Oslo, running GründerAcademy, Sportstech Academy, and DefSec Accelerator programs while managing eight angel fund vintages and dedicated sector funds to back Nordic technology startups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital and Startup Acceleration

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSANAAAM

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated)

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Venture Capital Firms

SECONDARYFSANAAAI

Micro-VC & Angel Funds

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Venture Capital Firms

SECONDARYFSANAGAC

Venture Capital Fund-of-Funds

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Fund-of-Funds / Multi-Manager Platforms

Keywords

• Startup accelerator programs
• Early-stage venture capital
• Seed-stage technology investing
• Founder mentorship services
• Angel fund management

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: TheFactory invests in pre-seed and seed stage startups, taking equity stakes. Returns realized through exits over time, including secondary sales of fund positions.
2. Accelerator Program Fees: Sportstech Academy participants receive investment with part paid as program fee to cover accelerator participation and active support.
3. Fund Management: TheFactory Asset Management manages investment vehicles including TheFactory Angels I-VIII, TheFactory Sportstech Fund, TheFactory Norway Fund I, and TheFactory Ventures, earning management fees and carried interest.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TheFactory operates as an integrated venture platform combining structured accelerator programs (GründerAcademy, Sportstech Academy, DefSec Accelerator) with early-stage venture capital investment across multiple funds and vehicles. The company provides founders with mentorship, validation, investor introductions, and equity investment in exchange for program participation and equity stakes in their startups.

Product overview

TheFactory is a Nordic accelerator and early-stage investment platform combining structured accelerator programs, investment capital, and long-term partnerships to support founders from early ideas to scalable businesses. The core product portfolio includes three accelerator programs: GründerAcademy (Norway's largest early-stage accelerator, 3-month free program for fintech, proptech, retail, SaaS and impact startups), Sportstech Academy (6-month program for sports technology companies in partnership with Igloo Innovation), and DefSec Accelerator (12-week program for defence and security technology startups). TheFactory Asset Management manages multiple investment vehicles including TheFactory Angels funds (I-VIII), TheFactory Sportstech Fund, TheFactory Norway Fund I, and TheFactory Ventures. The platform also provides content and media through StartupBeat Magazine publications and StartupBeat Podcast, plus a newsletter subscription service. The integrated model combines deal sourcing, founder development, mentorship, and capital to help ambitious Nordic startups scale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GründerAcademy: Norway's largest early-stage accelerator program, a free 3-month program for early stage startups targeting fintech, proptech, retail, SaaS/business, and impact sectors. Runs twice per year in four regions: Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, and Kristiansand.
• Sportstech Academy
• DefSec Accelerator

Products and services

• GründerAcademy Norway's largest early-stage accelerator program, a free 3-month program for early-stage startups targeting fintech, proptech, retail, SaaS/business, and impact sectors. Runs twice yearly in four regions with up to 40 participating entrepreneurs per cohort, providing intensive mentorship, hands-on workshops, validation methods, and access to investor and partner networks.
• Sportstech Academy A 6-month camp-based accelerator program for Nordic sportstech companies focused on business development, market expansion, growth, and internationalization. Run in partnership with Igloo Innovation, providing hands-on mentorship, investor-ready coaching, product validation, access to pilot opportunities, and introductions to a network of mentors and investors.
• DefSec Accelerator A specialized 12-week accelerator program for early-stage startups developing defence, security, and dual-use technologies. 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 investment-ready pitch coaching. Concludes with a Demo Day for investor presentations.
• TheFactory Angels (I-VIII) Series of angel investment funds (Angels I through VIII) managed by TheFactory Asset Management for early-stage technology investments across Nordic startups.
• TheFactory Sportstech Fund Sector-specific investment fund focused on sports technology startups within TheFactory's portfolio.
• TheFactory Norway Fund I Primary investment vehicle focused on Norwegian early-stage technology companies.
• TheFactory Ventures Venture investment vehicle within TheFactory's platform for technology startups.
• TheFactory Asset Management Subsidiary responsible for investments, fund management, and investment vehicles. Manages all TheFactory funds including angel syndicates and regulated alternative investment funds, earning management fees and carried interest.

Quantifiable outcome

• 550+ startups accelerated through programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 main, minor and core.

• HaavindmainStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2026Strategic partnership with one of Norway's leading law firms, strengthening the ecosystem for founders, investors, and growth companies. Provides legal expertise and support to TheFactory's startup ecosystem.
• CapusminorOthersPartner collaborator contributing to the ecosystem.
• StormminorOthersPartner collaborator in TheFactory ecosystem.
• Igloo InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-operator of Sportstech Academy, bringing sports industry network, investors, partners, and mentors to help companies grow internationally.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Y Combinator: World's largest accelerator; standard-setter for the accelerator-for-equity model. Increasingly accepts remote Nordic founders, competing with TheFactory for the same high-quality pre-seed deal pool.
• Antler: Global early-stage VC and accelerator with a strong Nordic presence (Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen). Operates cohort-based programs and takes equity, directly competing with TheFactory for Norwegian pre-seed founders.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network running 3-month mentorship-driven programs with equity-for-investment model. Operates sector-specific accelerators globally and competes for founder mindshare against TheFactory's verticalized programs.
• Startupbootcamp: European accelerator network running industry-specific programs with corporate partners. Comparable verticalized model (e.g., FinTech, Sportstech, Smart City) targeting the same European founder ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• 500 Global: Large global VC/accelerator (formerly 500 Startups) with programs across emerging and developed markets. Overlapping early-stage thesis and accelerator-for-equity model, with significantly larger fund size.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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

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

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about TheFactory Proptech Accelerator