What Grunderhuset Hi5 does

Gründerhuset Hi5 is a Norwegian non-profit startup incubator and coworking operator headquartered at Rådhusgaten 1 in central Tønsberg. Founded in 2016 by Tønsberg and Færder municipalities as the formalization of an earlier 2011 municipal project on Nøtterøy, the organization provides affordable and flexible office space — with a two-month termination notice — alongside courses, mentorship matching, free one-to-one advisory, and structured incubator and accelerator programs aimed at both early-phase and growth-stage entrepreneurs in the Vestfold region. Approximately 40 startup companies are currently housed at the facility, spanning sectors from agricultural technology and aquaculture to artificial intelligence, with over 100 companies having been members since inception and several alumni having achieved gaselle (fast-growth) status recognized by Dagens Næringsliv.

The business model is fundamentally a community-led coworking subscription model. Revenue is generated primarily through monthly workspace memberships paid by tenant startups, supplemented by courses, workshops, and the in-kind value of partner-delivered advisory services. Distribution and customer acquisition are driven by an institutional partner ecosystem rather than paid marketing: founding municipalities (Tønsberg and Færder kommuner), regional banks (DNB, SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge, Handelsbanken), Tenden Advokatfirma (one of the largest independent law firms outside Oslo), and co-located organizations (Start i Vestfold for first-line ideation guidance and Ungt Entreprenørskap Vestfold og Telemark for school-to-startup pipeline development) collectively provide referrals, pro-bono advisory, and top-of-funnel sourcing. Operational leadership rests with Geir Bækholt (Daglig leder), with board governance under Chair Bente Ottestad and a mixed board comprising private-sector representatives and an elected founder representative (Rolf Aaby).

The underlying technology is essentially physical infrastructure — a coworking facility — augmented by a curated advisory and curriculum layer. No proprietary software, API, AI models, or digital platform is operated by Hi5 itself; the organization has no app, no published integrations, and no technology products in its portfolio. Member companies use the facility for workspace and peer community access rather than consuming a technology stack from Hi5. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is positioned as affordable and flexible, and revenue is not publicly reported, consistent with the organization's non-profit (ideell forening) status and its reliance on a combination of membership fees, partner contributions, and likely municipal support.

Name

Grunderhuset Hi5

Legal name

Gründerhuset Hi5

Website

https://ghi5.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gründerhuset Hi5 is a non-profit startup incubator and coworking space in central Tønsberg, Norway, offering affordable workspace, mentorship matching, courses, and free advisory to early-stage and growth-stage entrepreneurs across the Vestfold region. Approximately 40 startup tenants are currently housed at the facility, with 100+ alumni served since founding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubator Services

NAICS

Administrative and Support Services (561)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

Keywords

• Startup incubator services
• Coworking space memberships
• Business accelerator programs
• Entrepreneurship mentorship programs
• Venture advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tønsberg

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Office Space Rental: Affordable and flexible workspace memberships in central Tønsberg, with only two months notice period for termination. Revenue generated from renting office spaces and memberships to startups and entrepreneurs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Gründerhuset Hi5 operates a non-profit startup incubator and coworking space in central Tønsberg, Norway, providing affordable and flexible office space with a two-month termination notice. The organization delivers courses, mentor matching, free one-to-one advisory from business partners, and formal incubator and accelerator programs for early-stage and growth-phase startup companies.

Product overview

Gründerhuset Hi5 is a non-profit incubator and coworking space for startups in Tønsberg, Norway. It is not a software or technology product company — its offering consists of physical workspace, business development programs, and community services. The organization provides affordable and flexible office space in central Tønsberg, along with courses, mentorship matching, free one-on-one advisory services, and incubator/accelerator programs for early-stage and growth-phase companies. It also facilitates networking with local businesses and investors. The approximately 40 member companies are independent startups housed at the facility, not products or services offered by Gründerhuset Hi5 itself.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coworking Space Membership Affordable and flexible office space membership at Rådhusgaten 1 in central Tønsberg, with a two-month termination notice. Provides early-stage and growth-stage startup companies with workspace in a shared entrepreneurial community.
• Incubator Program Formal incubator program delivered in collaboration with Start i Vestfold and other regional incubator networks for companies in early phase with growth ambitions. Targets startup founders who need structured guidance through the initial stages of business development.
• Accelerator Program Formal accelerator program for companies that have progressed beyond the initial startup phase and are seeking to scale. Provides advanced business development support and access to the regional investor and partner network.
• Mentorship and Advisory Services Free one-to-one guidance and mentorship matching service that connects member companies with advisors from partner organizations including DNB, SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge, Handelsbanken, Tenden Advokatfirma, H. Henriksen, Revetal Invest, and Revac. Designed to give startups access to banking, legal, investment, and operational expertise at no cost.
• Courses and Workshops Frequent courses and workshops organized for member entrepreneurs and the broader community on topics relevant to early-stage business development. Acts as both an education channel and a member acquisition and retention mechanism.

Quantifiable outcome

• Production over 80 times more area-efficient than outdoor production
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DNBcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNorway's largest bank, calling itself the 'startup bank'. Helps over 15,000 people start their own business each year. Provides Hi5 members with access to advisory services, banking solutions, and a solid network to help move from idea to business.
• SpareBank 1 Sør-NorgecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bank with clear commitment to local value creation. Offers a broad range of financial services from establishment advisory and financing to accounting and insurance — an important supporter for entrepreneurs needing solid financial advice from day one.
• HandelsbankenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPersonal and local bank operating in Norway since 1986. Customers get a dedicated advisor who knows their business and works to find the best financial solutions. Supports Hi5 because they believe in proximity and long-term relationships.
• Tenden AdvokatfirmacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAmong the largest independent law firms outside Oslo, with 44 employees and 32 lawyers. Particularly relevant for entrepreneurs with competence groups in contract law, intellectual property, corporate law, and tax. Combines legal depth with business insight.
• H. HenriksenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily business from Tønsberg with roots dating back to 1856. Started as a small blacksmith workshop, now a high-tech development and manufacturing company delivering specialty products to customers worldwide, including the British Royal Navy.
• Revetal InvestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal investment company based in Vestfold. Owns Re-torvet, a shopping center centrally located in the region. As a collaboration partner, helps Hi5 have broader anchoring in local business community and demonstrates that entrepreneurship matters for all of Vestfold.
• Revac ASminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmong Europe's largest players in processing WEEE waste — from refrigerators to electric toothbrushes. 100% privately owned with circular economy as core business. Demonstrates that environmental efforts and good business go hand in hand.
• Start i VestfoldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst-line guidance service that advises entrepreneurial spirits with an idea in early phase. Co-located with Hi5, creating a complete pathway from early ideation through to growth company.
• Ungt Entreprenørskap Vestfold og TelemarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnects schools and business. Co-located organization that bridges educational institutions and the entrepreneurial ecosystem, creating a continuous pipeline from school to startup.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MESH: Oslo startup community and coworking space hosting founders across industries with events, mentorship and partner programming. Closely mirrors Hi5's horizontal, community-led coworking-plus-advisory approach for early-stage Norwegian founders.
• Aleap: Oslo-based health-tech focused incubator/accelerator providing office space, mentorship, and investor access for early-stage Nordic health startups. Comparable to Hi5 in the incubator-plus-partner-network model, though vertically specialized rather than horizontal.
• Katapult: Norwegian/Nordic accelerator and fund focused on impact and tech startups, providing programs, capital, and partner network. Comparable to Hi5 in operating accelerator cohorts for founders with growth ambitions, though with stronger financial backing and venture investment component.
• Coeo: Norwegian venture builder and startup community supporting founders from idea to scale with partner ecosystem. Comparable to Hi5 as a Norwegian operator of founder programs and partner-driven support services.
• Forskningsparken (Oslo Science Park): Oslo-based science park hosting startups, scaleups, and innovation organizations with incubator programs and partner network. Comparable to Hi5 as a physical hub combining coworking, incubator services, and co-located ecosystem partners (analogous to Start i Vestfold co-location).
• StartupLab: Oslo-based tech startup incubator and coworking community offering early-stage programs, mentorship and partner network. Directly comparable to Hi5 as a Norwegian founder community with shared workspace and partner-driven advisory model, but at much larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Innovasjon Norge: Norwegian government's national innovation agency offering incubator/accelerator programs, grants, and advisory across the country. Comparable to Hi5 in mission (founder support) but operates nationwide rather than regionally and via public funding instruments rather than coworking membership.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grunderhusethi5

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Grunderhuset Hi5