What Ingeborg-nettverket does

Ingeborg-nettverket is a Norwegian non-profit professional network founded in 2016 by Eli Heyerdahl Eide and named after Ingeborg Markussen, Norway's first female master plumber (1967). The organization is dedicated to increasing the participation of women across the Norwegian plumbing (rørbransjen / VVS) industry and serves women working as plumbers, apprentices, managers, HR professionals, economists, administrators, purchasers, salespeople and distributors, as well as corporate partners across the construction and plumbing value chain. It operates nationally across 12 Norwegian regions (Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Nordland og Troms, Trøndelag, Innlandet, Rogaland, Telemark, Oslo, Østfold, Vestfold and Vestlandet) and currently counts over 1,000 individual members and more than 40 partner companies.

Its core "products" are programmatic rather than technological: (i) free individual membership providing access to a community and digital meeting places; (ii) a Mentorordning launched in 2019 with a reverse-mentoring track added in 2025 in collaboration with Catalysts; (iii) an annual Inspirasjonsdagen (Inspiration Day) flagship event; (iv) an annual Ingeborg-prisen industry award; and (v) a three-tier corporate partnership program (Gull/Gold at 30,000 NOK, Sølv/Silver at 15,000 NOK, Bronse/Bronze at 5,000 NOK per year) under which companies commit to working on gender balance. The organization runs on a volunteer basis, with a small core team and unpaid board members, and is led by Board Chair Eli Heyerdahl Eide alongside functional board leads covering partner relations, mentorship, marketing, events, regional operations and membership.

The business model is a hybrid subscription-plus-freemium structure: corporate partner fees (the only disclosed revenue stream) underwrite all programming, while individual membership is free and obligations-free. Strategic partners include Rørentreprenørene Norge (RørNorge), Norsk Byggebransje and Catalysts, and Gold-tier sponsors include Bravida, Caverion, GK, Assemblin, Instalco, Rørkjøp, Flow, VVS-Eksperten, Bademiljø, Comfort and Konekta. The organization has publicly contributed to industry-wide outcomes such as the increase of women among plumbing apprentices from 3.5% (2016) to 10.9% (2024) and is recognized as having driven the requirement for female changing facilities on Norwegian construction sites.

Name

Ingeborg-nettverket

Legal name

Ingeborg-nettverket

Website

https://ingeborgnettverket.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ingeborg-nettverket is a volunteer-run Norwegian non-profit network founded in 2016 that supports women across the plumbing industry through mentorship, advocacy, regional gatherings and corporate partnerships, serving over 1,000 individual members and 40+ partner companies nationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Trade Network and Diversity Advocacy

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual, Hybrid & Livestream Event Coordination (HSACAAAO)

Keywords

• Women in trades network
• Professional mentorship programs
• Plumbing industry network
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives
• Industry networking community

Headquarters

HQ city

Norway (National)

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Partner Membership Fees: The organization generates revenue through three tiers of partner memberships: Gold partners (30,000 NOK/year), Silver partners (15,000 NOK/year), and Bronze partners (5,000 NOK/year). Partners receive marketing exposure, visibility, and access to network activities.
2. Free Membership: Individual membership is free and carries no obligations, allowing any woman in the plumbing/VVS industry to join the network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ingeborg-nettverket is a Norwegian non-profit professional network dedicated to women in the plumbing/VVS (rør) industry. It provides free individual membership offering access to networking, mentorship, regional gatherings, and an annual Inspiration Day event, while generating revenue through a three-tiered corporate Partner Program (Gold, Silver, Bronze). The organization advocates for gender balance, role model visibility, and improved working conditions such as female changing facilities on construction sites.

Product overview

Ingeborg-nettverket is a professional network organization (not a technology company) offering membership services, partnership programs, and events for women in the Norwegian plumbing industry. The core offerings include: free membership access to networking and mentorship programs; a three-tiered partner program (Gull/Gold, Sølv/Silver, Bronse/Bronze) for companies; annual Inspirasjonsdagen (Inspiration Day) event; the Ingeborg-prisen (Ingeborg Prize) annual award; and a mentoring program (mentorordning) with both traditional and reverse mentoring components. The organization was founded in 2016 and focuses on diversity, inclusion, and gender balance in the plumbing sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ingeborg-prisen: Annual award given to individuals, organizations, or companies that have contributed to highlighting and elevating women in the pipe industry.
• Mentorordning
• Inspirasjonsdagen

Products and services

• Medlemskap (Membership) Free membership in the Ingeborg network for women in the plumbing industry. Members gain access to networking opportunities, mentorship programs, digital meeting places, regional gatherings, and industry events.
• Partnerprogram (Partner Program) Three-tiered partnership program (Gold, Silver, Bronze) for companies supporting gender balance in the plumbing industry. Gold partners commit 30,000 NOK/year, Silver partners 15,000 NOK/year, and Bronze partners 5,000 NOK/year. Includes marketing exposure, visibility, and access to network activities.
• Mentorordning (Mentoring Program) Mentorship program including traditional mentoring and reverse mentoring connecting younger women with top executives in the plumbing industry. Arranged in collaboration with Catalysts.
• Inspirasjonsdagen (Inspiration Day) Annual highlight event bringing together industry professionals to focus on diversity, inclusion, and gender balance in the plumbing industry. Features speakers, awards, and networking opportunities.
• Ingeborg-prisen (Ingeborg Prize) Annual award recognizing individuals, organizations, or companies that have contributed to highlighting and elevating women in the plumbing industry or otherwise increased the proportion of women in the industry.
• Digitale møteplasser (Digital Meeting Places) Digital platforms and online meeting spaces for members to connect, share experiences, and network across the plumbing industry.
• Veileder (Guide) Guide resource for women in the plumbing industry, providing practical advice and support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Increased female plumbing apprentices from 3.5% (2016) to 10.9% (2024)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Rørentreprenørene Norge (RørNorge)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner since the network's founding in 2016. RørNorge is the employers' association for Norwegian plumbing companies. Their CEO Marianne Wætnes Røiseland serves as a key supporter. The partnership includes joint recruitment initiatives like 'Bli Rørlegger' campaign.
• Norges Hyggeligste HåndverkerflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing collaboration to promote skilled trades and highlight female role models in the industry. The partnership aims to increase visibility for women in plumbing and construction.
• Norsk ByggebransjecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing content and support for the network's activities and communications.
• CatalystsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for mentor program facilitation. Catalysts has long experience with mentor programs and assists with the reverse mentorship program launched in 2025.
• Gold Partners (Gullpartnere)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCompanies committed to increasing women in all parts of their organization. Annual fee of 30,000 NOK. Includes participation in gold partner gatherings and commitment to gender balance work. Gold partners include: Rørkjøp, Flow, Assemblin, VVS-Eksperten, Bademiljø, Comfort, Caverion, GK, Bravida, Konekta, Instalco, and others visible in partner logos.
• Silver Partners (Sølvpartnere)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSuppliers who arrange activities for network members. Annual fee of 15,000 NOK. Silver partners include: Heidenreich, AF, Armaturjonsson, Geberit, Grundfos, Cordel, BWT, Water-ing, Purus, Tapwell, Sortimo, GF Building Flow Solutions, Pipelife, AVR-IN.
• Bronze Partners (Bronsepartnere)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporters who contribute 5,000 NOK annually to the network's mission of achieving gender balance in the plumbing industry. Part of the official 'cheering squad'.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Crafts Council of Norway (Norsk Håndverksutvikling): Norwegian crafts and trades support organization. Comparable as a membership/events-driven industry body relevant to Ingeborg's awareness and recruitment pipeline for women entering the trades.
• BNL (Byggenæringens Landsforening): Norwegian construction industry confederation that has publicly engaged on diversity topics relevant to Ingeborg's mission. Comparable as an industry-wide interest organization that Ingeborg engages with and that previously received the Ingeborg-prisen.
• NHO Service: Norwegian employer federation service branch covering service and trade sectors. Comparable as a larger umbrella membership organization with similar partner/sponsor logic and event-driven engagement model.
• Fellesforbundet: Norwegian trade union covering workers across construction, manufacturing, and service trades. Comparable as a labor-side membership organization; current and former Ingeborg board members hold leadership roles in Fellesforbundet's women's network.
• Byggmesterforbundet: Norwegian master builders' association covering construction trades beyond plumbing. Comparable as a membership- and event-driven trade association serving small and mid-sized contractors — a structural cousin, though not focused on gender diversity.

Direct peers

• Rørentreprenørene Norge (RørNorge): The employers' association for Norwegian plumbing contractors and a strategic co-founder of Ingeborg-nettverket since 2016. Closest comparable because it is the trade-body backbone that the network operates alongside and that anchors the partner recruitment campaign.
• Kvinner i Finans: Norwegian women's network in the finance industry. Comparable as a Norwegian women's professional network with a similar model of regional events, member activation, and corporate partner visibility.
• Jenter i Teknologi: Norwegian non-profit focused on encouraging women into technology fields. Comparable mission and structure — grassroots, volunteer-driven, Norwegian, focused on attracting women into a male-dominated profession.

Regional players

• Women in HVAC (US): US-based women's network for the HVAC trade. Comparable concept and target audience (women in a male-dominated trade) but operates in a different geography and on a different industry scale.
• WOMEN IN TRADES (Australia): Australian organization supporting women in skilled trades. Comparable mission and trades focus, but operates outside Norway and at a broader multi-trade scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Ingeborgnettverket
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ingeborg-nettverket
• Instagraminstagram.com/ingeborgnettverket

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 Ingeborg-nettverket