What Vindel does

Vindel AS is a private-public partnership and innovation company headquartered at Fosnagata 12, Campus Kristiansund, Norway, that delivers business development and advisory services to entrepreneurs and established companies across the Nordmøre region of Møre og Romsdal county. The company supports approximately 90 businesses through three core service lines: Starte bedrift (startup advisory and the free Hoppid service), Utvikle bedrift (business development for established SMEs via the National Business Park Program), and Starte prosjekt (project management and R&D project support). It also operates the VindelHub competence center, which runs courses, workshops, AI training, and the Vindel Summit, and runs the Vindel Partner membership program.

Vindel does not develop or sell technology products; its core offering is advisory expertise delivered by a small team of roughly six full-time roles (advisory, project management, business development, finance) plus a multi-stakeholder board. Revenue is primarily public program-based — drawn from contracts with Innovasjon Norge, SIVA, and five municipalities (Kristiansund, Averøy, Tingvoll, Gjemnes, Smøla), plus Møre og Romsdal County Municipality grants — supplemented by subsidized course and event fees (e.g., 100-500 NOK for competency breakfasts, 2,500-5,000 NOK for workshops). Ownership is distributed across seven stakeholders: Equinor (31.45%), SIVA (20.23%), Kristiansund kommune (17.65%), Sparebank 1 Nordmøre (14.69%), Vestbase (7.86%), KNN (4.80%), and Høgskolen i Molde (3.93%).

Distribution is community-led and geographically constrained to Nordmøre: direct 1:1 advisory at the Vindel Innovasjonsarena, municipal referrals, an online program via hoppid.no, and a robust events program. Recent expansion efforts include the Cowork Nordmøre coworking network, the Prosjekt Ombruk circular-economy project with Ocean Network, AI workshop offerings, a food network initiative in Averøy, and the OPPLYST public lecture series — all signaling ongoing ecosystem buildout within and adjacent to its core Nordmøre territory.

Name

Vindel

Legal name

Vindel AS

Website

https://vindel.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vindel AS is a Norway-based private-public partnership that delivers startup, business development, and project advisory services to approximately 90 businesses across the Nordmøre region under national and municipal program contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Development Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Operations & Process Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Innovation, Product & R&D Consulting (BPAHACAM)

Keywords

• Business advisory services
• Startup incubation
• Innovation consulting
• Public program delivery
• Business development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kristiansund

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public program delivery: Vindel operates as a private-public partnership and receives funding from national and regional government programs (Innovasjon Norge, SIVA, Møre og Romsdal County Municipality) to deliver startup, incubation, and business development services. Services for Hoppid are free for county residents; member companies pay subsidized fees for courses and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Vindel is a private-public partnership and innovation/competence company that provides business development advisory services to entrepreneurs, startups, and established SMEs in the Nordmøre region of Norway. Its offering spans free startup guidance (Hoppid/hoppid.no), three core service tracks (Start Business, Develop Business, Start Project), the VindelHub competency center with courses and workshops, an incubator program, and delivery of national Innovasjon Norge and SIVA programs (Næringshageprogrammet and Inkubatorprogrammet). Advisors operate as an extended part of the client's team, providing one-on-one guidance on business planning, strategy, funding applications, project management, brand building, and digital transformation.

Product overview

Vindel is an innovation and competence company that serves as a public-private partnership for business development in Nordmøre, Norway. The company operates a multi-service model consisting of three core offerings: Starte bedrift (Start Business) for startup support, Utvikle bedrift (Develop Business) for established company growth, and Starte prosjekt (Start Project) for project management. The VindelHub competence center provides courses, workshops, seminars, and networking events. The hoppid.no service offers free startup guidance through a structured 3-week online program. The Vindel Partner program enables knowledge-sharing businesses to collaborate. Additionally, Vindel manages the Incubator Program for innovative startups and participates in the Norwegian Innovation Agency's Innovation Park (Næringshage) Program. All services are delivered through advisors functioning as an extended part of clients' teams, with physical operations centered at Vindel Innovasjonsarena at Campus Kristiansund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HoppID: A service for all who want to start a business, operated by Vindel on behalf of Kristiansund, Smøla, Tingvoll, Gjemnes, and Averøy municipalities.
• VindelHub
• hoppid.no

Products and services

• Starte bedrift (Start Business) Startup support service helping entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of starting a business, including one-on-one coaching, access to the hoppid.no service, and Vindel's incubator program for innovative ideas. Targets first-time founders and early-stage entrepreneurs in Nordmøre.
• Utvikle bedrift (Develop Business) Business development services for established SMEs handling opportunities, challenges, and scaling to new markets. Provides one-on-one guidance, courses, and networking. Includes access to public funding applications (Innovasjon Norge, SkatteFUNN), brand building, market expansion, and process improvements. Delivered as part of the National Business Park Program with subsidies, expertise, tools, and a national network of 39 innovation parks.
• Starte prosjekt (Start Project) Project expertise covering preliminary projects, development projects, improvement projects, and research projects. Includes problem identification, grant applications, connecting clients with appropriate expertise or research environments (e.g., NTNU, SINTEF, Møreforskning), and full project management.
• VindelHub Competence Center Competence center offering courses, workshops, seminars, and networking events including Vindel Summit, competency breakfasts (kompetansefrokost), AI training, and sustainability workshops. Programs are open to businesses at varied and member-discounted pricing; provides both professional and social development opportunities.
• Hoppid Startup Service (hoppid.no) Free startup service for residents of Møre og Romsdal county. Provides guidance during the startup phase through an intensive 3-week development program with 10 online sessions based on the S-E-A-M methodology, helping entrepreneurs develop their business ideas and connect with advisors. Operated by Vindel on behalf of Kristiansund, Averøy, Tingvoll, Gjemnes, and Smøla municipalities.
• Vindel Partner Membership Partner program for businesses that offer expertise, courses, or professional development that other member companies need. Partners receive invitations to all Vindel events, courses, and workshops at partner pricing; access to Vindel Innovasjonsarena; discounted meeting room and office space rental; and opportunities to showcase services through seminars and workshops.
• Inkubatorprogrammet (Incubator Program) A startup program for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas delivered as part of the National Incubator Program via Innovasjon Norge/SIVA. The incubator helps founders confirm market demand and willingness to pay, supports getting the business established, and requires high ambition with plans to work full-time and hire staff. Delivered in Nordmøre on behalf of SIVA's network of 35 incubators.
• Næringshageprogrammet (Innovation Park Program) Norwegian Innovation Agency's Innovation Park program delivered by Vindel in Nordmøre on behalf of Innovasjon Norge/SIVA. Provides subsidies, expertise, tools, and access to a national network of 39 innovation parks across Norway to support growth and industrial transformation in rural regions.
• Vindel Innovasjonsarena The company's innovation arena located at Campus Kristiansund, providing meeting rooms, office spaces, and event facilities available for rent by member businesses and partners. Hosts workshops, competency breakfasts, courses, and coworking pop-up events.

Quantifiable outcome

• BROR Mental Helse held over 100 lectures across Norway within three years of founding, collected 70+ mental health stories, launched a podcast and merchandise line.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Innovasjon Norge (Innovation Norway)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVindel is a designated partner of Innovasjon Norge, delivering the National Business Park Program (Næringshageprogrammet) and the National Incubator Program on behalf of Innovasjon Norge's national infrastructure. Vindel also receives referrals from Innovasjon Norge for businesses seeking local advisory support in Nordmøre. The partnership connects Vindel's clients to national funding, expertise, and the broader Norwegian innovation ecosystem.
• SIVA (Selskapet for Industrivekst)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVindel is a supplier of the National Business Park Program and the National Incubator Program under SIVA's national programs, which span 39 business parks and 35 incubators across Norway. SIVA provides funding, tools, competency frameworks, and a national network that Vindel leverages to benefit its member companies in Nordmøre.
• Kristiansund kommunecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKristiansund kommune is one of Vindel's primary municipal partners, contracting Vindel to deliver Hoppid startup services on behalf of the municipality. As a 17.65% owner of Vindel, the municipality has a direct ownership interest in the company's operations and mission.
• Smøla kommuneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmøla kommune has contracted Vindel to deliver Hoppid startup services on behalf of the municipality, similar to other Hoppid partner municipalities in the Nordmøre region.
• Tingvoll kommuneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTingvoll kommune contracts Vindel to deliver Hoppid services. Tore Legernes in particular works with businesses in the Tingvoll area, with a focus on food, food production, and tourism sectors.
• Gjemnes kommuneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGjemnes kommune is one of the municipalities for which Vindel delivers Hoppid startup services, providing free entrepreneurial guidance to residents.
• Averøy kommuneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAverøy kommune contracts Vindel to deliver Hoppid startup services. Vindel is also leading a food network initiative (matnettverk) in partnership with Averøy municipality to connect local food producers and hospitality businesses.
• Møre og Romsdal fylkeskommunecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMøre og Romsdal County Municipality provides funding for Vindel-led initiatives including the Cowork Nordmøre project and Prosjekt Ombruk (circular economy project). The county is a key regional funding and policy partner for Vindel's activities.
• Ocean Network (ON)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean Network and Vindel are collaborating on Prosjekt Ombruk (Reuse Project), exploring how industrial equipment taken out of operation can be given new life through reuse, repair, upgrading, and new applications. Vindel contributes project management, application writing, administrative follow-up, financial management, quality assurance, and reporting. The project is funded by Møre og Romsdal County through the Skaparkraft program and the Green Industrial Initiative (Grøne Industrielle Løft).
• Cowork Nordmøre (multi-location coworking network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVindel leads the Cowork Nordmøre initiative, a cross-regional coworking network spanning multiple locations in Nordmøre. The pop-up at Løhnnechengården in Kristiansund is a pilot to test demand for a creative and cultural coworking environment in the city, supported by Møre og Romsdal County Municipality.
• Statsforvalteren i Møre og RomsdalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatsforvalteren (County Governor) in Møre og Romsdal co-organizes mobilization meetings for agriculture with Vindel, offering information on support and financing opportunities for farmers developing supplementary businesses.
• Lokalmat (local food network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVindel partners with the Lokalmat local food network as part of agricultural mobilization efforts to connect local food producers, farmers, fishers, and hospitality businesses across Nordmøre.
• OPPLYST collaboration (Campus Kristiansund, KNN, Høgskolesenteret, Møre og Romsdal fylkeskommune)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVindel co-hosts the OPPLYST public lecture series with Campus Kristiansund, Kristiansund og Nordmøre Næringsforening (KNN), Høgskolesenteret i Kristiansund, and Møre og Romsdal Fylkeskommune. Topics range from mental health to personal development, positioning Vindel as a broad community knowledge hub.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• SIVA: SIVA is the state-owned company that administers Norway's national network of 39 innovation parks and 35 incubators; Vindel is one of its delivery partners, making SIVA both an owner (20.23%) and the supra-regional parent of the network Vindel operates in.
• Innovasjon Norge: Innovasjon Norge is Norway's national innovation agency and Vindel's primary program partner; it sets policy, distributes funds, and operates at a broader portfolio scale that includes the Business Park and Incubator Programs Vindel delivers locally.

Direct peers

• Aleap: Aleap is a Norwegian health-tech incubator and innovation cluster operating as an Innovasjon Norge partner, comparable to Vindel's incubator offering and national-program delivery model.
• TheFactory: TheFactory is a Norwegian innovation hub in Bergen providing incubator services, business development, and event programming — closely mirroring Vindel's regional innovation park model under SIVA/Innovasjon Norge mandates.
• Connect Mid-Norge: Connect Mid-Norge is a Norwegian innovation hub and cluster organization operating a similar regional SME and startup support model with public-private ownership structure, comparable to Vindel's service portfolio and program delivery.
• Vestlandets Innovasjonsselskap (VIS): VIS is a regional innovation company in Vestland offering business development, incubator services, and project management to SMEs — a close peer in terms of public-private ownership, SIVA partnership, and SME advisory focus.
• StartupLab: StartupLab is one of Norway's largest startup hubs providing workspace, mentorship, and investor connections for early-stage companies, comparable to Vindel's startup and incubator services in a more urban setting.
• Kjeller Innovasjon: Kjeller Innovasjon is a research-based technology transfer office and innovation park near Oslo, similar in role to Vindel as an SIVA-linked innovation park bridging research institutions and SMEs.
• Oslo Business Incubator (OBI): Oslo Business Incubator is one of Norway's oldest and largest technology incubators operating under the SIVA/Innovasjon Norge framework, comparable to Vindel as a national-program-affiliated incubator serving early-stage Norwegian ventures.
• Innoventus: Innoventus is a regional innovation company in Sørlandet operating as a SIVA business park and Innovasjon Norge incubator partner, directly comparable to Vindel's role as the Nordmøre innovation hub.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vindel-as

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Vindel