HELT MED

What HELT MED does

HELT MED (legal name: Stiftelsen HELT MED, organization number 924 358 092) is an independent Norwegian foundation founded in 2016 in Bergen, headquartered in Oslo, that creates ordinary employment positions for people with developmental disabilities, autism, and learning difficulties who receive Norwegian disability benefits (uføretrygd). The organization operates as a pre-approved NAV (Arbeids- og velferdsetaten) measure provider and is positioned to deliver the new TA-O (Tilrettelagt arbeid i ordinær virksomhet) scheme from 1 September 2026. Its core methodology combines Supported Employment (SE), Customized Employment (CE), and Inkluderende jobbdesign (Inclusive Job Design) — a person-centered approach that includes four-week trial periods, permanent/ongoing follow-up (varig oppfølging) from a dedicated job specialist, and ongoing competency and social programs for placed employees. The technical platform underpinning operations is the Carasent AdOpus case management system, used to register conditions, quality-assure follow-up, track retention, and feed research datasets.

HELT MED serves three primary customer segments in parallel: (1) job seekers with cognitive disabilities, (2) Norwegian municipalities (kommuner) that buy services and act as employers, and (3) private and public-sector employers (e.g., McDonald's, Scandic, Kiwi, Oslo kommune, Sarpsborg kommune) willing to create permanent roles. Revenue is sourced from NAV contracts, annual state budget allocations channeled through Kulturdepartementet and Bufdir (NOK 10.8 million in 2021, with further increases for 2023 supporting ~270 placements), municipal and county-authority (fylkeskommune) purchases of the UngJobb school-to-work program, and supplementary project grants from Stiftelsen DAM and others. Geographic coverage spans ~50 municipalities with offices in Oslo, Bergen, and Stavanger, supported by a core team of 14 multi-disciplinary specialists and a network of 18+ regional job-specialist partner organizations.

Outcomes tracked since 2017 include 440+ people placed in permanent jobs, 75% permanent employment after the practice period, 72% nationwide job retention, and 95% one-year retention in Rogaland. The organization has won six major Norwegian awards (Jonas-prisen, Ferd-prisen Årets sosiale entreprenør, Helseprisen, Solidaritetsprisen, Sosiologforeningens praksispris, OXLO-prisen). Leadership comprises co-founders Jarle Eknes (Daglig leder, specialist in clinical psychology/habilitation) and Jann Aasbak (Regionsleder Vestland, former etatssjef in Bergen kommune), alongside a deputy, regional department heads, and job specialists across Norway.

Name

HELT MED

Legal name

Stiftelsen HELT MED

Website

https://heltmed.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stiftelsen HELT MED is a Norwegian non-profit foundation that places people with developmental disabilities, autism, and learning difficulties into ordinary employment, providing permanent job-specialist follow-up across roughly 50 municipalities and serving NAV, municipalities, and national employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. NAV government contracts (TA-O tiltak): HELT MED is a forhåndsgodkjent tiltaksarrangør (pre-approved measure provider) for NAV, delivering the Tilrettelagt arbeid i ordinær virksomhet (TA-O) measure from September 2026 onward. NAV funds the follow-up services for employees placed through the program.
2. Municipal and county authority purchases: Municipalities and fylkeskommuner (county authorities) purchase services from HELT MED, including the UngJobb program (school-to-work transition for students with special educational needs).
3. Project grants and public budget allocations: HELT MED receives annual allocations over the Norwegian state budget (Statsbudsjettet), channelled through the Kulturdepartementet and BufDir. They also received Extrastiftelsen/DAM project funding for district expansion (2018, 3 years) and earlier development funding from Extrastiftelsen (2016) and GC Rieberfondene (2017). Budget allocations have grown over time, reaching ~10.8 million NOK in 2021, with further increases in 2023.
4. Salary subsidy from employers: Employers pay employees a salary supplement equal to approximately 20% of the applicable collective agreement wage, while the employee retains their disability benefit (uføretrygd). The organization facilitates this arrangement rather than receiving direct payment from employers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HELT MED is a Norwegian non-profit foundation that facilitates inclusive employment for people with developmental disabilities, autism, and learning difficulties. The organization recruits candidates from the pool of disability benefit recipients (uføretrygd), matches them with employer needs, provides a four-week trial period, and facilitates permanent placement with ongoing job specialist follow-up throughout the employee's career. It operates across approximately 50 Norwegian municipalities with NAV pre-approved measure provider status.

Product overview

HELT MED is a nationwide foundation that operates as a pre-approved measure provider for NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration), specializing in creating ordinary employment positions for people with permanent reduced work capacity who need special accommodation and follow-up support. The core HELT MED model is a holistic person-centered work inclusion model based on supported employment (SE) and customized employment (CE) principles, complemented by inclusive job design methodology. The organization offers several integrated services: HELT MED UngJobb (a school-to-work transition program for students with learning difficulties), ongoing job specialist follow-up services, a competency program for employees, social gatherings arranged by volunteers, and a dedicated safety number for reporting concerns. The organization is present in approximately 50 municipalities across Norway and has received multiple recognitions including the Jonas Prize from University of Oslo and the OXLO Prize from Oslo municipality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HELT MED-modellen (Supported Employment Model) A holistic person-centered work inclusion model based on Supported Employment (SE) and Customized Employment (CE) principles combined with Inclusive Job Design methodology. Delivered to job seekers with cognitive disabilities and to employers creating inclusive roles; includes candidate recruitment, job matching, four-week trial period, permanent placement, and lifetime follow-up from a dedicated job specialist for both employee and employer.
• HELT MED UngJobb A school-to-work transition program sold to Norwegian county authorities (fylkeskommuner) and individual upper secondary schools. Creates practicum placements in ordinary workplaces for students with special educational needs, with three phases: establishing cooperation with county municipalities, schools and employers; providing tailored information to students and parents; and conducting mapping interviews before matching students with employers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 440 people placed in permanent jobs in ordinary workplaces
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 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

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stiftelsen SORcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Stiftelsen SOR (Senter for omsorgsforskning) is the initiator of HELT MED and has been central to its development. SOR's conferences and networks provided the foundation for the organization's creation and continued growth.
• NHO Arbeid og inkluderingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018HELT MED is a member of NHO Arbeid og inkludering, which advocates on behalf of HELT MED's growth. NHO (Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise) is one of Norway's most powerful employer organizations and provides strategic support and policy advocacy.
• LO (Landsorganisasjonen i Norge) and affiliated unions (Fellesforbundet, Handel og kontor, FO, Fagforbundet, Delta, FLT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and its affiliated unions (including Fellesforbundet, Handel og kontor, FO, Fagforbundet, Delta, FLT) were instrumental in the birth of HELT MED and continue as important partners in its development. Union support helps ensure wages and working conditions for placed employees are appropriate.
• NAV (Arbeids- og velferdsetaten)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAV is a key partner — HELT MED is a forhåndsgodkjent tiltaksarrangør (pre-approved measure provider) for NAV. NAV offices across Norway refer participants and co-finance follow-up services. Two document 8 proposals about NAV financing of HELT MED follow-up were passed by the Storting in 2022 and 2023, paving the way for more HELT MED positions.
• NAV Molde and NAV ÅlesundcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNAV Molde and NAV Ålesund are in a special position — they actively contribute to job creation, recruitment, and follow-up in their regions, working in close collaboration with Stiftelsen HELT MED.
• KrF (Kristelig Folkeparti)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerKrF was credited with advocating for HELT MED's inclusion on the state budget in 2018 and 2019. The governing coalition (Høyre, Venstre, KrF, FrP) continued funding, with FrP increasing the allocation to 10.8 million NOK in 2021.
• Sens (Arbeid og inkludering)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSens provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Oslo and surrounding areas.
• VardeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVarde provides job specialist follow-up for HELT MED employees and employers in Kristiansund (Møre og Romsdal).
• Varodd (Arbeid & Inkludering)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVarodd provides follow-up of HELT MED employees and employers in Kristiansand (Agder) under a cooperation agreement.
• DeltagruppenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDeltagruppen provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Østfold region.
• AmentominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAmento provides job specialist services in Farsund, Flekkefjord, Lyngdal, Kvinesdal, and Sirdal (Agder region).
• JobbklarminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJobbklar provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Arendal and Grimstad.
• Nordnes (AS Verksteder)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNordnes provides job specialist follow-up for HELT MED in Bergen, Øygarden, and Nordhordaland.
• FREMminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFREM provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Bodø and surrounding area.
• Enter kompetanseminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnter kompetanse provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Drammen.
• FønixminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFønix provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Sandefjord.
• KveikminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKveik provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Voss and surrounding area.
• VelleminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVelle provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Tønsberg, Horten, and Færder.
• PrimaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrima provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Trondheim.
• OrigodminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOrigod provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Førde and surrounding area.
• Movia UtviklingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMovia Utvikling provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Stryn and Nordfjordeid.
• AxellominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAxello provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Vesterålen.
• OperominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOpero provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Stord and Bømlo.
• LiasminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLias provides job specialist services for HELT MED follow-up in Lofoten.
• Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge (University of South-Eastern Norway)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple researchers from USN are part of HELT MED's follow-up research: Hans A. Hauge (sociologist), Mariann Mustvedt (PhD student), Monika K. Gullslett (sociologist), and Ketil Eide (sociologist). They are all part of the WIPID research project (Rethinking Work Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities).
• Universitetet i Agder (UiA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThomas Owren (PhD candidate at UiA) incorporates HELT MED in his dissertation on how companies can become more accessible to employees with developmental disabilities and lighter forms of cognitive disability.
• SENO (Supported Employment Norge)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHELT MED is a member of SENO, the Norwegian association for Supported Employment. The HELT MED model is aligned with the Supported Employment (SE) five-step process.
• FAFOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerje Olsen (PhD, social anthropologist and research leader at FAFO) is a member of HELT MED's resource group.
• NAKU (Nasjonalt kompetansemiljø om utviklingshemming)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKarl Elling Ellingsen (professor at NAKU) is part of HELT MED's resource group. NAKU is the national competence environment for developmental disabilities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Humana AB: Swedish-listed provider of personal care, individual and family services and disability support across the Nordics, including Stendi in Norway. Comparable to HELT MED through its Nordic-scale personal assistance and disability offerings, though Humana is a large for-profit incumbent with a much broader service portfolio.
• Attendo AB: Swedish-listed provider of care services across the Nordics, including personal assistance, elderly care and disability services. Comparable to HELT MED in serving vulnerable populations in the Nordics with related disability and inclusion offerings, though Attendo is far larger and broader in scope.
• Stendi: Major Norwegian provider of personal assistance, habilitation and supported employment services for people with disabilities, now part of the Humana group. Comparable to HELT MED in serving the same population with related service lines, but operates at much larger scale and broader scope including personal assistance and home-based care.

Regional players

• ServiceSource: US-based nonprofit delivering employment services, job coaching and vocational rehabilitation for people with disabilities. Directly comparable to HELT MED in methodology (Supported Employment / Customized Employment) and population (intellectual/developmental disabilities), but operates in a different geography and US funding context.

Emerging players

• DFN Project Search: International school-to-work transition program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, now operating in multiple countries. Comparable to HELT MED's UngJobb program in that both deliver school-to-work transition pathways into ordinary employment for students with special educational needs, though DFN Project Search is more structured around host-employer internships.

Direct peers

• Fretex: Norwegian social enterprise focused on work inclusion and training for disadvantaged groups, including people with disabilities. Comparable to HELT MED through its social-enterprise model and explicit work-inclusion mission, though Fretex is broader in target population and uses a recycling/retail operating model.
• Varodd (Arbeid & Inkludering): Norwegian work-inclusion organization in the Agder region delivering Supported Employment and customized job solutions. Directly comparable to HELT MED as both use the same SE/CE methodology and serve people with reduced work capacity; Varodd is also a documented implementation partner of HELT MED in Kristiansand.
• Samhall AB: Swedish government-owned work-integration company providing employment and development for people with disabilities across Sweden. Directly comparable to HELT MED as both deliver Supported Employment-style pathways into the ordinary labor market, though Samhall operates at substantially larger scale and is state-owned.
• Sens Arbeid og inkludering: Norwegian work-inclusion provider operating job-specialist services in the Oslo region. Directly comparable to HELT MED in that Sens delivers the on-the-ground job creation, matching and follow-up support that HELT MED's central model relies on, and is a current implementation partner.

Others

• Stiftelsen SOR: Norwegian sector research and policy organization for habilitation and care services for people with developmental disabilities. Comparable to HELT MED as the documented founder and continuing strategic partner of HELT MED, with deep sector expertise, but is not itself a direct employment-services competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/helt-med

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 HELT MED