TINC: Cracking the Silicon Valley code: 'A fast track to global scaling'

– 'At this stage, we are in our own bubble. Taking a step back and getting inspiration and input from others – and, not least, building a network in Silicon Valley – is invaluable,' says Hallvard Eide.

He is one of the founders of Bsure, one of five Norwegian tech companies selected for our renowned scale-up programme, TINC – Tech Incubator Silicon Valley. They are meeting for the first time at our head office, with sweeping views of the Oslofjord. The founders have developed a wide range of innovative products and services, but they share the same goal: to scale globally.

Over the next few weeks, they will get to know each other well. After four weeks of online sessions and mentoring, they will spend a week together in the world's tech capital, Silicon Valley. There, they will present their solutions and receive feedback from one of the world's leading technology communities – and learn more about how potential investors think.

Bsure has developed a solution that gives businesses full visibility and control over their Microsoft 365 users, helping them save significantly on licensing costs and improve IT security. They now have more than 40 customers with a total of 60,000 users, and the feedback has been positive.

– 'We have a market-ready product and the technology in place. But we need more knowledge about how to scale,' says founder Henrik Skalmerud.

Petter Bjelland from Convier can relate. They have developed a software solution that brings data together, enabling you to identify patterns such as risk behaviour or customer profiles. In this way, they turn 'everyone into a data analyst'.

'We are good at solving problems with software. But we need help with how to sell it to others and how to tell our story,' says Bjelland.

Gaia Global is not only looking to scale – scaling is their business idea. By connecting suppliers in the energy and maritime industries with sales partners worldwide, they aim to help other companies grow internationally.

‘This gives us a fast track to scaling globally. The fact that Innovation Norway offers this type of programme is crucial to us, because we cannot achieve this on our own,’ says founder Erik Hannisdal.

For more than 20 years, Hannisdal has helped Norwegian technology companies enter new markets around the world, with a particular focus on Brazil. Now, the company is looking forward to receiving support for its own growth.

'Our DNA is Norwegian, so it is easy to think in terms of building things step by step. But to become relevant on a global scale, we need to grow quickly. We need to think big – and we hope this programme will bring us closer to an investor who can make that possible. Silicon Valley is the place to be,' he says.

Do you want to think bigger too? Read more about TINC here.

A question from her three-year-old son inspired Ida Christine Hansen to come up with the idea for Wileo – a digital learning and planning platform for nurseries and primary schools. When the mother of three tried to find a child-friendly, educational explanation of why we recycle waste, she found surprisingly little online.

‘I realised that if we are to succeed with the green transition, we need to provide high-quality education from as early as nursery school. We want to help make that happen,’ says Hansen. 

The Wileo platform offers inspiration for activities covering a range of sustainability themes, with Liva the whale taking the children on exciting missions. The planning tool helps staff save time in their busy working day. They will also soon launch a ‘global community’ where nurseries and schools around the world can interact. Their goal is to become the natural platform for developing sustainability skills globally, and TINC gives them the opportunity to test their business model in an international market.

‘It feels great to be surrounded by other ambitious people, in an environment where we can say that we have the potential to be the best – and where we can focus on succeeding together. That kind of mindset can sometimes be in short supply back home,’ says developer Espen Bjerkås.

Omnimod is the fifth Norwegian company taking part this year. They have developed two-dimensional conveyor belts made up of one-square-metre surfaces that can be connected. Using an AI-trained algorithm, the system can perform a range of operations in a warehouse or terminal, including parcel sorting.

Ready to think bigger? Read more about our scale-up programmes.

The participants listen with interest as the other companies introduce themselves around the table. Pitch expert Nathan Golder joins them on the big screen from San Francisco, where it is the middle of the night, and offers his first advice. American investor and entrepreneur Sean Percival also meets them that day, guiding them through exercises to sharpen their company story.

Alexander Bergo, Special Adviser at our San Francisco office, finds that Nordic companies are attractive to the US market. But adapting to the culture can take time. A key part of TINC is therefore teaching the Silicon Valley mindset, which includes thinking a little bigger and using bolder language.

‘In Norway, you’re not supposed to boast too much about what you do. In Silicon Valley, you have to, because the competition is fierce. And since you never know who will succeed next, everyone helps each other and “pays it forward”,’ says Bergo.

That is why they spend so much time practising their pitch. It needs to be short and concise, as investors quickly lose patience. And the practice pays off: our figures show that TINC companies raise more capital than average.

‘Most participants change their mindset, how they communicate their strategy and product, and how they shape the next stage of their journey. The companies can test whether their product and business model meet market needs and whether the business model is scalable,’ says programme manager and ‘mother of TINC’ Åse Pettersen Bailey.

She moved to Silicon Valley in 1993 and has extensive experience working with both start-ups and large technology companies in the region. From our San Francisco office, she has helped hundreds of Norwegian and Nordic companies accelerate and grow globally.

– Through TINC, the companies are challenged on every aspect of their business, but in a constructive way by people who genuinely want to help them.

Another key aim of the programme is to get to know the other members of the 'TINC family' and benefit from each other's expertise. Crescat is one of the alumni companies that came along to welcome the new family members on the day. The company has developed a collaboration platform for the live events industry and is now experiencing strong growth.

‘It is incredibly inspiring to get to know the other TINC companies and discuss how they have solved different challenges. We form really strong connections,’ says founder Matteo Blomberg Ghini.

He has no doubt that TINC has significantly increased their chances of achieving an international breakthrough. He highlights the pitch training and skilled mentors as particularly important, along with much more:

‘In Silicon Valley, we experienced a sense of urgency that we may lack somewhat here in Norway. After all, we are fortunate to have a strong safety net, and no entrepreneurs end up on the streets. Experiencing the American drive is incredibly inspiring,’ says Ghini.

So far, Crescat's Norwegian customers have run almost 100,000 events on the platform. The number grows month on month, and the company will soon expand into the UK and Denmark, followed by the US.

‘In America, every major city is the size of a country, so we need the right routes into the market. Thanks to Innovation Norway, we are now ready to do just that. We feel incredibly fortunate to have come this far.’

The participants now face several intense weeks, working on their companies during the day and attending TINC meetings in the evenings. Programme manager Åse Pettersen Bailey points out that having every aspect of their passion project challenged can undoubtedly be demanding.

– But if you're open to it, you'll get so much out of it. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Ready to think bigger? Read more about TINC here.