Startup grant 1

Before you apply, you should have completed the work in the idea phase.

This means you have:

• developed a clear understanding of the problem through dialogue with customers
• shown that the problem matters to the customer and places a burden on them (for example, through the time, resources or money they currently spend dealing with it)
• developed specific hypotheses about a solution
• gained a clear understanding of how the problem is currently addressed, including existing solutions and alternatives
• created a plan for how you will test your hypotheses

If you have not completed this work yet, it is probably too early to apply. We recommend that you continue developing your idea, with support from our incubators or our innovation hubs.

If you can answer yes to the points above and have a clear plan for what to test next, you are well placed to apply.

We have created a simple guide to Startup grant 1 covering customer interviews, competitor analysis and market research, among other topics. You can use it to structure your work and attach it to your application as supporting documentation.

Why?

The work and documentation requirements for Startup grant 1 are based on experience, both from successful entrepreneurs and from our many years of assessing startup projects.

The purpose is twofold:

• Help you set the right priorities and reduce your risk early on.
• Enable you to prioritise projects with the greatest potential.

The work you have done in the idea phase lays the foundation for your next steps – testing your hypotheses and reducing uncertainty by learning from the market.

A good project clearly identifies what you are uncertain about and how you plan to test it.

In addition to our expectations of how far you have progressed, the scheme is for startups that:

• are less than five years old
• is registered as a limited liability company (AS) before the application is submitted (sole proprietorships (ENK), general partnerships (ANS), partnerships with shared liability (DA) and similar entities are not eligible)
• is a genuine startup with ambitions to grow

Ownership and structure

The startup may be owned by a holding company that is more than five years old, provided that:

• the holding company is owned by the founders themselves
• it is a genuinely new business with ambitions to grow

In such cases, any aid must be granted as de minimis aid.

Restrictions relating to ownership

• Subsidiaries in which an established business owns 50% or more do not qualify.
• If the ownership stake is 25–50%, the business must be clearly separate from the owner's other operations.
• The chair of the board and/or CEO must not hold the same roles in the parent company or owning company, unless that company is itself the founder.
• The business idea must be substantially different from the existing business.

We prioritise entrepreneurs and businesses that develop solutions offering something significantly new to the market, with the ambition and potential to grow – including internationally.

If your project primarily involves setting up a conventional business in an existing market, it will generally not qualify for this scheme. Examples include:

• primarily create a job for the founder (‘livelihood businesses’)
• is a hobby or part-time activity
• provide services that are already well covered by the public sector

We fund development and growth – not the establishment of standard business operations in well-functioning markets.

This means we do not normally prioritise projects in established industries that lack clear innovation, such as:

• traditional trade (imports, agency business, e-commerce)
• trade services
• transport services
• financial services
• liberal professions (lawyer, doctor, etc.)
• personlig tjenesteyting (frisør, hudpleie m.m.)
• kurs- og konsulentvirksomhet
• servering (kafé og restaurant)

Vi kan likevel støtte nye løsninger eller teknologi som bidrar til innovasjon og effektivisering innen disse områdene, men ikke:

• enkle og lett kopierbare løsninger
• frittstående apper uten tydelig innovasjon
• digitale markedsplasser eller plattformer uten nye fortrinn
• løsninger med lav eller uklar samfunnsverdi

Formelle avgrensninger

• Bedrifter med pågående betalingsanmerkninger kan ikke søke eller motta tilskudd.
• Det gis ikke støtte til overtakelse av eksisterende virksomhet.

Du må finne ut om det finnes et reelt marked, og om kundene faktisk vil bruke løsningen. Det handler om å teste antakelser, og få innsikt fra kunder og marked.

Tilskudd til aktiviteter

Tilskuddet brukes først og fremst til aktiviteter som gir læring fra kunder og marked.

I noen tilfeller kan det også være nødvendig å avklare forhold som må være på plass for å kunne ta løsningen i bruk, for eksempel IPR eller regulatoriske krav.

Eksempler på aktiviteter:

• testing hos kunder
• pilotprosjekter og kundedialog
• utvikling av en enkel løsning for å teste hypoteser
• samarbeid med kunder eller partnere
• avklaring av IPR og regulatoriske forhold (der dette er avgjørende for videre utvikling og bruk)

Merk at bedrifter som mottar distriktsrettet støtte, som kan være tilskudd til oppstart, bedriftsutvikling eller investeringstilskudd, har egne føringer for hva støtten kan brukes til.

Les mer om Regionale distriktsmidler

Hva dere skal finne ut og oppnå

Arbeidet handler om å:

• avklare hva dere er mest usikre på
• teste dette gjennom aktivitet med kunder
• få konkrete signaler på om problemet er viktig
• forstå hvem kundene er og hvordan de kan nås

Målet er å få et bedre grunnlag for å vurdere veien videre, basert på faktisk respons fra kunder.

Avgrensning

Tilskuddet dekker kun kjøp av tjenester fra eksterne leverandører. Egen tid og interne kostnader dekkes ikke.

The aim is to reduce uncertainty through market insights – not to develop a finished solution or seek protection before the need is clear.

Tilskuddet kan dekke inntil 100 % av fakturerte kostnader, med et maksimum på 150 000 kroner.

• Your own personnel costs and costs charged by related parties are not covered
• Costs incurred before you submit your application are not covered
• Merverdiavgift (mva.) dekkes ikke

You must cover at least 50% of the project costs upfront, as we only pay this portion when the project is completed. You therefore need sufficient liquidity to carry out the project.

1. Start with Single point of entry

Not sure which services are right for your project? Through Single point of entry you answer a few questions and receive recommendations within 1–2 days on what might be relevant to you. These may be services from us or other organisations in Norway.

2. Start your application and speak to an advisor

To apply for funding from us, log in to My page and select 'Start an application'. Choose the application type that suits your needs. You can use the 'Talk to an advisor' button if you have questions or would like feedback before submitting your application.

3. Assessment

We process applications on an ongoing basis, with several people reviewing each application. We take time to understand your company and the plans you have outlined in your application, and assess your project against our criteria.

In addition to our standard application assessment criteria, you can find specific criteria under each funding service.

4. Decision and signing

Once we have processed your application, we will notify you by email. You can find our decision on My page. If we offer you funding, make sure you understand the terms and conditions and how payments are made. Remember to sign the offer by the deadline, or it may lapse.

Read our funding guides

We manage both national and county funding. Businesses in rural areas are therefore assessed against regional criteria, which may vary between counties. Read more about regional funding for rural areas.

What you need to include in your application

For us to assess your application, you need to show that you are working systematically on the problem, solution and market. Below, you can see what this work involves.

Understanding the problem (customer insight)

You must show that you are addressing a real and significant problem.

This means talking to users and understanding how the problem actually arises, and what it costs them in time, money or effort.

The aim is to find out:

• what customers actually do when the problem arises
• whether several customers experience the same problem
• what it costs them in practice
• whether it is important enough for them to spend time or resources addressing it

The aim is to show clear patterns and why the problem matters to the customer.

Example attachment: 3–5 brief insights or findings from customer conversations, see guide.

Solution and uncertainty

You must develop a solution that delivers clear value for the customer.

This means clearly defining what you will build and what makes its development challenging.

The work involves:

• clarify what the product is and what you propose to develop
• demonstrate tangible value for the user (time, cost, quality)
• identify what is technically challenging or new
• identify what needs further testing and development

The aim is to demonstrate a genuine development process involving uncertainty and innovation – not simply implementing or combining existing solutions.

Examples of attachments: a simple sketch, product description or overview that makes your solution easy to understand. View the tool: system architecture diagram.

Current alternatives

You need to understand how the problem is currently being solved.

The work involves:

• map out what customers actually do today (including simple or manual solutions)
• identify common patterns across customers
• understand what causes friction, takes time or drives costs
• see what the customer prioritises to address the problem

The aim is to show clear patterns in how the problem is currently addressed, and why existing solutions do not adequately meet the need.

Example attachment: competitor analysis/matrix (template available in the guide).

Segment and market

You must show that you are starting with a clearly defined customer group and that the market you are entering has significant growth potential, ideally backed by clear, easy-to-understand figures.

The work involves:

• choose who you start with
• define your target market and explain why
• show how you will reach your first customers
• show how large the market could become
• highlight growth opportunities, including internationally

The aim is to show a clear starting point and a solid foundation for further growth.

Intellectual property rights (IPR)

You need to establish what makes your solution unique and how this can give you a competitive advantage.

The work involves:

• identify what sets you apart
• understand what can be protected

The aim is to show that your solution is not easy to copy. Take our digital course: Introduction to IPR.

Team and delivery

You must show who is on your team and why you have the skills and experience to take the project forward.

This includes the expertise you already have and any additional expertise you may need to bring in to reduce risk.

You can receive up to 50% of the grant at the start of the project. The remaining 50% is paid at the end of the project.

You must document all costs. If documentation is missing, your grant may be reduced.

Project period

The approved project period is 9 months. You can apply for an extension of up to 3 months (a maximum of 12 months in total).

Final reporting

At the end of the project, submit your final report and payment request via ‘My page’.