Hacking 4 Allies

• Are you curious about the world’s largest and most stable security and defense market? 
• Do you want to solve national security problems common to Norwegian and American Special Forces? 
• Are you a small- to medium-sized Norwegian startup with an idea or product that could benefit the world’s most elite defense units? 
• Do you want to get ahead of the competition by adopting a faster, more agile way to address current national security problems?

Norwegian startups can help improve national security

The Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (FFI) has identified common and current challenges that both U.S. and Norwegian Special Operations Forces are facing. These challenges provide the basis for Hacking 4 Allies, a new pilot program for Norwegian startups. The challenges also represent business opportunities for new products and solutions. 

Hacking 4 Allies is a collaboration between Innovation Norway, FFI, The Norwegian-American Defense & Homeland Security Industry Council (NADIC), BMNT Partners, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

Develop and test new solutions in the field

Hacking 4 Allies is designed to help Norwegian defense and security startups grow and enter the U.S. market. Participating companies will receive 2-3 weeks of entrepreneurship training, and will work to solve self-selected problem sets during the program. The program includes visits to Washington, DC, Silicon Valley and Tampa, where the U.S. Special Forces Command is located, between October 2018 and May 2019. The program will also include time in the field together with the Norwegian Special Forces.

Hacking 4 Allies will provide participants with valuable insight into specific sector requirements and networking opportunities. Successful completion of the program will also result in company exposure at the 7th Annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference (NADIC) in Washington, D.C. in May 2019. Furthermore, participating companies will be encouraged to establish a presence in Washington DC through the newly launched incubator for the Norwegian defense industry House of NADIC, or at Nordic Innovation House in Silicon Valley.

The program is organized by The Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (FFI), and will be executed in close collaboration with BMNT Partners – the creators of the Hacking 4 Defense-methodology that is being taught at several top universities and military government institutions in the U.S.

How to apply

Companies that want to participate in Hacking 4 Allies should send a program application by email. The email should briefly describe the company size, maturity level and value proposition. Based on a selection process conducted by Innovation Norway, FFI and BMNT Partners, companies will receive complete problem descriptions for self-selection and further problem curation.

Please send applications and inquiries to:

Einar Gustafson, Innovation Norway, Washington DC: Einar.Irgens.Gustafson@innovationnorway.no

We are happy to send you a complete program description upon request.

Application Deadline: Nov 1, 2018
Program Fee: NOK 25,000 plus travel expenses and accommodation
Start date: The program plans to start in San Francisco 7-18 Jan