RunwayFBU Radar - our Q1 snapshot

Welcome to RunwayFBU Radar – your quarterly update on insights, trends, and portfolio developments. We uncover highlights across our VC investments, Tech Hub co-working location at Aker Tech House, and Industrial collaborations via Industry Software Alliance. Want to receive this in your inbox next quarter? You can sign up to our newsletter here. 

RunwayFBU’s Thriving Community

• With 20 portfolio startups at our VC fund and 30 startups at our Tech Hub location at Aker Tech House, our community is fostering innovation and collaboration within industrial tech. Our members deliver innovative solutions to major industry players, including Equinor, Sony Sports, Telia, Hafslund Celsio, Aker BP, Aker Solutions, Cognite, GIVAS, Hafslund and many more.
• Over 300+ participants visited our Tech Hub events and activities this quarter. Subscribe to our event calendar at lu.ma/RunwayFBU and join us.
• Are you looking to build your industrial tech startup alongside industry leaders? We have available desk spaces and private offices at Aker Tech House in Fornebu, where 30 startups are scaling their ventures. Explore membership options here.

VC Fund Portfolio highlights

• New Investment: We completed an investment in a Swedish tech startup – stay tuned for the official announcement.
• Cardboard in Q1 helped over 50 companies eliminate receipt-chasing headaches while processing 11M NOK in monthly transaction volume.
• Otee's virtual PLC technology is now running mission critical infrastructure in the heart of Oslo, between the Norwegian Parliament and City Hall for Hafslund Celsio. They’re already delivering to GIVAS and Wessel and have made their first deployments in the US and Turkey.
• Muybridge has entered into a exclusive product partnership with Sony Sports and Hawk-Eye Innovations. The partnership will push the Muybridge technology onto the largest sports events globally, and was first deployed into sports broadcast at the Miami Open ATP1000 tennis tournament and included in live broadcast throughout the tournament, including the finals. BTS footage incoming soon!
• Sonair has started receiving orders for its upcoming commercial product - before it is even announced. They have also earned rave reviews from early testers, such as “This can be pretty disruptive for the robotics market”, stated by a frontrunner in the autonomous robotics industry. Read several more reviews here.
• Shapemaker secured new deals with Icon Tower (UK) and ESB Telecoms (Ireland), while Telia Towers shared insights on Shapemaker’s impact at MWC Barcelona.
• ComplAi continues to build on its strategic partnership with DNV, supporting efforts to streamline the medical device certification process and innovating within the space of industrial manufacturing.
• WSense reinforced its leadership in underwater wireless communications and marine sustainability, featuring groundbreaking demos at key defense and innovation events. Follow their updates here.
• Sparkel.io continues to close new ARR deals across Europe – most recently in Denmark  and France.
• Fortifai.co's founder featured in Finansavisen. Also launched their product with several major pilots like Cognite, Ardoq, Hydro Rein and many more.
• Plaace.co, Fortifai.co, Cardboard.inc, and Sonair.com were featured among the top 150 women co-founded tech startups in the Nordics. Get the report here.  

Tech Hub Community startups and partner highlights

• Sunphade is now blocking 66% of the sun’s energy at one of University of Oslo’s buildings, reducing artificial cooling and lowering energy consumption. Watch their video here.
• BareBitcoin.no crossed 10,000 users and processed over 200MNOK in trading this last quarter!
• Choppycast by Frivind is bringing data driven decision making closer to major clients in Norway (Rema 1000, Diplom-is, Godt Brød) and Europe (Parques Reunidos amusement parks). Follow them here for updates.
• InsertLogic.io staying ahead of the game, already prepared for what Gartner says is a new market emerging: Business orchestration and automation technologies (BOAT). Currently delivering PoC to Equinor!
• We welcomed Deel.com as a service partner, expanding our benefits program to offer $500,000+ in credits for our startups.
• Additionally, DLA Piper and Microsoft now offer weekly pro bono legal and tech support to our members. Become a member at RunwayFBU’s Tech Hub to get access to our service partners and network.
• Did you know that RunwayFBU members have access to free office space in when visiting Stavanger?

 Industry Events & Thought Leadership - notable events and visitors

• Takeoff Tuesday with Microsoft: Christopher Frenning shared insights on Satya Nadella’s view that SaaS is dead. What’s next? Time will tell. We also announced Microsoft’s deeper partnership with RunwayFBU to provide exclusive insights and services to our members.
• Google AI Trends: Xiaopeng Li presented Google’s top AI business trends in February’s Takeoff Tuesday. Read the summary here.
• Public-Sector Engagement: Akershus and Bærum Kommune visited RunwayFBU, exploring collaboration opportunities with strong backing from the Mayor of Bærum.
• Tech Nordic Advocates Demo Day: Showcasing female-led startups scaling internationally through the Oslo as a Female Tech Founder Frontrunner
• Industrial Data Roundtable: Chim Himidumage (Fidenz) led a discussion with our Community CTOs on optimizing data storage, cloud costs, and maximizing industrial data value.
• Executive Insights on Resilience: Matts Johansen (CEO, Aker BioMarine) shared leadership lessons from the 1000km dog sled race in Alaska, joined by Kari Enge Elizabeth on the neuroscience of resilience. Read the article here.
• Looking for an inspiring venue for your team workshops? Aker Tech House has hosted teams from Katapult Ocean and DB Journey – reach out to us at techhub@runwayfbu.com for booking.
• Did you know that RunwayFBU members have access to free office space in when visiting Stavanger?

Industry Software Alliance: Scaling Industry Collaboration

RunwayFBU’s Industry Software Alliance connects industry leaders with the most promising startups and scaleups, enhancing industry competitiveness and accelerating startup growth. Together, we uncover, test, and scale competitive-edge innovations. For questions and interest in the industrial alliance contact karen@runwayfbu.com or thea@runwayfbu.com

• Partnered with Thommessen to host industry leaders in Stavanger, including Aker BP CEO Karl Johnny Hersvik and Nysnø Climate Investment CEO Siri Kalvik, discussing the impact of new technologies. Read more here.
• Sourced 500+ companies for industry players incl Aker BP, with 20% deemed highly relevant for collaboration.
• Secured 3MNOK in funding from Akershus Fylkeskommune to bridge the gap between corporates and tech startups.
• Conducted 20+ executive interviews on corporate-startup collaboration for our yearly report in collaboration with Accenture. Report to be launched at at Kongsberg Agenda on June 19.
• Hosting Fast Track Days in May (Stavanger & Oslo) to connect industrial companies and startups. Sign up here.

On the Horizon: Upcoming Events

For our full calendar of all events, visit and subscribe to lu.ma/RunwayFBU.

📅 April 29, 10:00-11:00 CET – Takeoff Tuesday: Join Michel Sagen and Tom Erik Lia, serial entrepreneurs and investors, as they share insights on scaling, exiting, and investing in tech startups. Reserve your seat.

📅 May 14, 11:00-12:00 CET – 17th of May Celebratory Lunch at the Tech Hub.

📅 May 22 and 27 – Fast Track days 2025 in Stavanger and Oslo. RunwayFBU and Kongsberg Innovation are pleased to invite you to Fast Track Days 2025 – a meeting place and matchmaking arena for industrial companies and startup/scaleup companies. You can apply to attend here.

📅 June 4, 17:00-19:00 CET – Investor meetup in Stavanger hosted by NVCA, Herfo Finans, Nysnø and RunwayFBU. For more info contact ag@nvca.no

📅 June 12 – Executive Roundtable in Stavanger #2: Contact  karen@runwayfbu.com if you are interested in attending.

📅 June 19 – Kongsberg Agenda: RunwayFBU will launch it’s industrial report on corporate-startup collaboration at Kongsberg Agenda. For more info about the event, visit and sign up at Kongsberg Agenda

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