StartupLab Accelerator: Internet of Things
Norway is one of the most digitally advanced countries in the world, with high technology penetration and good connectivity across all our mountains, tunnels, coastline and cities. Our corporate partners OBOS, ABB and Telenor are gearing their efforts heavily in this direction, and like us, they are seeing great opportunities.
Just 15 years ago, there were around 500 million sensors deployed globally. Todays estimates say that there are 19 billion, and that in five years, there will be 50 billion. Everything will be sensored and connected; smart homes, smart cities, wearables, smart grids, connected cars, connected health, retail, supply chains, farming — and the list goes on. In this myriad of technologies and potential areas of application, there is an overwhelming number of business opportunities for startups.
In our upcoming accelerator program, OBOS, ABB and Telenor will be working closely with the selected teams on the IoT track. With knowledge sharing, access to infrastructure, insights and real-life challenges from established companies, entrepreneurs working on IoT solutions will have the odds stacked in their favor through the accelerator program.
Ready to apply already? Go to the application form here.
During the accelerator, OBOS, ABB and Telenor will provide extra support for startups working with IoT. They will be participating in office hours, domain-specific talks and exploration of potential partnerships aimed at increasing your startup’s chances of succeeding.
To take advantage of this, we encourage startups to apply for our upcoming accelerator. This is a great opportunity to give your idea the best kickstart possible, with 1MNOK funding, mentoring and insights that will help you build your product and reach market validation as fast as possible. For OBOS, ABB and Telenor, working with startups through the accelerator is a way to encourage open innovation, and engaging with startups is a shift in culture. Through mentoring and attending workshops in the accelerator, employees and executives are exposed to the startups.
Established in 1929, OBOS is the largest Nordic cooperative building association. OBOS operates in development, production and sale of property, homes and real estate, as well as property administration, banking, rental and reusable energy.
Through the life cycle of property development and management, OBOS faces challenges that can be solved by the use of technology. From urban planning, infrastructure and mobility, to maintenance, environment and public services. To address all these challenges, OBOS are opening up to challenge old procurement processes and engage with startups, implementing new ways of thinking and operating.
Morten Aagenæs, VP Innovation, OBOS
Telenor Group is one of the world’s major mobile operators with more than 174 million consolidated mobile subscriptions. Telenor Group has operations in 12 markets in the Nordic region, Central and Eastern Europe and Asia. To deliver on the ambitions of growth and value creation, knowledge within IoT, AI, big data analytics plays a key role in Telenor’s digital strategy going forward.
By providing cost-free access to next-generation IoT infrastructure, we provide Norwegian startups and students with the ability to develop and rapidly prototype new IoT products and services (Telenor Start IoT). This is part of a broad initiative from Telenor to drive growth in the use of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT and big data in Norway.
Ieva Martinkenaite, VP Start IoT, Telenor Research
ABB is a pioneering technology leader that works closely with utility, industry, transportation and infrastructure customers to write the future of industrial digitalization and realize value.
ABB views initiatives as StartupLab’s IoT Accelerator an important contributor to the industry and our ABB Ability offerings. ABB firmly believes that the IoT Accelerator will attract talent, and supports startups that might be potential partners helping to make a safer, greener, more productive, collaborative and efficient world.
Oliver Halvorsrød, Advanced Services and Products, ABB Norway
We are accepting applications for our upcoming accelerator, including the IoT track until 08.09.2017 — apply now.
