About us

About us

About us

A dedicated team

We bring extensive experience in building and scaling early-stage companies. With a strong background in entrepreneurship, company building, investment, and strategy, we help businesses grow and succeed.

Jan has over 30 years of experience in developing, financing, and leading tech companies. He has co-founded several successful ventures from NTNU, SINTEF, Statoil, and Telenor, and brings deep expertise in commercialization, strategy, and scaling.

Jan Biti

Managing Partner

jan@cofounder.no

Jan has over 30 years of experience in developing, financing, and leading tech companies. He has co-founded several successful ventures from NTNU, SINTEF, Statoil, and Telenor, and brings deep expertise in commercialization, strategy, and scaling.

Jan Biti

Managing Partner

jan@cofounder.no

Jan has over 30 years of experience in developing, financing, and leading tech companies. He has co-founded several successful ventures from NTNU, SINTEF, Statoil, and Telenor, and brings deep expertise in commercialization, strategy, and scaling.

Jan Biti

Managing Partner

jan@cofounder.no

Cristina has experience from being CFO for hire in several technology based start-ups og scale-ups. She has also worked at SIVA, and is an active member of the board in several companies.

Cristina Santos

Partner and CFO

cristina@cofounder.no

Cristina has experience from being CFO for hire in several technology based start-ups og scale-ups. She has also worked at SIVA, and is an active member of the board in several companies.

Cristina Santos

Partner and CFO

cristina@cofounder.no

Cristina has experience from being CFO for hire in several technology based start-ups og scale-ups. She has also worked at SIVA, and is an active member of the board in several companies.

Cristina Santos

Partner and CFO

cristina@cofounder.no

Morten has over 20 years of experience founding and leading tech companies, with a strong focus on developing research-heavy startups. He has also served as CFO in several companies, combining deep technical insights with operational leadership and financial expertise to drive innovation and sustainable business growth.

Morten Frøseth

Partner

morten@cofounder.no

Morten has over 20 years of experience founding and leading tech companies, with a strong focus on developing research-heavy startups. He has also served as CFO in several companies, combining deep technical insights with operational leadership and financial expertise to drive innovation and sustainable business growth.

Morten Frøseth

Partner

morten@cofounder.no

Morten has over 20 years of experience founding and leading tech companies, with a strong focus on developing research-heavy startups. He has also served as CFO in several companies, combining deep technical insights with operational leadership and financial expertise to drive innovation and sustainable business growth.

Morten Frøseth

Partner

morten@cofounder.no

Margrethe has solid experience in strategy, finance, and market analysis for growth companies. She leads Trykktanken, is the managing director of a portfolio company, and has a background as a consultant focused on growth strategies, analysis, and commercialization.

Margrethe Skjelstad

Manager

margrethe@cofounder.no

Margrethe has solid experience in strategy, finance, and market analysis for growth companies. She leads Trykktanken, is the managing director of a portfolio company, and has a background as a consultant focused on growth strategies, analysis, and commercialization.

Margrethe Skjelstad

Manager

margrethe@cofounder.no

Margrethe has solid experience in strategy, finance, and market analysis for growth companies. She leads Trykktanken, is the managing director of a portfolio company, and has a background as a consultant focused on growth strategies, analysis, and commercialization.

Margrethe Skjelstad

Manager

margrethe@cofounder.no

Bjørnar was one of the founders of Impello in 2005 and has over 20 years of experience as a project manager in transaction processes (M&A), financing processes, and strategic advisory, as well as extensive experience as CEO and CFO within technology and trade.

Bjørnar Reitan

Partner

bjornar@cofounder.no

Bjørnar was one of the founders of Impello in 2005 and has over 20 years of experience as a project manager in transaction processes (M&A), financing processes, and strategic advisory, as well as extensive experience as CEO and CFO within technology and trade.

Bjørnar Reitan

Partner

bjornar@cofounder.no

Bjørnar was one of the founders of Impello in 2005 and has over 20 years of experience as a project manager in transaction processes (M&A), financing processes, and strategic advisory, as well as extensive experience as CEO and CFO within technology and trade.

Bjørnar Reitan

Partner

bjornar@cofounder.no

Tuva brings broad experience in early-stage business development and finance. She supports several portfolio startups and actively contributes to KLP Trykktanken. With board roles, operational insight, and a Master of Science degree, she combines strategic thinking with strong analytical skills.

Tuva Okkenhaug

Business Developer

tuva@cofounder.no

Tuva brings broad experience in early-stage business development and finance. She supports several portfolio startups and actively contributes to KLP Trykktanken. With board roles, operational insight, and a Master of Science degree, she combines strategic thinking with strong analytical skills.

Tuva Okkenhaug

Business Developer

tuva@cofounder.no

Tuva brings broad experience in early-stage business development and finance. She supports several portfolio startups and actively contributes to KLP Trykktanken. With board roles, operational insight, and a Master of Science degree, she combines strategic thinking with strong analytical skills.

Tuva Okkenhaug

Business Developer

tuva@cofounder.no

Jørgen has experience from strategic and financial advisory at Impello, with a particular focus on analyses and documentation in transaction processes (M&A). He holds a Master’s degree from the Norwegian School of Economics

Jørgen Pettersen

Manager

jorgen@cofounder.no

Jørgen has experience from strategic and financial advisory at Impello, with a particular focus on analyses and documentation in transaction processes (M&A). He holds a Master’s degree from the Norwegian School of Economics

Jørgen Pettersen

Manager

jorgen@cofounder.no

Jørgen has experience from strategic and financial advisory at Impello, with a particular focus on analyses and documentation in transaction processes (M&A). He holds a Master’s degree from the Norwegian School of Economics

Jørgen Pettersen

Manager

jorgen@cofounder.no

Rune has 25 years of experience from commercialization of early stage technology companies and projects, being CEO and investor within several industries. He is one of three founding partners of CoFounder, but has taken a step down to maintain his health.

Rune Bjerne

Senior Advisor

rune@cofounder.no

Rune has 25 years of experience from commercialization of early stage technology companies and projects, being CEO and investor within several industries. He is one of three founding partners of CoFounder, but has taken a step down to maintain his health.

Rune Bjerne

Senior Advisor

rune@cofounder.no

Rune has 25 years of experience from commercialization of early stage technology companies and projects, being CEO and investor within several industries. He is one of three founding partners of CoFounder, but has taken a step down to maintain his health.

Rune Bjerne

Senior Advisor

rune@cofounder.no

Maja works part-time at CoFounder alongside her studies in Industrial Economics and Technology Management at NTNU, where she specializes in data technology and AI. With experience from the startup ecosystem, she combines business strategy and digital insight to support innovation.

Maja Guldberg

Business Developer

maja@cofounder.no

Maja works part-time at CoFounder alongside her studies in Industrial Economics and Technology Management at NTNU, where she specializes in data technology and AI. With experience from the startup ecosystem, she combines business strategy and digital insight to support innovation.

Maja Guldberg

Business Developer

maja@cofounder.no

Maja works part-time at CoFounder alongside her studies in Industrial Economics and Technology Management at NTNU, where she specializes in data technology and AI. With experience from the startup ecosystem, she combines business strategy and digital insight to support innovation.

Maja Guldberg

Business Developer

maja@cofounder.no

Our journey so far

CoFounder was started in 2010 by a group of experienced entrepreneurs. Since then, the company has built strong expertise in early-stage company building and has become a leading player in seed investments. A lot has changed over the past 15 years, but one thing has stayed the same: our passion for creating real value through hard work and investing in the solutions of tomorrow.

Our journey so far

Our journey so far

CoFounder was started in 2010 by a group of experienced entrepreneurs. Since then, the company has built strong expertise in early-stage company building and has become a leading player in seed investments. A lot has changed over the past 15 years, but one thing has stayed the same: our passion for creating real value through hard work and investing in the solutions of tomorrow.

A lot has changed over the past 15 years, but one thing remains the same: our passion for creating real value through hard work and investing in the solutions of tomorrow.

2010

2010

2010

CoFounder is established

CoFounder is established

Cofounder is founded by Jan Biti, Morten Frøseth and Rune Bjerke to provide management resources and capital for building and scaling early stage tech companies.

2010

2010

2010

Partnering with SINTEF and NTNU

Partnering with SINTEF and NTNU

Cofounder partners with NTNU TTO and SINTEF to commercialize game-changing technologies for various industries.

2010

2010

2010

First investment

First investment

We make our first investment, marking the beginning of our journey in supporting and scaling technology-driven ventures.

2015

2015

2015

CoFounder as founder of new tech companies

CoFounder as founder of new tech companies

We expand our focus by by identifying high-potential opportunties. We start founding our own tech companies, such as OptoScale.

2019

2019

2019

75 MNOK raised from KLP

75 MNOK raised from KLP

CoFounder launches the first seed fund in partnership with KLP. The goal is to invest in early stage tech companies in Norway.

2019

2019

2019

Driven by industrial needs, we create new companies

Driven by industrial needs, we create new companies

We identify real industrial challenges and build companies that develop innovative solutions to meet those needs and open up new opportunities across industries.

2021

2021

2021

KLP Trykktanken is launched

KLP Trykktanken is launched

Alongside the fund, we launch Trykktanken, an accelerator program for startups that allows us to explore investment opportunities across Norway.

2024

2024

2024

200 MNOK raised for the Såkorn 1 Midt fund

200 MNOK raised for the Såkorn 1 Midt fund

We closed Såkorn 1 Midt with 200 million NOK in capital, dedicated to pre-seed and seed investments in Central Norway.

2024

2024

2024

Moved to Nordre Gate

Moved to Nordre Gate

This move marked a significant strengthening of our team and allowed for new local opportunities, enhancing our presence and collaboration.

2024

2024

2024

220 MNOK raised for the Venture fund

220 MNOK raised for the Venture fund

The launch of a new fund with KLP marks the beginning of three more years of collaboration through KLP Trykktanken and several new investment opportunities.

A dedicated team of entrepeneurs

CoFounder was started in 2010 by a group of experienced entrepreneurs. Since then, the company has built strong expertise in early-stage company building and has become a leading player in seed investments. A lot has changed over the past 15 years, but one thing has stayed the same: our passion for creating real value through hard work and investing in the solutions of tomorrow.