Startuplab Ocean Summit
Startuplab Ocean Summit 2026
What will build the next wave of ocean unicorns? What are the technologies, business models and market shifts that will shape the next decade of ocean innovation, and where will the strongest opportunities for large scale growth emerge?
Startuplab Ocean Summit is a focused, invitation-only gathering bringing together the most ambitious ocean technology founders from the Nordics with leading industry players and international VCs.
Taking place from April 19 to 20, the Summit is built for meaningful conversations and real connections across maritime, aquaculture, logistics, robotics, data and AI, offshore energy, security, and dual-use.
The summit is hosted in Bergen, Norway’s ocean hub. With its deep heritage in seafaring, engineering, and marine operations, and its unique setting between seven mountains at the gateway to the fjords, Bergen is a natural place to explore the next generation of category-defining ocean companies.
Capacity is limited, and the event is invitation-only. Registration is required and subject to approval.
We look forward to welcoming you to Bergen in April.
Speakers:
Some of our guests:
Paul Grech, OctaPulse (Y Combinator, San Francisco)
Paul Grech is the CEO and co-founder of OctaPulse, joining the summit directly from San Francisco and Y Combinator’s latest batch. OctaPulse develops phenotype driven technology for aquaculture, using advanced data and biological insights to help producers optimize performance and outcomes at scale. Paul is recognized as a Future Leader by the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture and is an active member of the World Aquaculture Society, the Young Aquaculture Society, and the National Fisheries Institute.
Jean Crosetti, Bubble Robotics (Paris, Zurich, San Francisco)
Jean Crosetti is the co-founder and CEO of Bubble Robotics, building advanced robotics systems for demanding marine and industrial environments. Operating across Paris, Zurich, and San Francisco, he leads the company’s product development and international expansion, bringing high precision automation into operations where reliability, data, and performance directly impact commercial outcomes. Jean represents a new generation of European deep tech founders, combining engineering driven innovation with a clear path to industrial deployment and global scale.
Bjørn Tore Markussen, Norwegian Armed Forces (Oslo)
Bjørn Tore Markussen is Chief Technology and CIO of the Norwegian Armed Forces, where he leads technology, cyber, and digital transformation as part of the Chief of Defence’s executive leadership team. He is responsible for modernizing critical defense infrastructure across data, systems, and operational technology.
Markussen began his career as a soldier and officer in the Armed Forces before spending 25 years in senior leadership roles across shipping, oil and gas, and finance, including positions at DNV, Aker, the World Economic Forum, and Capgemini, with international experience from Malaysia, Singapore, China, and the Netherlands. In addition to his role in the Armed Forces, he serves on the corporate assembly of Equinor and chairs the Faculty of Science and Technology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway.
Alison Clausen, UNESCO (Paris)
Alison Clausen is a key architect of the UN Ocean Decade’s technology and innovation agenda at UNESCO, accelerating the deployment of scalable ocean solutions through global public and private partnerships. She works at the intersection of governments, research institutions, and industry to advance ocean data systems, digital infrastructure, and applied marine technologies worldwide.
Before joining UNESCO, she was based in Madagascar, leading regional programs across the Western Indian Ocean for the World Bank and as Regional Director for the Wildlife Conservation Society. She has also worked across Southeast Asia with development banks, UN agencies, and NGO partners, bringing extensive experience in building international partnerships and mobilizing capital and capability at scale.
Daniel Cau Varming, Space Lab (Oslo, Stavanger)
Daniel Cau Varming is the founder and CEO of Space Lab, developing Draken, a reusable rocket designed for launch from the ocean. By applying offshore, maritime, and high risk operational expertise from the oil and gas sector, Space Lab is working to establish sovereign, ocean based access to space as a new Norwegian export industry.
Daniel previously founded and built UiS Aerospace from zero to more than 100 members, leading teams that designed, built, and launched rockets from the Norwegian coast. He also played an early role in scaling NORSTEC into a 650+ member national network. His ambition is clear: translate Norwegian engineering culture into hardware that flies and competes globally.
Andri Heiðar Kristinsson, Frumtak Ventures (Reykjavik)
Andri Heiðar Kristinsson is a General Partner at Frumtak Ventures, bringing more than two decades of experience across software development, product leadership, and technology innovation in Europe and Silicon Valley. Prior to joining Frumtak, he served as CEO of Digital Iceland in the Prime Minister’s Office, leading national digital transformation efforts. He was previously a senior product lead at LinkedIn in San Francisco, where he was responsible for the LinkedIn newsfeed ecosystem and the SlideShare mobile apps. Andri is also a serial founder, having built Travelade and founded Klak Icelandic Startup, a key catalyst in Iceland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Stein B. Kvae, REV Ocean (Norway)
Stein B. Kvae is Chief Operating Officer at REV Ocean, the global initiative founded by Kjell Inge Røkke to accelerate ocean knowledge, innovation, and solutions through science and technology. At the center of the initiative is the REV Ocean Research Expedition Vessel, one of the most advanced research vessels ever built, designed to support large scale ocean exploration, data collection, and technology development.
At REV Ocean, Stein works at the intersection of research, industry, and entrepreneurship, helping translate ocean science and data into practical tools, partnerships, and next generation ocean technologies.
Arne Tonning, Alliance Venture (Oslo)
Arne Tonning is a Partner at Alliance Venture, one of the Nordics’ leading early stage venture capital firms backing ambitious technology founders across AI, SaaS, and deep tech. The firm has invested in breakout companies such as Aquabyte, Sanity, Boost.ai, and the humanoid robotics company 1X Technologies.
Arne focuses on international market expansion and building strong global investor syndicates, drawing on several years working from Silicon Valley. He also serves on the board of the Norwegian Venture Capital Association, contributing to the development of the Nordic venture ecosystem.
Vlad Stoicescu, Contrarian Ventures (Vilnius)
Vlad Stoicescu is backing ambitious founders building next generation climate and energy technology companies. He works across sourcing, analysis, and execution, supporting investments in capital intensive sectors where technology, infrastructure, and industrial transformation intersect.
With an international background spanning Europe and the Middle East, Vlad brings a global lens and high energy approach to venture investing, representing a new generation of investors focused on scaling hard tech solutions with real world impact and commercial potential.
Simone Lode, HHLA Next (Hamburg)
Simone Lode is Managing Director at HHLA Next, the corporate venture capital and venture building unit of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG. HHLA Next backs and builds technology companies shaping the future of global transport and logistics, combining HHLA’s industrial expertise with the agility of venture backed startups.
Through investments and venture building, HHLA Next focuses on digital infrastructure, automation, and next generation logistics solutions that can transform how goods move through ports, supply chains, and global trade networks.
Brage C. Amundsen, Remora Robotics (Stavanger)
Brage C. Amundsen is the CEO and co-founder of Remora Robotics, building autonomous underwater robotics for the global aquaculture industry. From Stavanger, he leads the company’s product development and international rollout, deploying advanced robotic systems into large scale fish farming operations where uptime, efficiency, and biological performance directly impact profitability. Brage is helping shift aquaculture from labor intensive processes to technology driven operations, positioning robotics as a core driver of competitiveness in modern fish farming.
Fredrik Winther, SINTEF TTO & Venture (Oslo / Trondheim)
Fredrik Winther is the incoming CEO of SINTEF TTO & Venture, the commercialization and venture arm of SINTEF. The organization works to translate cutting edge research into scalable companies and new industrial technologies emerging from one of Europe’s leading research environments.
Winther joins from Katapult, where he served as Chief Strategy Officer and previously CEO, helping scale the global impact investment platform and expand its portfolio of technology companies across energy, materials, food, and industrial innovation. With a PhD in Industrial Economics and a long track record building startup ecosystems and venture platforms, he brings a strong perspective on how research, venture capital, and deep technology can combine to create the next generation of global companies.
Håkon Haugli, Innovation Norway (Oslo)
Håkon Haugli is the CEO of Innovation Norway, the Norwegian government’s primary instrument for supporting innovation, internationalization, and industrial development. He leads the organization’s efforts to mobilize capital, competence, and global market access for Norwegian growth companies across key sectors, including ocean industries. Haugli brings a national perspective on how public capital and policy can accelerate competitive, export driven ocean companies, and how Norway can strengthen its position in the global race for technology, talent, and industrial scale.
Tore Norheim Hagtun, Clarify (Trondheim)
Tore Norheim Hagtun is CEO and co-founder of Clarify, an AI-driven operational data platform turning raw industrial and time-series data into trusted, actionable intelligence across sectors including aquaculture, maritime, and manufacturing. Clarify is building the data infrastructure layer for asset-heavy industries, enabling automation, performance optimization, and scalable decision-making.
Francisco Roque, Nortech.ai (Bergen, Lisbon)
Francisco Roque is the co-founder and CEO of Nortech.ai, a Bergen and Lisbon based company delivering AI driven solutions for the maritime industry and asset heavy sectors. With more than a decade of experience building data driven products and leading teams in digitalization, IoT, big data, data science, and machine learning, he guides the company’s product and commercial strategy. Before founding Nortech.ai he also served as machine learning advisor at Asistobe AS, and he previously held senior management roles at PwC Norway.
Morten Alskog, Sensa (Bergen)
Morten Alskog is co-founder and CCO at Sensa, an industrial AI and data infrastructure company enabling asset heavy industries to operationalize high frequency machine, sensor, and imagery data at scale. Sensa turns fragmented operational data into trusted, structured intelligence that supports both human decision makers and AI systems. Morten brings the perspective of a commercial leader building scalable data infrastructure for maritime, offshore, and aquaculture operators, where reliable data is becoming a core competitive advantage and a foundation for AI driven performance gains.
Johan Odvar Odfjell, Farvatn (Bergen)
Johan Odvar Odfjell is an investor at Farvatn. With deep roots in the maritime industry, he combines sector insight with an active ownership approach, backing ambitious founders across ocean and industry focused verticals. He is also a driving force behind SOS Sustainable Ocean Solutions, an initiative that brings together capital and industry leaders to accelerate the next generation of ocean companies.
Erlend Torgnes, OptoScale (Trondheim, Oslo, Bergen)
Erlend Torgnes is a leader at OptoScale, combining AI-powered underwater imaging with predictive analytics to deliver real-time insight into fish growth, welfare, lice levels, feeding and production planning. New York-based investor Insight Partners recently acquired a majority shareholding of the company, and OptoScale also recently expanded its capabilities by integrating Bioplan’s AI-based production planning tools, positioning the company for international scale in precision aquaculture.
André Berg Edvardsen, Skagerak Capital (Kristiansand)
André Berg Edvardsen is a Partner at Skagerak Capital, a Norwegian growth investor backing technology companies scaling globally from the Nordics. He has been with the firm since 2007 and plays an active role in building and scaling portfolio companies, currently holding multiple board positions across Skagerak’s SaaS investments.
Skagerak Capital has been a key investor in several high growth technology companies, including OptoScale, where the firm recently exited to Insight Partners in a landmark transaction for Norwegian ocean technology. André brings deep experience from venture transactions, scaleups, and financial leadership, including prior roles as CFO in a growth company and as a financial analyst in the shipping industry.
Sindre R. Hansen, EasyX (Bergen)
Sindre R. Hansen is the CEO and co-founder of EasyX, the robotics company behind xAQ, a vertical cleaning robot that replaces manual washing in land based aquaculture facilities and smolt farms. Built to operate on wet, slippery tank walls using vacuum technology, EasyX helps operators cut downtime, improve cleaning capacity, and reduce operational risk. A robotics entrepreneur with experience spanning oil and gas, marine, and aquaculture, Sindre brings a pragmatic, operations first perspective to automation and deployment.
Even Ovnerud, Oxidane Venture (Kristiansand)
Even Ovnerud is Chairman and Founding Partner of Oxidane Venture, a Nordic early stage investment firm focused on the intersection of water and high technology. The fund backs founders building scalable companies in sectors such as ocean technology, water systems, and maritime innovation.
With a background spanning finance, entrepreneurship, and venture investing, Even works closely with portfolio companies on strategy, deal structuring, and long term growth. At the Ocean Summit, he brings the perspective of an investor focused on one of the world’s most critical technology frontiers, where water, infrastructure, and advanced engineering meet global market opportunity.
Hilde Holdhus, Sarsia (Bergen)
Hilde Holdhus is an investment manager at Sarsia, one of Norway’s most active early stage venture funds within deep tech and ocean related industries. She works at the intersection of research driven innovation and commercial scale, backing founders building capital intensive, technology heavy companies with global ambition. Hilde brings an investor’s perspective on what it takes for complex ocean technologies to move from lab and pilot projects to venture scale businesses.
Arve Janbu Fresvik, Momentum Partners (Bergen)
Arve Janbu Fresvik is a founding partner and managing partner at Momentum Partners. He brings extensive experience in business development, transactions, and strategy from both startups and large corporations. Before Momentum, Arve worked as a management consultant at Arkwright and PwC, held several leadership positions at Norsk Hydro and Equinor, and served as Business Development Director on the management team of Rieber & Son. He has been an active early-phase investor since 2015 and serves on boards of several companies in Norway and internationally.
...and many more.