Finally

Whew .... This has been a long pregnancy! 14 months have passed since Christian Sæterhaug (Marketing Director at Tele2) called me and said that "the two of us should work together."

It was back in June last year that Christian called - almost entirely out of the blue. He had heard about me in an interview by a person who knew of Bipper from the Venture Cup at NHH, and thought it was exciting. Tele2 noticed that more and more children were mobile users, and had begun to get a lot of questions from parents who wondered how they should relate to children and the mobile and asked for solutions that gave better control. 

At that time Bipper was a tiny company. We had no prototype, but had started development and had big ambitions. Only a month earlier we had been on the brink of bankruptcy (the financial crisis was tough indeed ...) and Olav and I were forced to run to the bank to take out loans - backed by some nice people who helped us raise a few hundred thousand Nkr (which got us back to zero!). A few weeks later our financial situation was under control. Thankfully, investments from Sparebanken Vest and a private angel investor had ensured that we could resume the development again. 

And then Tele2 called! A telephone call led to a meeting, than another meeting, which resulted in a letter of intent, then a contract, an IRD with Innovation Norway, a lot of work for both parties regarding the development and finally a finished product.


It's been a long journey, but we finally crossed the finish line! Finally! Tele2 has been an extremely important partner for us over the past year. Together we are launching a subscription called Tele2 Bipper, which includes all of Bipper’s services, for the Norwegian market. This is an exclusive partnership over the next months and I can promise you that you will notice us in the media. It’s also exciting that we are being contacted by operators around the world that are interested in Bipper.

These are exciting times!

Invited to the embassy - again!

I guess I’ll be in Oslo June 24th. Received this invitation from the US Ambassador Barry White and his wife today to celebrate the Independence day. Of course I have accepted!

I met Mr. and Mrs. White for the first time earlier this year at a lunch at their house where the topic was social entrepreneurship. Something very close to my heart and a way of running business that I do my very best to run Bipper by. I hope to be able to spend the rest of my life supporting social entrepreneurship initiatives. Combining business with idealistic and passionate initiatives is the future - I believe. It is possible to both build a sustainable business and to run it in a socially minded way.

I was deeply impressed by both White’s. During my life I have met quite a few high profile personalities. Those who stick with me are those who are still passionate about issues. Those who are eager to speak WITH you, to LISTEN and to SHARE ideas. So many people seem to lose interest in common people once they have fame or high positions. The White’s don’t. I have seldom met people as concerned as them. We are so lucky to have them in Norway!

Me a female entrepreneurship ambassador

I have just been selected as ambassador of female entrepreneurship in Europe. I am so proud, and so happy to take part in promoting female entrepreneurship.

Eva from Innovation Norway called me a few weeks ago and told me that I was nominated as an ambassador for female European entrepreneurs. Incredibly interesting! The EU has created a program to promote female entrepreneurship, and a few female entrepreneurs from each participant country are selected as ambassadors. These ambassadors will promote both the entrepreneurial creation and inspire other women to become entrepreneurs. Very exciting! For me who loves to speak about both Bipper and entrepreneurial life (I’m a straight shooter - and usually receive a good mix of laughter, excitement and encouraging pats on the back) this would be perfect.

When I was informed that I was chosen as ambassador along with seven other Norwegian women, I cheered! Today I'm in Stockholm to meet all the other female entrepreneurs and receive an award from Crown Princess Victoria. That is to say - a woman from each country is presented with the diploma from the Crown Princess, and I was unfortunately not so lucky that I won that draw. But - I had a fantastic day and got to sit at the table next to Princess Victoria during the Black tie-dinner. It took place in City Hall (same place as the Nobel Prize is awarded), and this is a venue is spectacular. It glitters in gold everywhere, and the entertainment was first class.

I look forward to take on the assignment, to meet all the amazing female entrepreneurs again, and not least to do my best to inspire other women to invest in their own companies.