I've been ashed!

Really don’t know how I’m feeling about Iceland and the volcanos... Normally I would have been up in the air instead of on the rails through the Norwegian landscape. But I’m kinda liking it!

Eyjafjallajökull . . . A beautiful, yet quite unpronounceable name of a mountain that severely is affecting my life. I should have been in Rome this week, and was stuck in Bergen. I should have gone straight from Rome to Oslo and then to Bergen again by plane, but instead I got up early yesterday morning to take the morning train to Oslo and I’m now back on the train to slowly roll through the landscape back to Bergen again. My plane is supposed to leave about now, but when I saw that all other planes prior to mine had been cancelled I simply didn’t dare to take a chance on the plane. Still don’t know actually if I could have been up in the air now and have landed in Bergen in an hour instead of arriving at the station in 7 hours.

The strange thing though is that I am really enjoying this slower lifestyle. I’m enjoying traveling through the beautiful country I live in (I forget how beautiful it really is). I enjoy sitting down with my laptop enjoying a cup of coffee working my way through Norway in stead of rushing to the airport, through the security control, into the plane, being stuck in my seat for 50 minutes, out of the plane, to the airport express train, 20 minutes on the train, grabbing a taxi to get to a meeting - and then the whole process all over again to get back home. 

Going by train from Bergen to Oslo takes 6,5 to 7,5 hours depending on when you travel) while the whole flight experience takes about 3 hours from door to door. The thing though is that when I’m on the train I can actually work, and the rushing-in-and-out experience of flying leaves no time period where you can actually work. And - I do admit - I love the fact that all the tunnels and mountains makes me mostly unreachable while on the train. I actually get to work uninterrupted for a few hours. It almost feels like a holiday!

I promise you that if there had been express trains between Bergen and Oslo taking no longer than about 4 hours and leaving early enough for me to be able to catch a lunch meeting,  would have travelled by train instead of by plane. Much more environmentally friendly and much more enjoyable. 

Being in the start-up phase, my life is extremely busy and I’m in a constant rush. A certain mountain called Eyjafjallajökull (I still have to copy-paste that name!) suddenly enabled me to live life a bit slower without anyone being able to get frustrated with postponed meetings and changes in travel plans. My kids love the volcano!

On May 11th however, I’m supposed to fly to Iceland on my way to the US. Hoping to make that trip. Will I?

07:58 - On my way to Oslo by train!

Rome on Monday?

I love Saturdays! The only day of the week when I almost for certain will be at home with my family. Early Monday morning I’m supposed to fly down to Rome for Simposium 2010 to compete for the 1st prize in SIMagine. With the volcanic ash affecting the airspace in Northern Europe it doesn’t look good...

My husband is a geologist, and for years he has been telling me about the coming volcanic eruption on Iceland. That a massive eruption is already over-time and about all the previous eruption from both Katla and Hekla. Over-due in a geology timeframe, though, can be 100 years...

But perhaps it really is now? I hadn’t heard about Eyjafjallajökull before, but now this (I’ve been told) very small volcano is causing chaos all over Europe. And more worrying, there is a huge possibility that Katla will have an eruption. A big one! It might not happen now, but is supposedly due within two years. Here’s on of the articles I read  in norwegian and english(google translate). 

When Eyjafjallajökull is causing this much trouble now, imagine the trouble Katla will cause! Let’s hope the volcano(s) will calm down very soon. Iceland has had some rough years lately. First the financial crises and now this. And what is this doing to the planet? I must admit that I haven’t had the time to study the articles about the environmental impact of the eruptions, but it surely does make you worry when the empty white bucket a fellow Bergenser (i.e. a person from Bergen) placed an empty white bucket outside and an hour later it was filled with dirty water and small sharp stones...

Right now though I’m simply enjoying spending some time with my kids. And if the volcanos so wish, my time spent in Bergen will be a bit longer than planned for...

Will I make it to Rome on Monday? And if not, will SIMagine come up with another way of allowing us to present in front of the jury? A video conference on Skype perhaps? I was just really hoping to go to Rome and bring home another prestigious award...

Alvin and I enjoying PhotoBooth on my orange Mac. 

Great fun!

Bye, bye Miami

On my way home after  a few days on Miami Beach. Can’t even begin to tell you how great it was feeling the sun again (even if it was raining a couple of days) and to get some sleep. In a few hours I’ll be at home, with my kids and husband enjoying the Easter Holiday.

After a few hectic days in Las Vegas, I headed down to Miami Beach. The plan was to spend a few days there together with Are Traasdahl (founder of Thumbplay and new Business Advisor to Bipper) and my Chairman Svein Johnsen, but in the end Svein couldn’t make it and I headed for Miami myself. The plane was already booked and paid for, and so was the hotel. No refund was possible, and I figured I might just as well spend a few days there working from a sun-bed and getting some sleep.

And I can’t even begin to tell you how much sleep I got! The past few years have been extremely hectic, and with very little sleep. First when the kids arrived one by one and the nights were filled with breastfeeding and the mornings started early (yes - kids are a blessing and this is a period all parents will have to get themselves through, but a full night of sleep.... The best present anyone could give me!), and then (and crazily enough combined with the baby and toddler years of my youngest one) starting up a company demanding on average 80 hours of work per week. Little time left for sleep.....

But in Miami I finally had some days were I was in charge. Can’t even remember the last time I had a few days on my own, and it was pure medicine! Surviving the credit crunch made me into a workaholic, and my task for my Miami trip was to put my Mac away, read some books, get some sleep and relax as much as possible. And I did! What a treat!

And the work bit of the trip was just pleasurable. I got to spend a lot of time with Are, meet his beautiful wife and played with their baby boy. Cuddling with a 6 month old kinda makes me want to have another one, but the car is full - and so is my work schedule.... Three is a good crowd though - don’t you think?

I just can’t wait to see my kids again! I left for the US the morning of the 21st, and I’ll be at home again tomorrow at four in the afternoon. Brought tons of american Easter candy for them that the bunny can stuff their eggs with. Too much I think.... But that’s the way it is when I’m abroad - I come home with my suitcases full of stuff for my kids, perhaps (but not always) a little gift for my husband and hardly ever anything for myself. Except for orange items to mach my Bipper style. I’ll post some photos of my Bipper style orange treats very soon!

Can you imagine anything better?

 Unfortunately this was not my hotel...

This is my hotel! And the rain is poring down while I am 

trying to eat my breakfast. The sun doesn’t always shine.... 

I CANNOT recommend this hotel though. 

Stay away from South Beach Riviera Suites.

Beautiful beaches!

4 meeting as day, and 20 minutes of sightseeing

San Francisco -  seems like a great city that I would LOVE to visit again, but with four meeting a day and only 20 minutes of sightseeing I didn't see much.. Loved what I did see though, and business was great!

Monday morning, the city is buzzing. We head down to Innovations Norway's offices and meet up with Åse and Veslemoy to go over the weeks meeting agenda. One of the nice things of being associated with them is that they have a large network of contacts, so they had arranged meeting with with several of those in addition to a list of companies/people Nils had identified. 

At noon we head for Silicon Valley to the first of many meetings with VC's etc in that area. We soon learn that 4 meetings per day is max as we scramble to get from location to location, sometime getting lost on the way, but Nils's luckily has gps on his phone which saves us several times. We have tons of great meetings, connect with many influential, successful and inspirational people both investors and entrepreneurs that have built up billion dollars companies !! 

I'm surprised how helpful and friendly many of these people are. They are very professional, but also laid-back and willing to give us advice and share some of their stories not only in regards to fund the company, but how to best build and expand, resources needed and also introductions to people that can help us. 

Regarding arriving late at some meetings, we actually had to move one meeting an hour back on very short notice as an other meeting run late (we usually got more than the initial our set aside for us - a good sign :). We were told by a partner at a large VC firm that we had 20 minutes as he had to leave by 6pm. An hour later we are still there and his wife has called several times getting annoyed he hasn't left his office yet to join her for dinner!  Another investor told us he was very busy, 20 min max. We spent 90 minutes at his office :). 

Anyway, so we had a very busy schedule which resulted in long and exhausting days (but also exciting), typically we did not arrive back in SF before 7-8pm often falling a sleep on the hour ride back from the Valley (luckily for Olav he brought his inflatable pillow!). Unfortunately not much time for sightseeing so the last night we decided to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge coming back from meetings. It's 8pm and as we approach the bridge I'm snapping pictures like crazy, however my battery goes dead so I have no pictures from the bridge or the view of the city from the other side :( . 

We ate all dinners at the quaint Kuletos Restaurant adjacent to the hotel, typically we would experience other restaurants as well, but we were so tired at night that it just made sense to go next door especially since this is one of the best restaurants in the city with great food and service :)  

Nils and I had 30 minutes to take the cab Friday morning before a breakfast meeting and shopping was done in a souvenir shop next to the hotel. So a very productive week, not much time to experience the city, but I can always do that later.

Olav is ready for more meetings!

Mårten Mickos, the founder of my SQL offered some 

great advise! I might just keep asking for more....

I love this! What other place in the world will 

you find commercials like this?

I used to watch Full House when I was a kid, and looooved it! 

And I loved the San Francisco scenery dreaming about 

riding the cable cars. On our last day in the city, 

we had 20 minutes available for sightseeing and took 

the cable car up this hill, and down again. Loving it and 

can’t wait for my next trip to San Francisco to go for a longer ride!

No pants day in San Francisco

Even though I was exhausted from almost a week in Vegas, it was exciting to arrive in San Francisco. I have never been here before and its such an interesting and fascinating city. However, after checking in at the quaint and elegant Hotel Villa Florence by Union Square Park and finding my room the bed was too inviting and I quickly fell asleep. When I woke up a few hours later I notice that Nils and Olav have left me numerous text and voicemails urging me to come down to the bar next door.  

They had also planned for a relaxing afternoon and decided to have lunch and a couple of beers at the bar next door and watch a football game. However, their plans changed as soon as they entered the The Gold Dust Lounge- (with a name like that you should expect the unexpected :) . Almost everybody there was sitting in their underwear, people in all shapes and sizes, men women, young and old. Turns out that on this particular Sunday, thousands of people had joined in on a Facebook initiative called "No pants Day"!! and they had all gathered downtown earlier in the day and soon started hitting the local bars. 

When I finally join Olav and Nils they are already sitting in their underwear, a couple of beers had turned into several more and they are doing shots with a group of new friends. That group includes everything from corporate lawyers and investment bankers to artists and designers.  There is a live band playing, people are dancing and singing and everybody is in a great mood. I decided to keep my pants on, but still had a great time :)  The "no pants day" hit the local news stations and gets substantial coverage to the amusement of all us in the bar, more cheers!! Even unexpected, or maybe just for that reason, this was a great introduction to San Francisco. People were friendly, real,  funny, smart and didn't take themselves too seriously. It was refreshing and fun!

Taking the tube...

Why wear pants at the pub at a no pants day?

Olav and Nils the way I found them when I woke up from my 

afternoon sleep; at the next door pub without pants on. 

When you’re in San Francisco, do as the San Franciscos!

As with all other important days and causes,

 also the No Pants Day has its own flag!

The Bipper Team: Nils, me and Olav. 

I was too chicken to do the no pants day real style. 

Taking photos kinda made up for it.... There are MANY more to see!

Flying Virgin - and loving it!

Those of you who know me well know that I am a Branson fan. Never thought I was actually until I read ALL  his books last summer, but discovering that he’s an idealist too turned me into one. And having read all about Virgin Atlantic, I couldn’t wait for my flight!

I had great expectations of my Virgin flight. Having read pages and pages on the brand, Branson’s visions and Virgin Atlantic especially I couldn’t wait. But could Economy class really be any different than all other places?

Oh yes! Walking into the plane (this was only a two hour flight) we were welcomed by soft jazzy music and a high class club like scenery. We found our seats and got comfortable. Great leg space and a very intriguing entertainment system called Red waiting for us. I also absolutely loved the safety video (see below). Have never seen anything like it. Both Olav and I laughed so loud that our fellow passengers were looking at these virgin Virgin flyers. 

Reading the in-flight menu made me both laugh and get hungry. I have never seen a better flight menu than this, and I wanted most things they had to offer. I love the idea of only serving high quality food so that you get what you want, but pay yourself. I also loved the ability to search through the menu on Red and just order your food ‘online’ and having it brought to your seat. Didn’t order anything though, but brought the menu back home (sorry Branson!) as I just want to read it for inspiration of how to present your products. 

Why I didn’t order any food you ask? Because there was internet on the flight! Yes - I could check my mail, surf the net and Skype. Of course I had to try this so I skyped all my on-line business contacts around the world and updated my Facebook site from the air.

Branson - you’ve just got to love him!

Great lightning and soft jazz

Interactive media centers. See the video below!

Olav is studying the Red information brochure 

- ready to be entertained!

The in-flight menu is great - and you can order 

whatever you like from your Red screen. Perfect!

CES 2010 - The Show

CES is a huge show. The Las Vegas Convention Center, with its 2.3 million square feet of space, was packed full of companies from all around the world showcasing their latest technology products. Representatives from as many as 140 countries attended! It was reported that over 120,000 people attended the show which resulted in crowded walkways and long lines at the cafeterias and various Starbucks, not to mention the taxi-lines. So we had plenty to look at when we finally got into the conference. 

The guys (Olav and Nils) were immediately drawn to many of the enormous stands, like Sony and Panasonic showcasing the newest in 3D technology on huge screens. They left with dreams of having one of these for the World Cup in Soccer this summer! Other interesting trends were Internet enabled TV, e-readers, tablet PC, but also devices designed for parents to track and monitor kids were showcased. This confirms our belief for what we are doing and that the timing is good for providing mobile safety solutions for parents. 

I’m glad I got to experience this event and you can say a lot of things about Vegas, but it’s definitely and interesting place. However, after 5 days I was ready to move on, but as opposed to most people I was not going home, but heading further west to San Francisco and another week of meetings. 

It’s all about the right accessories. 

I loved all the stylish headphones. My daughter would love these!

Thinner and thinner tv’s, but now available as picture frames.

 Quite a few exhibitors showed of such products

Nokia has teamed up with Sesame Street to produce a 

read-with- your-grandparents-over-the-phone type of book. 

Pretty cool!

Motorola showed of Blur. Pretty cool!

Tons of exhibitors. 3D was the huge thing on the show!

Enabling mobile telephony everywhere is a hot topic. 

And a growing market!

 loved the motorola stand. It worked perfectly

 well with my handbag. And - yes - it is real grass!