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Are you interested in learning which universities in the Nordics produced the most entrepreneurs? Startup Extreme, a Norwegian event, has revealed data on the top universities that have produced the most entrepreneurs in Norway based on an analysis of 186 founders and co-founders/CEO backgrounds. The data is based on a comparison of eight sources that made lists of top startups, culminating in a list of 126 top startups in Norway. The analysis reveals that the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) produced the most entrepreneurs, with 49 of the founders studied there, followed by BI Norwegian Business School and the University of Oslo, each with 28 founders.
Although the Nordics are known for gender equality, the data revealed that female founders are outnumbered by male founders, with only 17 female founders compared to 155 male founders. The data also reveals the sub-specializations that founders studied, with Business, Management, Economics, Finance, and Leadership being the most popular sub-specializations studied by the founders.
Interestingly, a significant number of the founders had a corporate job before becoming a founder, with 111 founders having had a corporate job prior to becoming a founder. The top companies in Norway that generated the most entrepreneurs include Schibsted Media Group, Accenture, Telenor, McKinsey & Co, Deloitte, BCG DNB, Storebrand, Posten, and Nordic Choice Hotels. Additionally, there is a top list of companies that had the most entrepreneurs coming after a few years working there, including Schibsted Media Group, Accenture, McKinsey & Co, and Telenor.
Startup Extreme is one of the leading startup events that brings together startups, investors, and corporates from across Norway, the Nordics, and Europe for two power days in Hemsedal on April 26th & 27th. This year’s theme is “Extreme Times – Extreme Opportunities,” and it will have dedicated sub-events for startups, investors & corporates, along with panels and keynotes on topics like The Energy Transition, Algorithms to Innovate by, and International Expansion.
Top Ranking Universities in Norway to produce the most Entrepreneurs, based on data from 2022-2023 are:
- NTNU: Norwegian University of Science & Technology – 49
- BI: BI Norwegian Business School – 28 founders
- UIO: University of Oslo – 28
Gender
The Nordics are known for gender equality, but this did not correlate with the data, where female founders are outnumbered by male founders, by far.
- Female – 17
- Male – 155
Field of Study:
- Business, Management, Economics, Finance – 44
- Business, Management, Economics, Finance, Leadership – 58
- Computer Science – Information technology – 24
- Media & Communications + Design + Marketing – 26
“At Startup Extreme, we aim for a 50/50 gender diversity split from volunteers, to speakers, hosts for our extreme activities and everything else. For example, the host of the snowkiting, Camilla Ringvold, is known to be an extremely ambitious and inspiring woman, who has crossed Greenland several times by kite. The skydive host, Anna Moxnes, is a well known World Champion in skydiving.” – Mette Kvale, Head of Startup Extreme.
Corporate Job:
- Prior to becoming a founder with a Corporate Job – 111
- None / Not defined – 61
Top Companies in Norway that have generated the most numbers of entrepreneurs are:
- Schibsted Media Group
- Accenture
- Telenor
- McKinsey & Co
- Deloitte
- BCG DNB
- Storebrand
- Posten
- Nordic Choice Hotels
“Startup Extreme is going big on Corporate Innovation, and dedicated an entire special series of events, where startups will connect with corporates, and corporates can explore deeper the space of Innovation, to either benefit the innovation within the company they work for, or get them closer to become entrepreneurs themselves.” – Verineia Codrean, Head of Sustainability & Partnerships
Last, but not least important is the top list of companies that had the most entrepreneurs coming after a few years working there.
- Schibsted Media Group – 8 founders
- Accenture – 8 founders
- McKinsey & Co – 7 founders
- Telenor – 7 founders
See the full list here.