Text and photos: Ingrid Berg Sivertsen.
In August, several promising teams pitched their ideas to a panel of entrepreneurship experts, showcasing innovation and ambition.
This year, AIMSES earned the spot to represent NTNU at Stage Two. AIMSES is a spin-off originating from NTNU’s Technology Transfer Office, led by Hossein Eyha. The start-up builds on cutting-edge research and development conducted by Hossein and his team at NTNU.
At Stage Two, Hossein delivered a compelling two-minute pitch, impressing both the jury and potential investors. His presentation was clear, structured, and impactful—earning AIMSES valuable attention and networking opportunities.
Inside Stage Two
The event spans two days:
– Day One focuses on workshops for start-up founders, entrepreneurship centers, and investors, offering insights into scaling, funding, and collaboration.
– Day Two is all about competition. Over 40 start-ups presented their two-minute pitches, followed by a grand finale where investors expressed interest through indicative investment offers (subject to due diligence).
Trends at Stage Two 2025
According to Dag Håkon Haneberg, “Roughly three-fourths of start-ups this year were Deep Tech. Even the business track, traditionally focused on business model innovation, was dominated by technology-driven solutions. Deep Tech means innovation rooted in new technological development rather than incremental changes in business models.”
Ingrid Berg Sivertsen added: “We saw several start-ups tackling established industries with advanced research-based solutions—such as concrete recycling, new welding techniques, water purification, and desalination for drinking water. Sustainability was a strong and genuine theme across the board.”
What is a University Spin-off?
As Dag Håkon explains: “University spin-offs are companies that leverage knowledge from the university as a core resource in their value proposition.” He also noted that sustainability is now a fundamental part of these ventures—not just an add-on.
Interestingly, the landscape has evolved since NTNU first joined Stage Two in 2021. Back then, most cases were student-driven. Today, we see more start-ups based on employee innovation, sometimes involving students, but not exclusively.
Why Engage?
For Engage, Stage Two is an invaluable opportunity to connect with the European innovation ecosystem, gain insights into emerging trends, and strengthen our network. It’s a fantastic way to bring knowledge back to our community and inspire future entrepreneurs.
