Helen Gjester

Scaling programs and national startup&scaleup events - Innovation Norway

Oslo, Oslo, Norway

About

Experience

  • Innovation Norway (Full-time · 9 yrs 6 mos)
    • Business developper - special advisor
      2022 - Present · 4 yrs 6 mos

      Dept for Startups and Scaleups at the HQ in Oslo: Responsible for Innovation Norway's scaling programs: - TINC Silicon Valley (Tech Incubator SV)T - TEA London (Tech Executive Accelerator) and - EMNY New York (Executive Marketing New York) Also responsible for Innovations Norway's role at national startup and scaleup scenes (like Startup Extreme, and Oslo Innovation Week)

    • Special Advisor
      2017 - Present · 9 yrs 6 mos

    • Special advisor - program manager
      2017 - 2021 · 4 yrs

      Digitalization processes in SMEs (3 yr pilot program) with competence transfer from selected partner like Digital Norway and Norwegian Innovation Clusters members to SMEs over the entire country

  • Innovation Norway (12 yrs 1 mo)
    • Program manager Global Entrepreneurship (Special Advisor), from 2011
      2004 - 2016 · 12 yrs

      Created learning arenas in innovation hubs globally for startup companies with international growh potential (TINC - Tech Incubator, Global Entrepreneurship Training (GET) etc.) 2004-2011: Program manager (Senior advisor) • Internationalizing High Potential Start-Ups • International market advisory services, delivered by our foreign market offices

    • Special advisor
      2004 - 2016 · 12 yrs

  • Director - Norwegian Institute of International Trade; Director - Export Services Dept. at Norwegian Trade Council (Norges Eksportråd)
    1991 - 2003 · 12 yrs

    Director - Norwegian Inst. of International Trade (2000-03) Director - Export Services Dept. (1999) Director - Market Information Dept. (1997-98) Senior advisor - Euro Info Centre (1991-97)

  • Marketing Manager at Axess Information Services AS:
    1989 - 1991 · 2 yrs

    Startup company in the online Information space, very early internet days (information broking). Successful exit to Aftenposten electronic services and Swedish company Esselte.

  • Business dev and Product manager - Aftenpostens electronic services (online information services) at Aftenposten
    1986 - 1989 · 3 yrs

    Intrapreneurship - working in the team taking Aftenposten and the news- and archive services over in the internet world by createing new eleltronic services.