Eric Eikrem’s Blog

I have had the pleasure of getting to know several foreigners living in Tromsø (Norway). Many are couples where one is either working or studying, while the other is trying to find a job, preferably an interesting one. It is surprising how many people have a hard time finding something relevant to do, even though they have excellent qualifications. Here are some ideas on how a foreign professional can get a job in the private sector, both in Norway and elsewhere. Read more

I have been working as an entrepreneur with a technology-based project for the last 4 years, and have, during this period, also worked or cooperated with other entrepreneurs that were developing technology-based projects. In retrospect, it is clear that all of these projects had a lot of characteristics in common, including similar hurdles that had to be overcome.

Most tech start-ups have a product focus, including a good product development process, normally involving agile methods. On the other hand, a clear-cut business model based on proper market know-how is missing in the majority of start-up projects. Admittedly, some projects are so innovative that it is difficult to establish a market need, but in that case it is paramount to establish a process to obtain market intelligence as early as possible. Moreover, marketing, sales and distribution strategies are not prioritized early on. Typically, they come into focus at a much later stage, often too late.

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On May 19, the fourth edition of the “Entrepreneur’s Day in Galicia” (“O Dia do Emprendedor”) was held in the Congress Palace of Santiago de Compostela,. It is an event promoted by the Galician Institute for Economic Development (IGAPE) and BIC Galicia, in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade. The main objective of this day was to “make visible, to recognize and promote entrepreneurship as an engine of economic development, generating innovation, job creation and social cohesion.“  Over two thousand people attended the event, a number significantly higher than previous years. For the first time attendees were offered individual consultations, and more than 300 people made use of the service. Read more