Health startups gain global edge through Aleap’s NOME Partnership

In life science entrepreneurship, access to expertise, networks, and strategic guidance is often a key to success. The Nordic Mentor Network for Entrepreneurship (NOME) represents a unique opportunity for startups across the region, and Oslo Science Park's incubator Aleap is proud to be a Norwegian gateway into this community.

As a Norwegian partner of NOME, Aleap is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and nominating ventures that are ready for international mentorship and scale-up. As Mariann Dønnum, Head of Partner Programs & Network at Aleap, puts it:

"Being selected for NOME is a seal of excellence. It shows that your startup has both the scientific foundation and the commercial potential to succeed internationally."

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What is NOME?

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NOME is an elite Nordic Mentoring Program for promising life science projects and startup staking no fee or equity.

Launched in 2016 and managed by Accelerace with funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the network spans all five Nordic countries, Northern Germany, and the Baltics, and now includes over 150 mentors and more than 90 selected ventures.

"Each startup accepted into NOME is matched with a team of three to four experienced mentors from across the Nordic region, EU and US. These mentors are handpicked and selected based on their experience, their skills as advisors and their desire to assist others, and offer both advice and connections” says Dønnum.

She also highlights NOME's independence: "Startups receive completely unbiased advice from volunteer mentors with no conflicting interests. The mission is to increase the success rate of science-based ventures by connecting them with the right people, those who’ve already navigated the complexities of commercializing innovation."

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International reach

NOME’s international focus extends well beyond the Nordic region. Through partnerships in the United States, including the Danish Innovation Centre in Boston and Medtech Bridge in Minneapolis, startups gain valuable insights and access to one of the world’s most dynamic life science markets.

Selected companies are invited to a one-week onsite bootcamp in either the US East Coast or Midwest, depending on the company's profile. The participants gain exposure to US regulatory systems, investors, market dynamics, and potential commercial partners.

"Through the NOME US Camp, ventures get the support they need to understand and enter the American market. It's an incredible door-opener."

Trude Tingvoll, CEO of RESPINOR and a NOME US Camp participant, adds: "The individual mentors are highly committed and giving us tremendous support to grow our company, in addition, helping me as a leader to continue developing my leadership skills. The US Camp was a game changer for us. We came home with concrete investor leads, regulatory insights, and partnerships that continue to benefit RESPINOR today."  

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Investor reach

NOME Investor Day is a yearly event set up to help more life science companies find investors, by inviting European VCs to one-to-one meetings and mingling with NOME ventures. The investors have been able to preview company one-pagers and sign up for discussions with ventures they have a specific interest in meeting. Not traditional pitching, but matched meetings and conversations with VCs active in your field.

Gaute Næspe founder of the Aleap member company Possibia was admitted to NOME last year and participated in the NOME Investor Day.

“NOME Investor Day stood out by enabling highly targeted conversations with investors who had already engaged with our vision. The format—where VCs select companies based on curated one-pagers—meant every meeting was relevant, focused, and productive. It’s a rare opportunity to connect with the right investors at the right stage” says Næspe.

For more information about NOME and Aleap, visit www.nome.nu.

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