The ESSE growth program, with 10 masterclasses and 10 webinars, has completed its second review. The feedback from participants clearly shows that the need for expertise, networking, and a structured development process for companies in the agrifoodtech and environmental technology sectors is significant. We are proud that the growth program is already delivering such excellent results, two years after its launch in 2024.
In 2025, ESSE had:
- 80+ unique participants
- 4.7 out of 5 in participant score
- 10 masterclasses that covered essential business knowledge (Financing, IPR, business model, product development, go-to-market strategy, sales and marketing, financial management, negotiation techniques, internationalization and taxation, pitching and investor communication)
- 23 experts from industry and business who delivered lectures, workshops and provided individual feedback
- 10 in-person webinars with masterclass leaders (see recordings here)
Participants: – ESSE provides insight, speed, and networking
The participants describe ESSE as a program that strengthens business knowledge, contributes to faster progress, and provides valuable networking and sharing of experiences.
«I have learned an incredible amount through ESSE. The growth program is Norway’s most important program for agri-foodtech companies, with the best and brightest people.»
– Glenda Anfinsen, Founder and CEO of grabEAT
«Aggrator’s ESSE Masterclasses cover relevant topics and there is always something to learn, (almost) no matter the topic and personal experience!»
– Even Zimmer, Founder and CEO of Agrisenze
«It’s like going through an entire school year of corporate development – it’s also fun.»
– Nikolai Ersdal, Founder of Glasir Solutions
The Aggrator's specialist mentors has and has been present, and provided strong feedback, here from Simen Wølneberg:
“I can assure you that there is a lot of exciting activity happening in the Norwegian startup scene in the fields of agrifoodtech and environmental technology. Thanks to Aggrator, the meeting room is now full of innovation, creativity, and knowledge – and you can all look forward to seeing the results of the work these start-up companies are doing!”
The growth program for companies working for a cleaner, better world
ESSE is Aggregator’s growth program for companies working for a cleaner, better world – with connections to the research and innovation environment at Campus Ås. The name «ESSE» comes from Norse and means fireplace with extra strong heating – a picture of what happens when ambitious entrepreneurs meet the right expertise and the right people.
The goal of ESSE is to take participants from being drive the company to lead That. We often call it a Mini MBA for entrepreneursPractical, relevant and directly applicable – not theory detached from your everyday life.
ESSE is suitable for companies that come from, or wish to connect with, Campus Ås – and is particularly suitable for those working on new solutions in the fields of agrifoodtech or environmental technology.
The program differs from traditional accelerator programs in that there is no fixed, mandatory course. The participants are in different stages – from student entrepreneurs and researchers to established companies that have come a long way – and can choose the masterclasses that are most relevant to them right now.
During ESSE, participants encounter a unique professional community and a strong network across their own industry, maturity, and professional fields. In addition to skills development and practical workshops on topics from their own company, ESSE serves as a networking platform, where companies share experiences, challenges, and solutions with each other.
An example of two companies that met during ESSE is Wai Genetics og New, Both are part of Aggrator’s StartUp program and participants in the ESSE growth program. They are now exploring the possibility of combining Wai Genetics’ «wetware» with Angenovo’s hardware.
From left: Kåre Johan Teigen (Co-founder and CCO at Wai Genetics), Yanwu Guo (Founder of Angenovo) and Dr. Paul J. Midtlyng (NMBU).
Each masterclass is structured with lectures from industry experts, workshops where participants work directly on issues from their own companies, and discussions and presentations with feedback in the plenary. This ensures that the learning is both practical and immediately applicable.
In addition to the masterclass leaders, Aggrator assists participating companies with their own business developers, partners, and mentors with expert knowledge (see our team), and we offer our own follow-up executive workshops when needed.
The Grand Finale: Agrifoodtech Demo Day
The highlight of the ESSE program is too much for many Agrifoodtech Demo Day in November. In this year's Agrifoodtech Demo Day, which was Norway's first, they participated over 100 people From startups, business, investors, academia and government agencies. Here, ESSE participants had the opportunity to showcase their technology, make valuable connections and meet potential partners. A selection of companies also had the chance to pitch their solutions on stage, in front of a packed audience and a dedicated investor panel.
Norwegian: NMBU Rector Solve Sæbø opened the Agrifoodtech Demo Day at Vitenparken, Campus Ås.
Norwegian University of Life Sciences Rector Solve Sæbø shared on her LinkedIn account after the event:
“What a pleasure to open the Agrifoodtech Demo Day. Researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs meet investors and policymakers. The perfect blend to build a resilient future in agriculture in a time when we need to «produce more with less»”
What will be new in ESSE 2026?
We improve ESSE every year based on the feedback from participants and our own experiences. ESSE 2026 will include even more interaction between the participants and more practical work directly related to the topic in the company itself. We will also place even more emphasis on the opportunity for tailored problem-solving in executive workshops.
The program will also incorporate how to best use AI in the various business areas. We will invite Claude Code courses with Norway’s leading expert Simon Strumse on May 12th, and «vibecoding» / «agentic AI» meetups on May 28th and September 8th.
In 2026, we will combine some of the themes from this year's program, while introducing new masterclasses that we believe are crucial to taking the company from ambition to growth. The first new masterclass will be on May 7th «How to develop a winning team»In collaboration with Bekk and Antler. Before the final masterclass and Demo Day, we will also train the entrepreneurs on conducting their own due diligence before meeting the investor – with the new masterclass «Risk management for growth«led by our own Lars La Cour Poulsen, In collaboration with Sweco and NMBU.
Agrifoodtech Demo Day 26.11 this year will also include a dedicated session open to all participants from this year’s ESSE, where they will pitch their solutions to investors.
5 reasons to join Aggrator’s ESSE growth program
- Learn from the best: The masterclasses maintain a high professional level and are led by experts from industry and business. Participants gain insight into methods and strategies used by successful companies, and the opportunity to discuss their own challenges with top-level professionals.
- Practical results: ESSE is action-oriented and provides concrete tools and methods that participants can immediately apply in their own businesses. They work with their own cases and receive feedback that clearly shows progress from session to session.
- Tailored guidance: The participants work on issues from their own company and receive support from Agregator’s specialist mentors, partners, and business developers. The guidance is adapted to the company’s maturity and goals.
- Professionally relevant networking arena: ESSE connects the participants to a strong innovation environment at Campus Ås – to companies, researchers, investors, and industry players in the field of agrifoodtech and environmental technology. This creates collaboration, partnerships, and new opportunities.
- «The »Pay it Forward" environment: The program is based on a collaborative culture where participants share experiences and support each other. This creates a safe space to test ideas, practice pitching, and receive constructive feedback.
Lunch during the ESSE masterclass on Go-to-market strategy.u003c/emu003e
- All collections are physical, at the BIT Innovation Center in Ås, from 08:30 to 15:30
- In 2026, the program runs every other Thursday from April 23 to October 15, with breaks in weeks 26–33 due to the summer holidays.
- The Agrifoodtech Demo Day will be on November 26, and will also include a section where ESSE participants will pitch their ideas to investors.
- Questions? Contact the project manager, Vilde Wettergreen (vilde.wettergreen@aggrator.com / +47 974 70 891)
Overview and registration for the ESSE masterclasses 2026 here.
Thanks to the amazingly talented and dedicated masterclass leaders in 2025 – ESSE would not have been possible without their contributions: Stian Nygaard (YARA Growth Ventures), Tone Blixøen (Aggrator), Jørgen André Nilsen (Televenture Management), Christina Westerveld Haug (Consulting West), Axel Moulin (Dehns), Haakon Thue Lie (Dehns), Jenny Arsenyuk, Christine Lundberg Larsen (Amesto Footprint), Arild Terland (NxTech), Tore Karlsen (NxTech/Prolux), Mette Elizabeth Rud Olafsen (NxTech), Ellen Altenborg (BI), Knut H. H. Johansen (Smart Innovation Norway), David Aleksandersen (Spring Agency), Sverre Steensen (We Rock Sales), Hans Kristian Bekkevard (Marker & Eidsberg Sparebank), Anders Rygh (Beyond Strategy Consulting), Bjarne Tvete (Aggrator), Lise Ovidia Bruland (EY), Herman Thevik (EY), Nichlas Ødegaard Gundelach (EY), Christian Schøyen (xSeed), Mario Ek Aparicio (Ardoq). A big thank you is also extended to Akershus County Council, which is the sponsor of the ESSE growth program.