Norwegian investors should take greater risks to secure gains

Published 2026-10-19

Norwegian investors need to change the way they think when investing in new companies. This is the view of Jon Kåre Stene, a partner at the investment firm Skyfall Ventures. He points out that foreign investors are currently often better at taking risks, and that they therefore end up with the biggest gains when new technology companies succeed.

Stene believes the problem lies in the Norwegian investment culture. Many Norwegian investors are too cautious and do not want to lose money on projects that do not work out. This leads them to miss out on the big success stories. According to Stene, one must be willing to lose money on some projects in order to find the few companies that will truly become winners in the future.

To compete with foreign players, Stene suggests that Norwegian investors must change their risk profile. This means they must tolerate more uncertainty and be more patient. Today, we often see international funds come in and take control of promising Norwegian companies because they are willing to commit more capital early in the process.

This debate is important for the Norwegian business sector. If Norwegian investors fail to keep up with developments, Norway could lose ownership of the most important technology companies of the future. It is not just about money, but also about ensuring that the value created in Norway remains in the country.

In summary, the statement from Skyfall Ventures shows that there is a need for a cultural change in the financial environment. By accepting higher risk, Norwegian investors can to a greater extent help build the winners of tomorrow, instead of watching foreign investors take the gains home.

Sources: Finansavisen

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