A Sit-Down with Bill Aulet

Eight years of collaboration, results, and a shared vision for Norwegian scaleups.

For nearly a decade, GCE Ocean Technology and MIT’s Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship have worked side by side to strengthen Norway’s innovation capacity.

At the heart of this collaboration is ScaleupNow by GCE Ocean Technology— a program that helps Norwegian technology companies grow and scale faster and smarter through MIT’s Disciplined Entrepreneurship principles.

We sat down with Bill Aulet, Managing Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, to reflect on the partnership, the results, and what lies ahead.

Eight years of collaboration

– The partnership with GCE Ocean Technology has been exceptional, says Aulet. – From the beginning, we saw strong alignment in values — a shared belief that entrepreneurship can be learned, and that structure and discipline lead to better results. It’s been rewarding to see Norwegian companies embrace this mindset and apply it to their markets.

Owe Hagesæther, CEO of GCE Ocean Technology, agrees.

– This collaboration has been a game changer for the over 60 Norwegian scaleups that have participated” in the program, thus far he says. – MIT brings world-class methods, and our companies bring world-class technology. Together, we’ve created a learning arena that gives Norwegian entrepreneurs the confidence, competence, and network to scale internationally.

Participants in ScaleupNow fall 2025 were Really AS, Nortech AI,
Viridien, Amundsen Diving, Dynamon AS, Atterås and BSI Offshore.

Tangible results

Since the program’s launch, Norwegian companies participating in ScaleupNow have grown on average 20% faster than their industry peers.

– I’m not surprised, Aulet says. – These companies already have strong technology and a clear sense of purpose. What we do together is sharpen their focus — ensuring they nail it before they scale it. We push them to test assumptions, validate markets, and build something people or society truly want and need. That’s when growth accelerates.

Bill’s core question — “Will the dog eat the dog food?” — is sure to be top of mind for every participant. It centers on the end-user, and on the importance of creating something that truly solves a problem and adds value.

– True entrepreneurial strength lies in becoming antifragile — growing from stress and uncertainty, not just enduring it, Aulet adds. – The myth that entrepreneurs are born that way is simply wrong. Entrepreneurship is a discipline — it can be taught, practiced, and mastered.

It’s fascinating how just four days can completely change your mindset and the way you see your company. It’s been absolutely mind-blowing, Stine Sætran Halhjem, CFO and Assisting CEO at Atterås.

Stine Sætran Halhjem, CFO and Assisting CEO at Atterås pitching for
Entrepreneurs in Residence at Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship.

Expanding collaboration

As the next step, GCE Ocean Technology and MIT are now expanding their collaboration to include a new program dedicated to promising Norwegian startups — ScaleupNext for startups - building the pipeline for the next generation of scaleups.

– This is a natural evolution, Hagesæther says. – ScaleupNow has proven that the Norwegian entrepreneurs that have been through the program can compete globally when they have the right tools and frameworks. Now we’re extending that learning earlier in the journey — to help people with ideas and early startups to build solid foundations from day one.

He believes this expansion marks an important milestone.

– We’re taking the best of MIT and bringing it home to Norway, he says. – By starting earlier, we can help more companies grow and scale faster — and contribute to a stronger, more export-oriented innovation ecosystem.

A model for Norwegian innovation

For Aulet, the GCE–MIT partnership has become a model for how international collaboration can accelerate innovation.

– Norwegian entrepreneurs bring deep technical expertise he says. – What we add is a system for scaling — a way to turn that potential into sustained success. The goal is not just to survive, but to thrive.

Owe Hagesæther sums it up:

– This collaboration shows what happens when world-leading entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem meets world-class industry. Together, we’re creating impact — for companies, for Norway, and for the businesses of the future.

ScaleupNow and ScaleupNext are made possible by the support from Sparebanken Norge through Agenda Vestlandet.