Two 20-year-old Norwegian entrepreneurs are making millions after designing a unique solar-powered charger for iPhone.
What started out as boring summer holiday, turned out to be a lucrative business venture for Waleed Ahmed and Flemming Sommerfeldt Bordoy. They were frustrated with the low battery capacity of their iPhones, and designed a solar-powered holster that could charge the device. The product not only already earned them NOK 12 million, but kicked off their entrepreneurial careers.
"They think big, unlike the typical Norwegian," Bård Stranheim, Director of Innovation Norway in Telemark, tells public broadcaster NRK. "It’s a Mark Zuckerberg-kind of attitude."
Innovation Norway helped the duo establish their company, Grønt Norge ("Green Norway"), and build the prototype with a stipend of NOK 150,000. This year, the young duo expects their company to report earnings of NOK 40 million.
Still, the success hasn’t gone to their heads quite yet. "Don’t get me wrong, we have a great life," Ahmed says to NRK. "Flemming and I have an agreement that we’ll slow down a bit when our savings reach NOK 100 million." As for now, Ahmed is still living at home, and Bordoy is serving in the military.
However, it shouldn’t take too long before they reach their goal. Other projects and contracts are in the works, and they are still saving and working hard at opening up new doors and opportunities. Last year they only took out NOK 100,000 in salary, in addition to the company covering all their travel expenses.
"Although we deal with a lot of young people, these guys are at the very end of the spectrum," says Stranheim. "They have definitely found a recipe for success."
(NRK)
Written by Julie Ryland
The clean-up process in the wake of the destructive floodwaters which hit Eastern Norway this week, has barely begun, but it is already clear that it will be a long and very expensive task...
There is dialogue between Widerøe and the airline's cabin crew since negotiations came to a halt and staff went on strike Tuesday evening...
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (photo)were present when the UN Security Council Chamber in New York was reopened after the renovation.
..
Minister of Transport and Communications, Marit Arnstad, says she will not give priority to the building of high speed trains between Oslo and Trondheim and between Oslo and Trondheim.
..
A 24-hour access to helicopters with a response time of 15 minutes, is one of several improvements to the Norwegian emergency response system in the new year.
..
The Telenor Group has announced that the company has been successful in securing spectrum license to provide mobile telephony services in six telecom circles in India.
..
At Iceland's request, Sweden and Finland say they are ready to contribute to the surveillance of Icelandic airspace, together with Norway.
..
The Government has proposed allocating NOK 140 million to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen security at the diplomatic and consular missions as well as at the Ministry in Oslo (photo).
..
Since 1950, Bjørknes has played a substantial role in the area of secondary education in Norway, whilst more recently we have also expanded our organisation to include internationally directed activities at higher levels of education.
..
The National Bureau of Crime Investigation (KRIPOS) has called a rush meeting on Tuesday to discuss ten cases of reported abduction attempts.
..
