Oslo Business Region (now Oslo&Co) — Municipal Start-up Growth Agency

Oslo Business Region (OBR) was established in 2014 as the City of Oslo's wholly-owned business development and investment promotion agency, tasked with building Oslo's startup and scaleup ecosystem and attracting international talent and capital. In March 2026, following a successful decade of operation, the City expanded OBR's mandate into a broader economic development role and rebranded the organisation Oslo&Co.

What it does: OBR connects Norwegian startups and scaleups with international investors through curated delegation missions (e.g., a 2024 San Francisco programme pairing 50 Norwegian startups with 70 US investors and 20 Norwegian VCs). It publishes the Oslo Outlook market intelligence report, runs the Oslo Startup Hub directory of 50+ professional communities, and manages the city's international economic positioning.

Results: According to the independent Menon Economics 'Startups and Scaleups in the Oslo Region 2023' report, Oslo was home to 2,051 startups and growth companies employing 14,300 people, accounting for NOK 12.3 billion in value creation — nearly double the 2010 figure. OBR's direct 2024 investment initiatives engaged 500+ Norwegian and international investment firms and attracted NOK 90 million in direct investment. Oslo's startup ecosystem ranks #77 globally (StartupBlink 2025).

Why it works: A single 100%-municipal agency integrating branding, investor facilitation, data intelligence and talent attraction removes duplication between city departments, creates a single point of contact for investors, and makes results attributable to elected government.

Source: https://osloandco.no/ | https://menon.no/uploads/images/2023-141-Startups-and-scaleups-in-the-Oslo-region-2023-1.pdf

Read the full analysis: https://osloandco.no/