April 29, 2009 by bippermom
Starting up as an entrepreneur is definitely fun, but extremely tough! Especially now during the financial crises… We had landed the needed investor capital a few months back – or so we thought – but suddenly the deal collapsed. Personal issues from the investors side. Many wealthy people are suddenly out of hard cash these days. Having millions in unsellable stocks or properties is really not of much help when dollars are needed….
This event put us back about two months in development, and in a difficult financial situation. Luckily our case is strong, and there are several investors who have expressed serious interest in us. There is a huge market, a real need, and people see this
.
Right now I am sitting at a cafe in Oslo enjoying my lunch. Have just finished one positive investor meeting, and another one is coming up in 20 minutes. I remember the first investor meetings I went to. So nervous about making the right impression. So scared to say something wrong. I was new in business, and really knew nothing about technology, yet still I was developing a a software solution to make children’s mobile phones safer and more appropriate for their age. Now I am quite comfortable in these meetings. With complete faith in the success of our solution and in my own ability to carry it through (well backed by my amazing team) it is much easier to convince others. But with the difficult global financial times it is time consuming to land a final agreement….
Have to run now! Wish me luck in the next meeting
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April 11, 2009 by bippermom
Everybody seems to be blogging these days, and with this blog I attempt to join the trendy people. Hopefully I will manage to fill this blog with information and thoughts of interest to others than only myself. Please do give me a wink if I don’t…
So what will I blog about?
This blog will be a mixture of a family blog, a business blog and a personal blog. Mainly if will be about being a mother of three and setting up a business with global ambitions, but since my private, family and business lives seem to be three sides to the same story, this blog is really about juggling my life.
Two and a half years ago my daughter started school, and I was soon to be shocked to learn that kids as young as 6 years of age carry their own mobile phones. Not just in Norway, but in most countries. After hours and hours of googling information about kids and mobile phones, trends and products – not to say after hours and hours of debating with myself – I founded a company to develop safe mobile solutions for kids. It’s called Bipper, and this company is my fourth and youngest child.
Let me introduce the rest of my family:
Oda Marie is now going on 9, and our eldest child. She is in third grade, and enjoying both school and hanging out with her friends. She is yet to be given a mobile phone, but as soon as Bipper is launched, she will et one… But ssshhhh!!!
August Severin is 5, and has one more year to go in Kindergarden before he starts school. He is our joker and monkey (there is not a single tree in the neighborhood that he hasn’t climbed), a Nintendo DS addict, and a little Mr. Mathematics.
Alvin is hour ‘baby’, now going on 3. He loves cuddling. He loves eating. And he loves life in general. Alvin knows how to charm everyone with his kisses and kind words, and definitely takes advantage of being the youngest one.
Alf-Erik is my husband 6 and boyfriend of 11 years. We got together when I was 19 years of age, and have been going strong ever since. He has been by my side when I have started and finished two university degree, carried and given birth to our three kids, founding a number of idealistic organizations and projects and lastly when I am now sting up my own business. He is my anchor and much needed stable foundation of my life, yet sometimes I wonder how he survives my many ventures….
Posted in Bipper, Business, Family, Kids and mobiles | Tagged Alf, Alvin, August, Bipper, Oda, Silje | Leave a Comment »