TheFactory’s mentor and close friend Christian Van Veen Aas
Christian Van Veen Aas was a close friend of TheFactory before he joined us as a mentor in December 2017. He is one of the first people that sat at TheFactory’s old office in Fornebu even before we ran our first accelerator program. Christian is a true entrepreneurial mind that quit his job and started his own equity crowdfunding business qb Ventures in 2014, probably among the first in Norway who thought about such platform in Norway at that time…

Hi Christian, please tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and what you are currently working on?
I have worked in finance sector since 2012, mostly with larger corporations such as Nordea and IG. In 2014, I started an equity crowdfunding platform. Things did not plan out well and I ended up having to sell my apartment. It was a really down period but perhaps the best learning experience yet in my life.
I went back to corporate world and worked with Nordea for 2 years as an Investment Advisor. Things got better and I enjoyed a bit of success in my role. Yet my entrepreneurial passion always urged me to look for the next challenge. I met BlueLice through Gründerjakten at Nordea. Their business was very interesting and I ended up joined them in April 2018 as a Chief Commercial Officer. BlueLice have received a lot of attention lately from media, investors and partners. We are excited for upcoming times.
When and why did you decide to join TheFactory as a mentor?
I met HC again through Gründerjakten at Nordea. He asked if I want to become a mentor and of course I said yes.
What do you find most exciting about working with TheFactory entrepreneurs and mentors?
I am rooting for everyone who has the courage to disrupt and innovate. There are a lot of things that can be improved. If my experience with startups and the finance industry could help entrepreneurs working in this particular space that would be a real pleasure.
Which are your favourite startups at TheFactory and why?
All the startups have factors that are intriguing. If forced to say one that stands out that would be Hoili because the founder has a relevant background, market knowledge and working experience that will come to his advantage in building his company.
The market he is targeting is very exciting. Central America is a big market but still a targeted market. The needs are huge. He has identified a real problem and found a specific solution.
How have you as a mentor contributed to help them grow?
I joined mentor roundtable and 1–1 meetings.
What have you learned as a mentor and why do you recommend others to join TheFactory mentor network?
There is always something new to be learnt and being a mentor helps you grow your horizon. It can definitely help you succeed no matter what your dayjob is.
How do you see the Fintech ecosystem in Oslo evolving?
Five years ago, there was not a lot of people in Oslo talking about Fintech. TheFactory is a big contributor in raising awareness and building a platform where fintech startups can be supported.
For the future, I envision that big banks will struggle to keep up the pace with fintech startups. They will have to adapt or their existing business models will slowly suffer to decline.