Norwegian Performer Gears Up for Pitch
Aleksander Erichsen, CEO and co-founder of Konfidens, is pitching in this week’s Startup World Cup Finals in San Francisco, and he has a secret weapon that might help him stand out. “ I’m no stranger to being on stage,” Erichsen says.
The Oslo-based startup Konfidens, backed by Invest in Norway, is in the running for a potential boost in funds. The top prize is one million dollars.
“Of course, I’m here to deliver a great pitch, but winning isn’t the most important part. I’m excited about the opportunity to be here, meet inspiring people, and learn from the experience,” says Aleksander Erichsen, who just arrived in San Francisco.
Entering the global competition wasn’t part of Konfidens’s and his original plan.
“I signed up to pitch just for visibility at Startup Extreme (the regional final in Norway), but I didn’t even realize it was a competition until we were chosen as one of the top ten and got stage time,” he shares.
Erichsen notes that pitching in Silicon Valley is quite different from the more casual coffee chats they’re used to with Norwegian investors. But his stage experience from productions in Norway and producing several Scandinavian and European premieres has prepared him for the spotlight.
“With a degree in musical theatre under my belt, I’m no stranger to being on stage,” Erichsen says.
Aleksander Erichsen co-founded Konfidens alongside Tomas Fagerbekk, the CTO, and Morten Noddeland, the CPO, in 2020. Together, they launched Konfidens with the aim of revolutionizing mental healthcare through a holistic SaaS platform.
On Wednesday, Erichsen will compete in the semifinals. If he impresses the judges, Konfidens could be one of the finalists competing for the top prize on Friday at the Hilton Union Square in San Francisco.
Pegasus Tech Ventures is organizing the Startup World Cup, which has been held in San Francisco since 2017.