Laura Modiano
Head of Startups EMEAOpenAI
For founders
For the cracked minds.
A curated program for founders building globally ambitious companies from Norway.
Investors at the foundry
What we dig into
Two (or three) intense days of founder-to-founder conversations, hands-on sessions, and honest lessons from people actually building companies. You’ll connect with international investors, collaborate with like-minded builders, and dive deep into the knowledge that actually moves your company forward.
Topics
- AI-Native
- AI Agents
- Product-Market Fit
- Go-to-Market
- Founder-Led Sales
- B2B & Enterprise Sales
- Pricing & Monetization
- Brand & Positioning
- Narrative & Distribution
- Fundraising
- Global Hiring & Culture
- Scaling Systems
- Founder Mindset
Why founders choose The Foundry
The Foundry is intentionally curated. Small room, high signal. Here's what you get out of two days in Mandal.
The room
Connect with like-minded builders
AI company access
Meet teams from OpenAI, Nvidia and Google
1:1 meetings
The highest density of international investors in Norway
Efficiency
Designed to make your time count
Structure
June 3
Kick off with the AI Hackathon, Founders Day, experiences at sea, LP/GP dinner at Kunstsilo and pre-drinks at Oxidane Ventures.
June 4
The main day in Mandal — keynotes, 1:1 investor meetings, industry sessions and dinners that run into the night.
June 5
Golf, watersports, climbing, sauna, coastal runs and hiking across the Mandal archipelago.
Recap 2025
Moments from last year at formerly Mandal Slush'D.
On & off the program
Hackathons, Founders Day, time at sea, and the simple things in between. Real relationships are rarely built in networking rooms.
Hackathon - Day 0
Win 3 million NOK
More info soon.
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Founders Day - Day 0
A unique founders experience at sea
A closed session for founders only. No investors. No performances. Just founders building companies — honest conversations across tables, not stages.
The Skagerak experience
Fullriggeren Sørlandet
A day on Norway's tallship, out through the Skagerak. Small group, real conversations, the best kind of networking.
Founders Cup
Golf tournament
A friendly round at one of Sørlandet's coastal courses. Mixed flights of founders, investors and industry. Skill level optional.
Beach & sea
Sauna sessions
Seaside sauna and cold-plunge rotations by the Mandal archipelago. A quiet way to meet people without meeting rooms.
Closening
Vibetank; The Foundry edition
A crazy ending on main stage promoting the most cracked founders in Norway. Perfect kickoff for the rest of the night.
Evening
Dinners and afterparty
Curated dinners across Mandal followed by an afterparty that runs well into the night. The best conversations rarely happen in crowded networking areas.
Much more coming soon
We're still shaping the final week. More rooms, more moments, and a few things we'd rather reveal closer to June.
Recommended stay
Where to stay during The Foundry. Mandal is small — none of these are more than a short walk from the main venue.
Most social
Startup Village
A dedicated beachside village for founders attending The Foundry. Stay in apartments, cabins or glamping tents, a 10 minute walk from the main venue.
Book accommodation →
Best value
SKAP Hostel
Simple, well-located hostel rooms in the center of Mandal. A solid option for founders who want to keep costs low without sacrificing location.
Book accommodation →Most flexible
Airbnb
Plenty of Airbnbs across Mandal — from small cabins to waterfront houses. Ideal if you are bringing your team or want your own space.
Browse Airbnbs →