Highlights 

TILT program 2025 – 2026 

TILT is a tailored entrepreneurship program for teams with research-based ideas, technology, or IP — whether you're ready to take concrete steps toward creating a startup or have already established one based on your research. 

We work closely with you to develop your innovation into a viable startup, providing structure, strategy, and access to the right people at the right time. 

The TILT program includes: 

• Monthly masterclasses & hands-on workshops 

• 1:1 mentoring and milestone planning 

• Travel grants and access to VIS’ academic spin-out investment fund 

• A strong community of peers and collaborators 

• Opportunities to pitch to external experts and potential investors for feedback 

TILT Program period: September 2025 – June 2026 
Applications open: June 15, 2025 - Scroll down for information about the application process.  
Deadline: August 15, 2025 
Application required 

Why Join TILT? 

• Tailored guidance: Dedicated mentoring and strategic follow-up adapted to your project 

• Practical learning: Focused content on funding, team-building, communication, access to tools, and more 

• Expert network: Learn from industry professionals, founders, and innovation leaders 

• Collaborative community: Work alongside other research-driven teams tackling real challenges 

• Visibility and opportunity: Teams will engage early with experts and investors to gain visibility and engagement for their startup 

• Extra incentives: Outstanding teams may be invited to exclusive study trips or awarded grants 

Who Can Join TILT 

TILT is open to teams with research-based ideas, technologies, or IP where: 

• At least one team member is a researcher affiliated with one of VIS’ owner institutions: 
  UiB, Helse Bergen, HVL, IMR, or NHH 

• The idea or project is based on academic research 

• Teams may include students and external collaborators 

• The team is either pre-startup or has a startup that is recently incorporated 

TILT - call open for 2025-2026!

Participation in the TILT program requires active engagement and availability throughout the academic year, from September 2025 to June 2026.

Participants are expected to attend full-day TILT sessions once per months, from September to June, on Wednesdays. Here are the tentative dates for the fall semester: September 10th, October 15th, November 12th & December 10th. In addition, we will host a special Christmas Pitch Session on December 17th.

Between sessions, participants are expected to dedicate time to 1:1 mentoring (scheduled individually) and working on their project (e.g., customer discovery, validation, team-building, IP strategy, etc.).

To apply for the TILT Program 2025–2026, please send your application by email to:

tilt@visinnovasjon.no
Subject line: Application TILT program 2025–2026

In your application, please provide clear and concise answers to the following questions:

1. What problem are you addressing, and why is it important to solve?

2. Describe your concept and target customers.

3. What specialized expertise does your team have?

4. How is your idea, project, or technology connected to academic research?

5. Which research institution are you (or your team) affiliated with?
   (One team member must be from UiB, Helse Bergen, HVL, IMR, or NHH)

6. Why do you want to join the TILT program?

7. What stage is your company or idea in? Idea phase, pre-startup or recently incorporated startup?

8. Have you been in contact with VIS TTO or the TILT team previously?
   (If yes, please mention who you spoke with and when.)

9. Are you applying as a solo applicant?

• Solo applicants are welcome – you don’t need a full team in place yet.

• If you’re applying alone, include a plan for who you need on your team, which roles or expertise are missing, and how you intend to find or attract the right team members during the program.

Please note that the TILT team is on holiday during July, and therefore all follow-up conversations with applicants will be scheduled between early August and August 22nd.

Make sure that at least one person from your team is available during this period for a short follow-up talk regarding your application. This conversation is an important part of the evaluation process.

TILT Komet – Early Exploration Program 

Not sure where to start? 
TILT Komet is your low-threshold entry point — created for researchers and students who want to explore the startup potential of their ideas in a flexible, inspiring environment. 

TILT Komet is also strongly recommended for anyone applying to the full TILT program — it helps you build a solid foundation before diving deeper. 

What you get: 

• Access to an online platform with structured modules (entrepreneurship, validation, IP, funding, business model, team, go-to-market, pitching) 

• A supportive digital and physical peer community of fellow researchers and students 

• In-person workshops led by external experts and entrepreneurs with hands-on activities and real-world cases 

• A launchpad into TILT, Gründer Academy, or VIS’ incubator programs 

No application needed — just sign up 
Once you sign up, you’ll receive access to the platform and invitations to all workshops. 

Contact us if you are interested in signing up during the pilot period. The official launch of the platform will be under Innovasjonsuken OPP, September 15th-20th. 

Who Can Join TILT Komet 

TILT Komet is open to: 

• Researchers, PhDs, and postdocs from VIS’ owner institutions 

• Students from research institutions in Vestland 

• Teams exploring research-based ideas at an early stage 

• No application is required — participation is based on sign-up 

Questions? 

Get in touch with team TILT: tilt@visinnovasjon.no