Winner of the prestigious High North Young Entrepreneur Award, Bodø-based CapiPro, is about to secure its first contract for sustainable fish feed production. CEO Vonen urges fellow entrepreneurs to apply for this year's award.
The High North Young Entrepreneur Award is an international pitch competition awarding NOK 50,000 to thebest Arctic business idea, with finalists invited to pitch in Bodø, Norway. The award is organized by the High North Center at Nord university.
- The 2025 deadline for submitting an application is February 5. -
Last year's winner was CapiPro from Bodø, who are developing a method to turn fish farm waste into sustainable feed.
– In a startup, every little bit helps, and this was a lot of money for us. But it also shows recognition from an international panel. That gives us credibility, CEO Samson Steindal Vonen explains.
Vonen recommends other entrepreneurs apply for the award.
– Everyone benefits from trying to stand on stage and speak in front of people. Being able to communicate what you're working on in a meaningful way is essential.
– Winning awards provides recognition and helps us be taken seriously.
Sustainable Protein Source
The company, which started as a student enterprise at Nord University, has progressed rapidly.
The limited company was established in February last year. Now their first major commercial agreement is just around the corner.
– This is our first, and therefore most significant contract. It shows that we can attract customers willing to pay a good price for what we produce.
Vonen recently completed his master's degree in Entrepreneurship and Business Development at Nord University, where the idea was developed.
– We started the company while studying for our master's at Nord. It gave us the opportunity to thoroughly test the idea while at university. The master's program facilitated our ability to continue working on the business.
They currently have a test production at the research station in Mørkvedbukta. The current contract involves a major Norwegian player joining as a pilot customer.
– They'll be a kind of pilot customer who can experiment and try things out with us.
Large Untapped Resource
The company develops protein for fish feed using polychaete worms.
The product they’re making will initially be used as a supplement in fish feed, particularly for broodstock and juvenile fish.
For now, the worms will be fed with brewery waste products and pellets. They are in dialogue with several breweries about this.
– Today, salmon feed is 70 percent vegetable raw materials and 30 percent marine. There's a general shortage of protein, but an enormous shortage of omega-3. Omega-3 is key to our product, explains Vonen.
The long-term ambition is to utilize fish sludge from the aquaculture industry as feed for the worms. This creates a sustainable protein source for the feed.
– This is an enormous, untapped resource. We strongly believe we can produce a safe product based on fish sludge. But the regulations involve lengthy and cumbersome processes, says Vonen.
International Recognition
He shared the following advice for people who are considering applying for the award, regarding getting up on stage:
– You need to speak freely, not stare down at a piece of paper. Breathe from your diaphragm before going on stage. You just have to trust that you know what you're doing, he concludes.
Apply for the High North Young Entrepreneur award.
Source: High North Young Entrepreneur
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