About Sondre Norland

Sondre Norland has dedicated his entire life to the cycling industry. Growing up just one kilometer from Norway’s only bicycle factory, he learned to ride at an early age and quickly developed a deep passion for the sport. Throughout his childhood and youth, he immersed himself in BMX, mountain biking, and road cycling, eventually reaching the top level as a professional downhill MTB racer, competing for five years.

At the age of 12, Sondre welded his first BMX bike, marking the beginning of a lifelong journey into every part of the bicycle value chain. He has run bike shops, workshops, and factories, worked with import and production, and gained extensive experience in the design and specification of bikes and accessories. Over the years, he has developed products for both bicycles and cycling gear, building a unique and comprehensive understanding of the industry.

As a serial entrepreneur, Sondre has founded several companies in cycling and sports, achieving multiple successful exits. The proceeds from these ventures have been invested into his most ambitious project to date: BikeFolder — a groundbreaking software solution that digitalizes, optimizes, and solves key challenges for manufacturers, shops, and bike owners. BikeFolder is already positioning itself as a leading player in the emerging biketech market.

With a combination of visionary thinking, deep industry knowledge, and a proven track record, Sondre is a leader who both understands the complex challenges of the cycling industry and knows how to solve them.

Fun fact: Sondre’s ability to set ambitious goals and achieve them is clearly reflected in his Norwegian speed record on a bicycle — an incredible 129 km/h!

Ken Meland is the Chief Sales Officer of BikeFolder and a lifelong cycling enthusiast. He began racing BMX at age 6 and even became BMX European Champion in 1993 linkedin.com. Meland has worked across all facets of the bicycle industry – from workshop mechanic and bike shop manager to distribution and manufacturing linkedin.com. This broad experience gives him in-depth knowledge of the market. As CSO, Meland uses his expertise to develop BikeFolder’s platform and support bike shops and brands. (When not working, he’s often at BMX tracks mentoring his children.)

Aleksander Pettersen is the Chief Technology Officer of BikeFolder. A seasoned software developer, Pettersen is the technical architect behind the BikeFolder platform. Unlike most of the bike-enthusiast team, Pettersen comes purely from a tech background linkedin.com. He leverages his problem-solving skills to create innovative solutions for the cycling industry, such as BikeFolder’s intelligent booking assistant that helps bike shops optimize their workflow linkedin.comlinkedin.com. Pettersen’s “out-of-the-box” approach to technology has been pivotal in building BikeFolder’s digital infrastructure.

Aleksa Simic is a software developer at BikeFolder, contributing to the company’s web and mobile applications. He has a background in full-stack development and has built apps for various startups. Before joining BikeFolder in 2024, Simic honed his skills as a freelance developer, focusing on high-performance, bug-free code. At BikeFolder, he helps develop user-friendly features and ensures the platform runs smoothly.

Ketil Solvik-Olsen is a Norwegian politician and tech advisor known for his tenure as Norway’s Minister of Transport and Communications from 2013 to 2018 en.wikipedia.org. With a background in economics and public service, he oversaw major infrastructure projects and encouraged innovation in transport. After leaving government, Solvik-Olsen became involved with startups and technology ventures, serving as an advisor and board member in mobility-focused companies en.wikipedia.org. His experience in policy and transportation provides valuable strategic guidance to BikeFolder’s team.

Grunde Eriksen is a tech investor and “cycling capitalist” with extensive finance experience. He is the founding partner and Managing Director of Altitude Capital, a growth equity firm that scales Nordic technology companies altitudecapital.noaltitudecapital.no. Eriksen began his career in investment banking (Enskilda and Arctic Securities) and has over 20 years in finance. He has led investments in innovative startups and serves as chairman of Husleie.no altitudecapital.no. An avid cyclist, Eriksen brings both capital and industry insight to BikeFolder as an advisor.

Cees de Witte is a Dutch business leader and veteran of the global bicycle and sports industry. He has held top executive roles at major brands – including GT Bicycles (Europe), Giro and Bell Sports (helmets), Spyder ski apparel, and even New Balance ch.linkedin.combikebiz.com. With decades of experience in scaling sporting goods companies, de Witte provides BikeFolder with insight into international market expansion and partnerships. His long career in cycling-related businesses makes him a valuable industry mentor on the advisory team.

Knut Bentzen is a seasoned technology professional and entrepreneur with over two decades of experience building digital solutions bikefolder.com. He has played key roles in various startups and tech companies, including serving as CEO of Nofence (a Norwegian agri-tech firm for virtual fencing) during its growth phase nofence.nonofence.no. Bentzen’s background spans product development, operations, and strategic scaling of tech businesses. As an advisor, he offers BikeFolder guidance on innovation and scaling, drawing from his broad entrepreneurial experience.

Lene Byberg is a former professional cyclist who was one of Norway’s top mountain bikers. She won a silver medal at the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in cross-country (rundbane) no.wikipedia.org and multiple Norwegian national championship titles. Byberg represented Norway at international competitions (including the Olympics) and was known for her consistency and endurance. Since retiring from competition, she has stayed involved in cycling and now shares her athlete’s perspective as an advisor to BikeFolder, focusing on user experience and community engagement.

Aleksander Kristoff is an internationally renowned professional road cyclist and a co-founder of BikeFolder bikefolder.com. He has won some of cycling’s biggest races, including Milan–San Remo in 2014 and the Tour of Flanders in 2015 famousbirthdays.com. Kristoff also earned an Olympic bronze medal in the 2012 London road race famousbirthdays.com and has multiple Tour de France stage victories to his name. As an active athlete, he brings star power and deep industry knowledge. Kristoff’s involvement as an advisor (and early investor) helps align BikeFolder’s services with the needs of cyclists and the cycling industry.

Dag Otto Lauritzen is a Norwegian cycling legend turned TV personality. During his pro cycling career in the 1980s, he won a bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and became the first Norwegian to win a Tour de France stage (in 1987) cyclingranking.com. He rode the Tour de France eight times and won other international races. After retiring, Lauritzen became a popular sports commentator and co-host of cycling-related TV programs. As an advisor, he provides BikeFolder with inspiration and knowledge from a veteran cyclist’s viewpoint.

Odd Arne Steffensen is a key figure in Norwegian cycling business and development. He has spent decades promoting cycling, including leading initiatives in the bike industry and community. Steffensen is the managing director of Beach Mountain, a major bike import and distribution company in Norway dn.no (known for bringing brands like GT to Norwegian markets sportsbransjen.no). He has also been active in organizing cycling events and partnerships (such as bike park collaborations). As an advisor, Steffensen contributes his extensive industry network and experience to help BikeFolder expand within the cycling community.

Cato Vevatne is a technology entrepreneur with a strong background in sustainable tech and infrastructure. He has held leadership roles at companies like PrecisionHawk (drone analytics) and Field, and brings a wealth of experience in tech-driven business models theorg.com. Vevatne earned advanced degrees from MIT Sloan and Babson College theorg.com. Now serving as Chairman of BikeFolder, he provides strategic oversight and leverages his expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship to guide the company’s vision.

Per Helge Svensson is an experienced executive in the telecommunications sector. He was the CEO and managing director of Tampnet AS, which operates offshore fiber networks for the oil & gas industry bloomberg.com. With a career spanning international telecom infrastructure and network services, Svensson has deep knowledge of scaling technical operations. He also holds board positions in tech and telecom firms ca.marketscreener.com. On BikeFolder’s board, Svensson contributes strategic direction and governance, drawing on his experience in managing high-tech companies.

Rune Røsten is a pioneer in Norway’s digital media and startup scene. Over a 30-year career, he has held key leadership roles, including CEO of Dagbladet.no and Nettby (VG’s social network) linkedin.com. He later led Schibsted Ventures in Norway for six years, driving investments in successful startups like Tibber, Nomono, and more linkedin.com. Røsten is also a passionate cyclist. As a board member of BikeFolder, he provides seasoned expertise in digital business growth and a genuine enthusiasm for cycling innovation.

Kjetil Hundhammer is a business development expert and startup advisor based in Stavanger. He led the establishment of Telia’s Enterprise division offices in Stavanger and Bergen from 2015 to 2021 no.linkedin.com, overseeing recruitment and operations. Hundhammer has since founded and led multiple companies: he is the CEO of Hubify AS, a consulting firm that helps companies scale, and has served on several corporate boards yra.noyra.no. On BikeFolder’s board, Hundhammer applies his strategic growth expertise and entrepreneurial experience to support the company’s expansion.