Program

Discover the full program of the The Trends Winter University.

Thursday 13th of March 2025

12h15
Pick-up badge in departure hall
12h30
Check-in Brussels Airport
13h15
Lunch in Black Pearls
14h30
Direct flight SN Brussels Airlines from Brussels Airport to Bergen Flesland Airport, Norway
17h30
Transfer to Solstrand Hotel
18h00
Check-in & welcome drink
18h30
Welcome speech
20h30
Dinner & Networking at the Solstrand Hotel

The kitchen presents a three-course menu based on the season. Mountain, fjord and sea are at the heart of each unique dish. Be immediately spoilt by the unique flavours of Norway on your first evening.

Friday 14th of March 2025

7h00
Breakfast & check-out
9h00
Keynote speech

Dimitri O
Loop Earplugs
10h00
Walk & talk coffee break in the garden
10h30
When’s the right time to sell your business

Gilles Mattelin
Henchman
10h30
Do’s and don’ts on how to execute a 100 million+ fundraise

Matthias Geeroms
Lighthouse
10h30
Why scale-ups should care about diverse and inclusive teams

Dewi Van De Vyver
EFFEX

Emmanuelle Ghislain
Pulse Foundation
10h30
Evolving from founder to CEO, do’s and don’ts

Ruben Van den Bossche
Gorilla
11h30
Coffee break
11h45
When’s the right time to sell your business

Gilles Mattelin
Henchman
11h45
Control your own destiny: lessons learned in developing and maintaining a long term strategy and strengthening your exit potential

Jonas Dhaenens
team.blue
11h45
Ethics in tech

Dewi Van De Vyver
EFFEX
11h45
How I build an app with 11 million users, without setting a signal KPI for my team

Ludovic Dujardin
Petit BamBou
13h00
Lunch
14h00
Transfer to Gudvangen Harbor

The transfer will take us from Solstrand Hotel to the village of Gudvangen. We’ll drive through beautiful scenery and the stunning Naeroyvalley.

17h15
Enjoy the scenery while having a drink

Once we arrive in Gudvangen, we will board an electric boat that will sail past UNESCO protected landscape. We will sail along the beautiful Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord. The Aurlandsfjord is a 17-kilometre arm of the world’s second-longest fjord, the Sognefjord, and starts in Flåm and ends at Beitelen Mountain, which separates the Aurlandsfjord from the Nærøyfjord. Together with Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord is one of the most scenic fjords in the world. Speakers and inspirational exchanges on board.

18h00
Break-out sessions on the boat
19h15
Arrival in Flam
19h30
Check-in at Fretheim hotel
20h30
Outdoor dinner in the Fretheim Garden
22h30
Karaoke night

Saturday 15th of March 2025

7h00
Breakfast at Fretheim Hotel
8h00
Rib Boat Safari

Join our exclusive Winter Fjordsafari on open RIB boats.

8h00
Snowshoe Hike

Hike through winter landscapes with snowshoes as your guide shares insights on mountain farm life, local culture, and the dramatic scenery.

8h00
Fjord Sauna

Unwind at the Fjord Sauna in Flam, where you can enjoy a unique, serene experience right on the water’s edge.

8h00
Easy Hike

Enjoy a leisurely hike through Flåm and up to the picturesque Brekkedalsfossen waterfall.

11h45
Departure Flåmsbana
13h50
Trainride from Myrdal to Oslo

It’s time to continue the journey from Flam to Myrdal Flåmsbana, the Flåm railway is a spectacular train ride that offers panoramic views of some of the wildest and most beautiful natural areas in the Norwegian fjord landscape. The 20-km train ride was built over 20 years and is one of the steepest railways in the world. On the train ride between Myrdal and Flåm, you can see rivers cutting deep ravines, waterfalls cascading down steep snow-capped mountains and mountain farms clinging to steep slopes. You’ll enjoy a lunch on to go prepared by the hotel. After a beautiful route, you will arrive in Myrdal where you will have some time to explore the beautiful surroundings. Then you board the train again for a wonderful ride on The Bergen Railway with Oslo as your terminus. This is a 500-kilometre-long railway line between Bergen and Oslo. It has been named one of the best railway experiences in the world several times. The Bergen railway is the highest railway route in Northern Europe, crossing both the Langfjellen mountains and the Hardangervidda mountain plateau.

19h30
Check-in at Hotel Clarion the Hub, in the heart of the capital Oslo
20h00
Walk to restaurant Louise
20h30
Dinner at Restaurant Louise, situated in Akker Brygge

Sunday 16th of March 2025

7h30
Breakfast at the hotel Clarion the Hub and check-out
8h30
Walk to Munch Museum
9h00
Keynote speech in the Sky Room

Merete Hverven
Visma
10h00
Munch Museum visit with audio guide
11h00
Brunch at Tolvte

Brunch & closing speech at the top floor of this unique building

13h00
Transfer to Oslo airport
16h15
Direct return flight to Brussels with SN Brussels Airlines
18h15
Arrival in Brussels

Program & activities are subject to change due to weather conditions