Meet Our Core Team
Climate Guru & Founding Partner
Frederic Hauge
Frederic, one of the key initiators of Accelerate Capital, is a renowned expert in the fight against climate change. He founded the Bellona Foundation in 1986 and has since built an unparalleled network in politics, business, and civil society, with deep knowledge of renewable energy markets and policies. He has advised the EU Energy Commissioner on the extensive EU climate and energy roadmap 2050 and has founded and advised several companies in climate tech and the battery value chain. With his extensive experience and expertise in the field, Frederic is a true guru in the fight against climate change.
Harald Sætvedt
CEO & Founding Partner
Harald, our CEO and one of the key initiators behind Accelerate Capital, excels in project management and financial structuring, which benefits our clients greatly. He also takes care of managing our crucial partnership network. With over 25 years of experience in the global investment banking industry, Harald has worked in diverse sectors, specializing in IPOs, equity and credit fundraisers, M&As, and restructurings. His extensive executive and board level experience, coupled with an MSc in Financial Economics from BI Norwegian Business School, further bolsters his expertise.
Vegard Kristensen
COO & Investment Director
Vegard, our COO, oversees the vast pool of domain experts at Accelerate Capital. In addition, he manages and coordinates all our due diligence work, project management, financial modeling, and market analysis. With several years of experience in various climate-related sectors, particularly in the battery value chain and other climate solutions, Vegard possesses deep and extensive knowledge. His previous experience in the finance and energy sectors further augments his expertise. He holds a Master's degree in Public Policy from the University of Bergen.
Nicolas Nygård
Battery Technology Analyst
Nicolas plays a crucial role as one of our battery technology analysts, contributing significantly to our projects within the wider battery value chain. He has diverse experience, having worked as a research assistant at NTNU, a shift engineer in the industry, a consultant in the waste industry, and an operator of silicon plants. Nicolas holds a Master's degree in Materials Science from NTNU and a Bachelor's degree in Economics. His multidisciplinary background and expertise make him an invaluable member of our team.
Nelson Manjong
Climate Technology Analyst
Nelson Manjong specializes in value chain analysis, technical research insights, and life cycle assessment (LCA) within the battery value chain and climate-friendly technologies. Building on a solid foundation in manufacturing and asset care operations, he has spent the past five years deeply engaged in the energy transition. He has researched on renewable energy systems modelling, techno-economic assessments (TEA), sustainability, and ESG considerations. Holding master’s degrees in industrial engineering and Renewable Energy, he also has Ph.D. in Industrial Ecology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). His expertise plays a pivotal role in advancing the sustainable adoption of clean energy solutions
Manager & Head of Admin
With his diverse background in legal, financial, administrative, and climate-related projects, Stefan is a key resource for our project work. He brings 18 years of professional experience working in sustainability and business, serving as an analyst, consultant, or business developer at Bellona Holding, EY, BCG, Thomson Reuters Point Carbon, and Dresdner Bank. Stefan holds a Master's degree in Political Science, Economic Policy, and Public Law from the University of Münster. His extensive experience, coupled with his education, make him an invaluable member of our team.
Stefan Wächter
Climate Technology Analyst
Klaus Falk Hagby
Klaus is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in the energy and environmental sectors. With a master's degree in petroleum engineering, specializing in reservoir engineering and geologic carbon sequestration, Klaus possesses a deep understanding of the intricacies of energy resources and environmental sustainability. Klaus began his career at a prominent research company, where he conducted research on geological storage and monitoring of CO2, contributing significantly to the development of carbon storage monitoring technologies. His unique skill set and passion for sustainability make him a valuable asset to our team
External Advisors
Ole Eikeland
Chair & Founding Partner
CorpCann
As one of the initiators of Accelerate Capital, Ole plays a vital role in our team, responsible for developing and implementing effective communication strategies for both our firm and our clients. Ole brings a unique perspective to our work, combining his long-term media experience with substantial knowledge and understanding of the capital markets. With over two decades of experience in the capital markets, Ole has worked as a stockbroker at Pareto Securities and as an independent advisor for major private and institutional investors. Prior to joining Accelerate Capital, Ole served as the Business Editor of Nettavisen and hosted his own TV show with an investigative approach.
Accelerate is looking to add substantially to our in-house industry expert resource pool over the next 12-24 months
In addition to substantial in-house capacity Accelerate has through its partnerships access to 40+ climate change experts within all relevant sectors and sub-sectors