JANUARY 29TH, 2026

Welcome to VERGE: Retail & E-Commerce at Epicenter Oslo

Retail is being rewritten in real time.

From AI-powered customer journeys and shoppable content to circular supply chains, data-driven revenue models, and resilient logistics, today’s most successful retailers are building not just for growth, but for lasting, profitable impact.

VERGE is Epicenter’s flagship event series for those on the edge of what’s next. This edition isn’t confined to one stage. It’s a cross-market experience, taking place in Stockholm, Helsinki, and Oslo, and uniting the Nordic ecosystem around one mission: to uncover the strategies, technologies, and partnerships shaping the future of commerce.

 VERGE brings together a curated mix of retailers, DTC brands, technology innovators, logistics leaders, and investors for a dynamic program of keynotes, panels, fireside chats, case studies, and networking activations.

During each event we will tackle the hard questions facing the industry: how to deliver seamless customer experiences across all channels, build transparent and circular supply chains, unlock new revenue through media and data, and design resilient operations in a world of constant change.

EXPLORE THE AGENDA & SPEAKERS DOWN BELOW.

Step into VERGE, the new global event series by Epicenter - the house of innovation.


At VERGE, we stand at the tipping point of what’s next. Designed for those who dare to explore, challenge, and redefine the future, this is the movement that is set to amplify innovation on a global stage.  

See you at Epicenter.

Curious about what to expect at Verge? Check out the aftermovie above from Verge Talent Smash we hosted in September 2025. 

AGENDA

12:00

REGISTRATION, COFFEE & MINGLE

13:00

WELCOME TO VERGE

13:10

OPENING KEYNOTE: How Norway can become a leading player within retail, e-commerce and retail technology.

Linda Vist
Director of Trade & Retail, NHO
13:25

FIRESIDE CHAT: Why Live Shopping Is Taking Off in Norway

Live Shopping is no longer just a retail experiment — it’s becoming a core part of how Norwegian consumers discover and buy products online. From fashion and home décor to toys and beauty, brands are using shoppable video to build stronger customer relationships, boost engagement, and drive measurable sales.

Join us for a 20-minute fireside chat with Simon Larsson from Sprii, Europe’s leading Live Shopping and video commerce platform. We’ll explore why more Norwegian brands and retailers are embracing this fast-growing format — and what it really takes to succeed.

We’ll cover:

  • Why Live Shopping is trending — the shift in consumer behavior driving the rise of shoppable video.

  • How leading Norwegian brands are using it — real examples from Lekekassen, KID, ELLE, and others.

  • What you need to get started — practical steps, tools, and insights for launching your first show.

With nearly 4,000 brands using Sprii to stream and sell live across social media and their own websites, this session offers a firsthand look at how Live Shopping is transforming e-commerce in Norway and beyond.

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Simon Larsson
Business Development Manager for Norway, Sprii
13:45

BREAK

Coffee & conversations at the Maropost Refuel Station.

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14:00

PANEL: From Hesitation to Purchase; how strong stories can drive sales.

In this panel we will deep dive into the critical purchasing stage of the customer journey, and learn more about how storytelling is actively used to overcome final doubts and motivate transaction completion. We will explore how elements like social proof, user-generated content, and detailed product narratives are woven into a compelling closing story to ensure that the client goes from looking to actually buying. Walk away with insight into effective methods for optimizing the product’s story in order to create real power and a brand that consumers want not only to purchase but also to be associated with.

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14:30

PANEL: Increase Sales Transactions and conquer Cart Abandonment.

During this panel discussion we will focus on the critical moments when a customer is ready to buy but is about to leave a filled shopping cart on read. We'll explore data-driven strategies for streamlining the checkout flow, from the moment an item is added to the final confirmation. Learn how to identify and eliminate key points of friction, such as complex form fields, unexpected shipping costs, and slow load times, that interrupt the buying journey. The session will cover best practices for guest checkout options, transparent pricing, and utilizing security signals to build immediate trust. Walk away with practical steps to dramatically improve your conversion rate in the final, crucial step of the purchase process.

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15:00

BREAK

Coffee & conversations at the Maropost Refuel Station.

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15:15

PANEL: The power of payments: reduce risk, increase security and profits through transactional innovation


This panel will give us a technical deep dive into the actual payment part of the e-commerce journey, featuring insights from leading fintech providers. We will analyze the evolution of payment methods, from traditional cards to Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL), digital wallets, and emerging solutions like cryptocurrencies. The session will explore how merchants can optimize their payment stack to minimize processing fees, reduce fraud risk, and maximize acceptance rates globally. Furthermore, speakers will address the crucial balance between providing a frictionless customer experience and maintaining robust PCI compliance and security standards. Walk away with more insights into what you should be aware of for the payment process in your own customer journey, and make decisions based on actual knowledge rather than simple gut feelings.

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15:45

BREAK

Coffee & conversations at the Maropost Refuel Station with a special suprise.

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16:00

KEYNOTE Q&A: How to improve Nordic’s best customer loyalty program?

Being in the forefront can be a challenge, specially if it makes you slow. How do you ensure that you always improve, test and use data to your advantage? And how to you improve one of the best customer loyalty programs in the Nordics? We welcome SAS Eurobonus to the stage.

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16:30

AFTERWORK

Speakers (MORE TBA)

Linda Vist
Director of Trade & Retail, NHO

Linda Vist is the Director of Trade and Retail at NHO, where she works to promote fair competition and sustainable growth within the Norwegian retail sector. She brings extensive experience from PwC, KPMG, and Sprint, advising on strategy, chain development, and organizational design. Linda also spent several years at Elkjøp Nordic, contributing to chain operations and franchise development across the Nordics and Central Europe.

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OPENING KEYNOTE: How Norway can become a leading player within retail, e-commerce and retail technology.

Simon Larsson
Business Development Manager for Norway, Sprii

Simon Larsson is the Business Development Manager for Norway at Sprii, Norway’s leading Live Shopping and video commerce platform. With years of experience in retail, sales, and customer engagement from brands like Uber and Mynewsdesk, Simon helps Norwegian retailers turn shoppable video into a powerful sales and storytelling channel — building stronger customer connections and driving measurable growth.

Read more

FIRESIDE CHAT: Why Live Shopping Is Taking Off in Norway

Live Shopping is no longer just a retail experiment — it’s becoming a core part of how Norwegian consumers discover and buy products online. From fashion and home décor to toys and beauty, brands are using shoppable video to build stronger customer relationships, boost engagement, and drive measurable sales.

Join us for a 20-minute fireside chat with Simon Larsson from Sprii, Europe’s leading Live Shopping and video commerce platform. We’ll explore why more Norwegian brands and retailers are embracing this fast-growing format — and what it really takes to succeed.

We’ll cover:

  • Why Live Shopping is trending — the shift in consumer behavior driving the rise of shoppable video.

  • How leading Norwegian brands are using it — real examples from Lekekassen, KID, ELLE, and others.

  • What you need to get started — practical steps, tools, and insights for launching your first show.

With nearly 4,000 brands using Sprii to stream and sell live across social media and their own websites, this session offers a firsthand look at how Live Shopping is transforming e-commerce in Norway and beyond.

Read more

Sigrun Stenseth
Head of Marketing, Tise in Norway

Sigrun Stenseth is Head of Marketing at Tise, a Norwegian founded app for second-hand fashion, where she works with brand building, growth, and creative campaigns that promote a more sustainable consumption. She has a background in digital strategy and communication, and is passionate about shaping culture through marketing, storytelling, and open conversations, including her role as co-host of the female health podcast - Femihelse.

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Akshay Chawdhry
eCom Operations Specialist, Elkjøp

Akshay Chawdhry is the eCom Operations Specialist at Elkjøp, originally from India. For the past three years, he has led improvements across the full online customer journey—from product pages to checkout and aftersales—while also serving as a key point person for customer experience across the organization. Before joining Elkjøp, Akshay worked at Citi in New York and dunnhumby in Norway.

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Karoline Malde
Product Manager, Farmasiet

Karoline is a Product Manager at Farmasiet and she works with digital service development and business development. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH). Over the past several years, she has worked at the intersection of technology and business in roles at Farmasiet, FINN.no, Capgemini, and EY.

In Farmasiet, Karoline is passionate about shaping The pharmacy of tomorrow (Morgendagens apotek). She has worked with several projects in the digital customer experience sphere, with the goal of making the customer journey at Farmasiet even simpler and better. She believes that real innovation happens when you focus on putting the customer at the center, and combine data-driven insights with cross-functional collaboration to achieve clear and ambitious goals.

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Bjørn Ekeberg
CEO & Co-Founder, Recharge Health

Bjørn Ekeberg is the co-founder and CEO of Recharge Health, creators of FlexBeam, the world's first targeted infrared therapy device designed to naturally accelerate recovery time for active individuals looking to heal injuries, manage muscular-skeletal pain or improve their physical energy. With a PhD in Philosophy of Science, Ekeberg regularly speaks internationally on the universe and the nature of light. Bjørn is also a multi-talented individual with success in numerous professional ventures. He was the screenwriter for the Netflix show Borderliner (2018) and the acclaimed Norwegian drama series Valkyrien (2017).

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Daro Navaratnam
CEO, Dintero

Daro Navaratnam is a serial entrepreneur and the CEO of Dintero, a fintech company dedicated to simplifying complex payment structures. Previously the founder of Dsafe (acquired by Bambora), Daro brings over a decade of hands-on experience across the entire payment value chain, from legacy infrastructure to building a new infrastructure from scratch in the cloud.

He specializes in transactional innovation, with deep technical expertise in optimizing payment stacks for conversion and cost-efficiency. Daro is particularly knowledgeable in handling complex flows—such as split payouts for Marketplaces —balancing frictionless user experiences with rigorous compliance and security standards.

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Frode Grønvold
Co-Founder & CEO, SLEEPERS

Frode Grønvold is a serial entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in the fashion and sportswear industry. He is a former professional athlete and previously co-founded and led FWSS as CEO. Frode also brings over 12 years of management experience from Norrøna, where he worked across brand, product, and commercial development. Today, he is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sleepers. Through Sleepers, he is focused on building a more responsible footwear brand using natural materials and transparent production.

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