Rune Hauge

You absolutely need to hear the story of Rune Hauge, dude’s a straight-up startup grinder and the real deal. He’s the kind of guy who’s been in the trenches for over a decade, building, scaling, and crushing it in different ventures. The story starts in Norway, where he got his business degrees from NHH and Duke, already shows he’s serious about the game.

Then, he jumped into entrepreneurship hard. First, he founded Hardhaus, an apparel brand, yeah, like streetwear stuff. That got acquired, so he clearly knows how to build something people want and then exit. After that, he didn’t stop. He launched Preplay, a video shopping platform, which was pretty original at the time. It’s all about creating new ways to shop and connect, pretty ahead of the curve.

Fast forward, Rune took all that experience and went all-in on mentorship and community. He co-founded Mentorcam, a platform backed by YC in Summer 2021, that’s basically a marketplace for one-on-one advice from industry leaders. Think about it, he’s making mentorship accessible at scale. That’s the kind of move only someone who’s been through the startup grind can pull off. And yeah, he’s not just talking, he’s raised millions from top-tier VCs like General Cause and Goodwater Capital, plus some high-profile angels. Dude’s been through the fundraising wars and knows how to get big checks.

What’s crazy is, Rune’s more than just a business guy, he’s fired up about mentoring founders. He loves supporting entrepreneurs, sharing what he’s learned, and helping others grow. That’s kinda his vibe, paying it forward and lifting others up. And he’s also a skier, spends time in the Rockies, so he’s got that adventurous, no-bullshit side too.

Bottom line: Rune’s a guy who’s proven he can start from zero, scale multiple ventures, and succeed. He’s all about innovation, mentorship, and growth. You can tell he’s driven by the hustle and a genuine desire to make an impact. No cap, he’s the kind of founder you look at and think, “This dude’s got the scars and the wisdom to really change the game.”