Everything is gonna be okay. Whenever anything goes to hell, hey, there's a story to tell. The book will be good.
Thank you! I was great fun!
Biography
Karen Dolva serves as the CEO and co-founder of No Isolation, an Oslo-based startup established in October 2015. Driven by the mission to alleviate involuntary social solitude, the company’s inaugural product, AV1, is a physical avatar designed to empower children and young adults facing extended periods away from school due to illness. AV1 enables them to maintain a presence in the classroom, communicate with friends, and foster social connections.
Karen’s academic journey led her to study Computer Science and Interaction Design at the University of Oslo, recognized as Norway’s premier institution for education and research. While pursuing her studies, Karen initiated her career at StartupLab Oslo and later co-founded UX Lab, a user experience consultancy focused on user testing and the design of digital user experiences.
During the early stages of her career, Karen recognized the need for No Isolation after meeting Anne Fi Troye, a mother who had lost her teenage daughter to cancer. Inspired by Anne Fi’s tireless efforts to enhance the lives of hospitalized children based on her daughter’s experience of social solitude, Karen leveraged her expertise in user experience and computer science to develop a tech-based solution.
Speaking about the critical role of No Isolation, Karen emphasizes, “What we’ve seen is that it is impossible for children with long-term illnesses to stay connected with their lives. They are told to focus on their own health, but the healthiest thing for them would be to stay connected with their friends. Going back to school after a long period isn’t easy, and for those who suffer from chronic illness, the loneliness never really stops.”
No Isolation has successfully raised a total of €20 million and holds two patents. Karen Dolva’s impactful contributions have earned her recognition on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in Europe in the Social Entrepreneurs category and the European Top 50 Women In Tech List in 2018. Additionally, she received the 2018 EU Women Innovator Award as a Rising Innovator.
In 2020, Karen was named to the BBC’s 100 Women list. Her commitment to addressing social challenges through technology is underpinned by her background in computer science from the University of Oslo.
