Young Profile: Small Homes, Big Ambitions
Originally published in Estate Nyheter on 13 March 2026. Written by Silje Rønne, photos by Stig B. Fiksdal. English summary by MASE.
From a 27 m² home office during Covid to Europe's most important real estate stage. Susanne Sekkesæter (30) is building MASE Home together with her partner – and showing that small homes can offer a high quality of living.
MASE Home, a Norwegian-Italian company developing smart, space-efficient housing solutions for dense cities, did not start in a boardroom. It started during the pandemic, in a far too small apartment in Milan.
“We were both working from home in about 27 square metres. One single room had to make space for work, leisure, rest and everything in between. That makes you very aware of how space actually affects your working day, your relationships and your quality of life,” says Susanne Sekkesæter, founder and CEO of MASE Home.
The early days were bootstrapped, funded entirely by the founders' own time and money. To deliver the first pilots, Sekkesæter spent two months at the production centre learning to solder cables, program PCBs and do basic machine programming, assembling the first prototypes herself.
“I'm not actually that handy. But when you have assembled the solutions with your own hands, you get an extremely close relationship with the product. I know exactly what we deliver, right down to component level.”
Today she has been selected as one of the MIPIM Challengers – the only Norwegian among Europe's young real estate leaders – and takes the stage in Cannes in March.
Shaped by elite sport
Growing up in central Stavanger, Sekkesæter chose an elite sports programme in upper secondary school, competing nationally in swimming before moving on to triathlon and joining the Norwegian national triathlon team in its early phase.
“Sport has shaped me more than anything else. It taught me to work long-term, handle setbacks and trust the process. That's a lot like being a founder.”
“Both my uncles are entrepreneurs. Role models like that lower the threshold for starting something yourself and thinking big.”
NTNU, Italy and the urge to build something
After graduating as the top student, she studied Industrial Economics and Technology Management at NTNU, including a year in Italy. She then worked for Capgemini and Gartner, with one year in Milan and two in Barcelona, where she came close to the startup scene.
“Around me there were people who were just starting companies. It was incredibly inspiring. And I wanted to find my way of making a difference.”
The micro-apartment that started it all
The idea for MASE Home took shape in Milan together with her partner and co-founder Martin Mascella.
“We didn't just want to optimise square metres, we wanted to improve everyday life.”
“If you're going to start something, you have to go all in. I'd rather try and fail than regret never trying.”
Both took leave, moved to Norway and began systematic market research, interviews and testing.
“Oslo is a perfect test market. High prices per square metre, clear regulations and an openness to new solutions.”
MASE develops robotic furniture and interior systems that make small homes more functional – helping people live large in small spaces.
“We see that more and more real estate players are actively looking for products that improve space efficiency, value potential and quality of living. At MASE we work towards exactly that: making more out of less. Our first product, MASE Bed, has received very good feedback in both hotel rooms and studio apartments.”
OBOS and Ydalir: the pilots that made it real
Two pilot projects were decisive. First Ydalir Hotel in Stavanger, where beds that lift up to the ceiling were tested in a high-use environment.
“Hotels are brutally honest. If something doesn't work, you notice it immediately.”
Next came OBOS Living Lab, where MASE Home's solutions were tested in compact homes under 30 m², allowing one room to work as living room, bedroom and workspace throughout the day.
“OBOS was crucial for us to go from idea to documented solution. Living Lab gave us not just test space, but access to one of the most competent housing environments in Norway.”
“It was the first time we really got confirmation that this works in practice – not just technically, but on a human level.”
“OBOS gave us legitimacy. It's hard to build trust in the real estate industry without strong references, and OBOS helped open further doors.”
Through Living Lab came the contact with Birk & Co and the Kvartal B62 project in Drammen – MASE Home's first fully commercial delivery.
“It was a huge step, from pilot and testing to a real housing project in the market.”
From bootstrap to smart capital
“We've been very conscious that we shouldn't just raise capital, but the right capital.”
MASE Home has received early support from Innovation Norway, including a start-up grant and a place in an accelerator programme for the creative industries. The company also has an advisory board including Gunnar Bøyum and Rolf Thorsen, both with long leadership experience in urban and real estate development, and Paal R. Larsen, co-founder of Meltwater. Early-stage investor Spike Venture has also invested.
“For us it has been about smart capital. People who challenge us, open doors and help us grow the right way.”
A Norwegian-Italian project
“Starting a company with your partner is demanding, but also a huge strength.”
“Production and engineering are in Italy. The quality is very high, and we work closely with manufacturers we would otherwise never have had access to.”
“We are born European, not Norwegian. It shapes everything from design to value chain. And it's not just a strategy – it's the core of what this company is and will become.”
MIPIM Challenger and the road into Europe
“It's both a recognition and a platform. For us it comes at exactly the right time. We are ready to go international.”
The ambition is clear: first the Nordics, then dense cities such as London, Amsterdam and Paris.
“In real estate, references and trust are everything. At MIPIM we want to show that Nordic innovation can compete at the very top among international players.”
Looking ten years ahead
Over the past year MASE Home has grown from two to five people.
“Building the right team is absolutely crucial for our further success. People with the same ambitions and values, who want to be part of the journey.”
Where is Susanne Sekkesæter in ten years?
“By then we've established MASE Home in several cities globally. Created homes that actually work for people. And helped move the real estate industry in the right direction.”
Read the full original article (in Norwegian) at Estate Nyheter →