The Founder Institute, the world's largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, is in the final stage of testing demand for opening a new semester in Helsinki for the Autumn of 2015.
The testing phase ends soon (Oct 21, 2020), so if you'd like to help bring a new semester to Helsinki, please fill out this form today and spread the word. It only takes five minutes, and there is no obligation.
Over the last few weeks, the feedback we have received in Helsinki has been positive, and we have received a large amount of support from local startup and economic development organizations. In addition, we have reached out to some of the area's top technology entrepreneurs to support the program.
We are humbled by the list of top local and global entrepreneurs that have pledged their support to mentor new companies in a Helsinki Founder Institute program.
This list of entrepreneurs includes:
- Aape Pohjavirta: Founder, Leader, Funzi
- Aditi Jajal-Newey: Founder & Lead Strategist, Flow Concepts & Brandschooled
- Aline De Santa Izabel: Founder, YOGUT ME
- Andy Chen: CEO / Angel Investor, Weorder
- Ane Nordahl Carlsen: Chief Investment officer , Grafo AS
- Anna Martinsen: Chief Happiness Officer, Kisko Labs
- Antti Akonniemi: Founder, CEO, Kisko Labs Oy
- Antti Salminen: Senior Specialist, Business Finland
- Berg Moe: Owner, Berg Moe Media
- Bjørn Ekelund: Chairman, Senior Consultant, Human Factors AS
- Bram Pareyt
- Bruno Pešec: Independent Expert, Pešec Global
- Carlo Rivis: CEO & Founder, Innovation Discovery
- Chander Shekher Joshi: Innovation Consultant , TCS
- Charlotte Aschim: CEO and Co-Founder, TotalCtrl
- Christelle Theis: Senior Director Innovation Excellence , GEA Group
- Claudia Parms: Head of Marketing & Communications, Alberts
- Damien Mongrand: Operation & Scale-up Lead, BlinkIn.io
- Dimitris Polychronopoulos: Oslo Chapter Director, FI Mentor
- Eduardo Ibacache Rodriguez: Mentor and Adviser for passionate people & companies, EduardoAdviser
- Eeppi Nieminen: Business Development Manager, Taiste
- Ella Rauen Prestes: Founder and CEO, Fitbakes
- Erick Arnberg: Strategy and Operations Lead - Northern Europe, Games & Apps, Google
- Erkki Aaltonen: DIrectore of Venture Investments, Yara International
- Fabian Geyrhalter: Founder and Principal, FINIEN
- Fernanda Vanoni Matta: Business Development & Innovation , Tradal Brazil / Pura Vida
- Fernando Goldman: Mentor , Founder Institute
- Gabriel Wyner: Founder and CEO, Fluent Forever
- Gagan Biyani: Co-Founder, Udemy, Spring, Maven
- George Guerra: Founder, ProfitableClients.com
- Glen Hellman: Glen Hellman - CRO & Business Development, CXO Elevate and University of Maryland
- Guc Ozenci: Tech-Entrepreneur | Mentor | Director | Investor, Founder Institute
- Hannu Kossila: Founder, Senior Marketing Researcher, Mware
- Hans Joerg Ill: Chief Procurement Officer, Bühler Group
- Harsh Shah
- Heidi Huse Myrmo: CEO/Founder, Allva AS
- Ifat Peled Dinstag: CPA, IPD - Finance Strategy
- Ilkka O.Lavas: CEO, EatAndTheCity
- Ilkka Alarotu: SVP, S-Group
- Imran Afzal: Research and Development, PepsiCo
- Itziar Tueros
- Ivana Milojevic: CEO, FASTIDIOUS INC
- Jan Lindblad: Founder, All For Eco (non-profit)
- Jan Erik Nyrövaara: Jan Erik Nyrövaara (Saint Petersburg FI)
- Jari Jaanto: Co-Founder, IRC-Galleria, Ninchat & Heimo
- Jason Bayne: Managing Partner, Surf Consult AS
- Joaquim Macedo de Sousa: Executive Director, Smart Rural HIESE
- Jon Hautamäki: Partner, Nordic Law
- Juliet Bray
- Julius Miikkulainen: Board Member, Investor, Vöner Oy
- Jussi Markula: Entrepreneur, Prominda
- Justine Reichman: Founder, NextGenChef
- Jyri Partanen: Managing Director, Co-Founder
- Kamal Hassan: Founding Partner, Loyal VC
- Katharina Breme: Head Innovation & Technology and Quality, Migros Industries Segment 2 / Groupe ELSA-Mifroma
- Kaye Hope: CCO, Farmable
- Khalid Abbas: Founder, Trainer, Technologist, Kzetta Technologies AB
- Kristoffer Lawson: Head of Product, Attractive.ai
- Laura Camurri
- Lj Suzuki: Fractional CFO, CFOshare
- Luca Morandi
- Mar Serra: Regional Applications and Manufacturing manager Beverages, Nestle
- Mar Eroles Navarro: Founder, Mandarina Capital
- Marisol Giacomelli: Global Category Leader, Nestle
- Marko Jappinen: Marketing Lead, Suppilog
- Marko Suksi: CEO, Founder , Poppamies
- Martin Sohr: Strategy Director, Nestle
- Matti Copeland: Executive Director, p
- Matti Santala: CEO, A21
- Max Atallah: Senior Associate Lawyer, Nordic Law Ltd.
- Memi Genosar
- Michael Hiles: CEO
- Micke Paqvalén: International business builder, Investor & Speaker, Trä Group
- Miguel Silva: Founder and CEO, Visualyst
- Mike Bradshaw: Head Coach, Sampo Accelerator
- Mikko Honkakorpi: CEO, Digital Nature Oy
- Mikko Ikola: Co-founder, Ambronite
- Mikko Pohjola: CEO, Monttu Ventures
- Mikko Koskinen: Co-founder, Kyrö Distillery
- Mikko Nikkilä
- Nadia Alexander: Product and Growth Expert, Director Female Intiatives
- Natalie Pilling: CEO, EL Passion
- Nigel Iyer: Co-Founder, B4 Investigate AB www.b4investigate.com
- Olaf Gruess
- Olavi Mertanen: Commercialization expert, Self employed
- Oswaldo Da Costa E Silva
- Pantea Lotfian: Dr. , Camrosh
- Paolo Mazzatorta: Food Safety and Quality Expert, Food Safe Science
- Paulina Janiak: Senior Consultant, Graphite Growth
- Pekka Viilto: Co-Founder, Rundit
- Pia Erkinheimo: Partner, Director, Fingertip Ltd
- Piotr Pluta: CEO, Human Factors AS
- Pouria Kay: Mentor, Founder Institute
- Ramkumar Nair: Founder & CEO, Mycorena AB
- Reetta Noukka: COO, Finnish Design Shop
- Reetta Kivela
- Reidar Wasenius: CCO, Personal Brainer, Breaks Finland Ltd
- Renata Pereira: Oil & Gas Executive, Angel Investor, Mentor, Founder Institute
- Ricardo Monagas: Co-founder at Uppersky / CTO at TotalCtrl.no, Uppersky / TotalCtrl.no
- Rie Aleksandra Walle: Founder & Manager, Bedre Bedrift AS
- Risto Rautakorpi: Co-dounder, Gorilla Ventures Oy
- Saga Forss: Board Member, Co-owner, Soppakeittiö (Soup&More Oy)
- Sampsa Fabritius: CEO & Founder, Kieku Labs
- Seamus Holohan: CEO, The Helsinki Distilling Company
- Shira Rosen: owner, Shira rosen
- Stefan Lindberg: Investor, Entrepreneur
- Stefan Petersson: Partner, Investor & Company Builder, Xplorico
- Suzanne Fanning
- Tania Villares Balsa: Investment Director, Cambridge Enterprise
- Tomi Räsänen: Founder, CEO, Shaping Diamonds
- Tomi Räsänen: CoFounder & CMO, Shaping Diamonds
- Toni Perämäki: Action-oriented Enabler & Experienced Business Developer, Microsoft Finland
- Torsti Tenhunen: Angel Investor & Board Professional
- Trevor Smith: Operations Director - now retired, BuD Garage
- Udi Klier: CEO, Nicevend
- Virginia Vegas: Director of Programs, Startup Norway
- Vladimir Sijakovic: CEO, VOZZi
- William Laratta: Global R&D and Open Innovation Leader, Barry Callebaut
- Windi Muziasari
- Yogi Yoganathan: CEO/Co-Founder, RemitBee
- And many more to be announced.
In the Founder Institute's structured, step-by-step program, these mentors will provide promising startup entrepreneurs in Helsinki with expert feedback and support to build their companies. In addition, participants are not required to quit their day job to participate, so they can begin building a business around their ideas without putting their livelihood at risk.
If we get enough demand to officially launch a Nordic Virtual Fall 2020 semester, then we will secure approximately 10 - 20 additional mentors. In fact, in most Founder Institute semesters the ratio of Mentors to Founders is greater than 1:1.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 7,000 companies form and improve their business ideas, develop their marketing strategy, create an advisory board, recruit co-founders, improve their pitch, launch a product, prepare to raise capital, bootstrap to profitability, generate revenue, and more.
Help bring a new semester to Helsinki and fill out an Interest Form today.
