Finland’s VC and Startup scene is full of amazing female entrepreneurs. So far, We’ve talked about the impressive women in other regions like the Balkan states and Central/Eastern Europe, including Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Estonia,Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, and The Western Balkans. Now, let’s shift our focus to standout women in Finland’s venture capital and startup landscape!
Pia Erkinheimo
Director, The Finnish Climate Fund
Pia Erkinheimo is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in climate change, innovation management, and sustainable business development. As the Director of Investments related to Climate Change & Climate-related Digitalisation at Ilmastorahasto – The Finnish Climate Fund, she plays a pivotal role in driving investments and initiatives that contribute to combating climate change and advancing digital solutions in the climate sector.
She is also actively involved in various advisory and board roles that align with her expertise and passion for innovation and sustainability. Her position as a Board Member of LUT University demonstrates her commitment to supporting educational institutions in fostering knowledge and research related to climate and sustainability.
Sofia Lund
CEO & Founder, S Factor Company
Sofia Lund is a dynamic professional with a strong focus on transforming businesses through brand enhancement, strategic initiatives, and exceptional experiences. With a diverse skill set and a passion for creativity, culture, and human-centric approaches, she has played a significant role in shaping successful startups, fostering innovation, and driving positive organizational change.
As the CEO & Founder of S Factor Company, Sofia is dedicated to leveraging her expertise in business consulting and branding to boost companies’ growth and success. Her commitment to enhancing both customer and employee experiences and her passion for building winning cultures underscores her holistic approach to business transformation.
Sandra Lounamaa
CEO & Co-Founder, Gubbe
Sandra Lounamaa is a co-founder of Gubbe; a company focused on revolutionizing elderly care services. With a strong passion for creating a positive impact, she is on a mission to build the world’s leading elderly care company by modernizing and scaling traditional care services.
As the CEO and co-founder of Gubbe, Sandra is committed to providing effective and meaningful elderly care services that enable seniors to lead longer and happier lives. Gubbe not only focuses on enhancing the quality of life for the elderly but also creates valuable job opportunities for young adults, contributing to the overall well-being of both generations. Her previous role as a Project Manager at Taivas indicates her experience and expertise in managing projects, which she now applies to the development and growth of Gubbe.
Meri-Tuuli Laaksonen
Co-Founder, Gubbe
Meri-Tuuli Laaksonen is another versatile professional From Gubbe and plays a crucial role in healthcare and education. As a co-founder of Gubbe, she contributes her expertise as well as her passion for improving elderly care services. Her background in physiotherapy and rehabilitation equips her with the knowledge needed to enhance the well-being and quality of life of elderly individuals under Gubbe’s care.
In addition to her involvement with Gubbe, Meri-Tuuli Laaksonen is also engaged in the education sector. Her roles as a Teacher of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Omnia, Espoon seudun koulutuskuntayhtymä, and a Physical Education Teacher at Varia Vocational College showcase her dedication to educating and nurturing future healthcare professionals.
Hanna Lemmetti
CMO & co-founder, Alvar Pet
Hanna Lemmetti is an entrepreneur and marketer known for her role as the Chief Marketing Officer and co-founder of Alvar Pet. Her passion for sustainability and her creative, strategic thinking has driven the innovative mission of Alvar Pet to minimize carbon pawprints and provide climate-friendly options for pets.
Her expertise in strategic planning and digital strategy has been instrumental in the success of the startup. With a background in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), advertising, and brand development, Hanna Lemmetti brings a wealth of experience to her role. Her skills in social media marketing and marketing communications have been pivotal in raising awareness and engaging customers in Alvar Pet’s mission.
Pauliina Martikainen
VC Investor and Partner, Maki.vc
Pauliina Martikainen is a prominent figure in the venture capital landscape, known for her role as a VC Investor and Partner at Maki.vc, where she focuses on nurturing and supporting technology companies at the pre-seed and seed stages across Europe. Her investment portfolio spans a diverse range of industries, from mobile applications to science-based software, health, e-commerce, and more.
With a strong background in strategy, business management, and leadership, Pauliina brings a unique blend of skills to her investment role. She is deeply passionate about driving growth and innovation, constantly seeking creative avenues to propel startups forward.
Before her association with Maki.vc, Pauliina co-founded Wave Ventures, a micro VC fund with a focus on investing in Nordic startups. Her journey into venture capital follows an impressive career in marketing and communications, where she worked with global brands in sectors such as pharma, retail, food, and beauty. Her influence and leadership have been recognized with a spot on the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
Sari Pesonen
Co-founder and CSO, Valo Therapeutics
Sari Pesonen is a remarkable figure in the field of cancer immunotherapy, making significant contributions to the development and advancement of innovative treatments. With a career spanning over 15 years, Sari’s professional journey has been dedicated to pursuing cancer immunotherapies that positively impact patients’ lives.
Her fascination with the intricate battle between cancer cells and the human immune system has driven her to explore and research oncolytic virus-based cancer immunotherapy. This approach involves leveraging the power of viruses to trigger an immune response against cancer cells. Sari’s work has not only deepened our understanding of the immunological mechanisms underlying oncolytic virus therapy but has also paved the way for groundbreaking developments in the field.
Maija Leino
CEO, Useless Company Oy
As the CEO and founder of UseLess Company Oy, Maija leads a company that is dedicated to helping other businesses lower their carbon footprint. UseLess Company offers valuable services to companies by calculating their carbon emissions and providing actionable strategies for reducing them.
She also serves as an advisor at Infine, a company that offers solutions for retail and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industries to track and improve the sustainability of their products. Infine’s approach combines deep tech, automation, AI, and scalability to transform product data into actionable sustainability insights.
Iida Miettinen
Founder, Kamupak
Iida Miettinen is an impact-driven entrepreneur committed to promoting sustainability and circularity. With a deep belief in the power of circular business models, Iida is dedicated to driving positive change by reducing waste and conserving natural resources.
As the Founder of Kamupak, Iida is actively working to accelerate the transition from single-use products to reuse solutions. Kamupak is an initiative that focuses on providing sustainable alternatives to traditional disposable items, aligning with Iida’s mission to promote circular practices.
With a business development and strategic marketing background, Iida possesses the skills and expertise needed to create effective solutions in the green tech space. Her experience spans startups, circular economy initiatives, electricity solutions, technology, and licensing. She is familiar with both B2B and B2C markets, allowing her to navigate various sectors in pursuit of sustainable goals.
Päivi Kangasmäki
CEO & Co-Founder, riskrate
Päivi Kangasmäki is an accomplished professional with strong finance, treasury management, and entrepreneurship background. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Riskrate, she is leading the development of a groundbreaking financial reporting automation platform designed to streamline the reporting process for small teams.
Her experience prior to Riskrate showcases her expertise in finance and treasury management. As a former head of Group Treasury for various global family-run and Nasdaq-listed companies, Päivi managed complex financial and treasury operations, responding to a wide range of financial risks. This background has provided her with invaluable insights into the challenges and needs of businesses when it comes to financial reporting and risk management.
Anna Eriksson
CEO & Co-Founder, Spark Sustainability
Anna Eriksson is an energy engineer who is deeply passionate about renewable energy and climate change mitigation. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Spark Sustainability, Anna is channeling her passion and expertise into creating a positive impact. The company leverages emission data to enhance customer loyalty and employee engagement for its partners.
Her role as CEO involves overseeing the company’s operations, finances, HR, and recruitment efforts. She is at the forefront of business development and sales, ensuring the growth and success of the company. Additionally, she leads product development and supports her team in communication and marketing activities, showcasing her multi-faceted leadership skills.
Amanda Rejström
Co-Founder, Spark Sustainability
Amanda Rejström is a Co-Founder of Spark Sustainability, and her perspective on addressing climate change reflects a holistic understanding of its impact on both the natural world and humanity. To her, addressing climate change is not just about mitigating damage to the environment but also about promoting equality and well-being for all individuals across the globe.
With a background in engineering and energy system research, Amanda uses her expertise to quantify emissions for organizations and individuals. Through Spark Sustainability, she strives to cultivate a widespread movement towards more climate-conscious lifestyles.
Ulla Maaria
CEO & Founder, ThingLink
Ulla Maaria Koivula is the founder and CEO of ThingLink, an interactive media platform that pioneers the development of interactive media technology and user-generated mixed reality for educational purposes. Her journey in this field began while pursuing a Ph.D. program at the University of Helsinki, where she conceptualized and developed ThingLink as a spin-off project.
Under Ulla’s leadership, ThingLink has achieved significant milestones, including creating a patented solution that enables the augmentation of visual media with additional information such as text, audio, photos, videos, and links. This technology has empowered both private and public sector organizations to create engaging, immersive experiences for communication and learning through cloud-based platforms.
She’s been dedicated and creative in her work, so she’s won awards like the UNESCO ICT for Education Prize, EdTechX Rise Award, and HundrED Global Innovations in Education. People have noticed and appreciated what she’s been doing.
Jutta Haaramo
CEO & Founder, Happy Bob by Harald AI
Jutta Haaramo is a dynamic Health Tech Entrepreneur with a passion for leveraging personal diabetes data to enhance health outcomes. As the CEO and Founder of Happy Bob by Harald AI, Jutta is dedicated to transforming the experience of managing diabetes through innovative technology.
At the helm of Happy Bob, Jutta leads the development of an app designed to empower individuals with diabetes to take control of their health and well-being. The app leverages real-time health data from sensors and wearable devices, using cutting-edge technology to turn this data into positive, rewarding experiences.
Emma Grönlund
Co-Founder, Clouder
Emma Grönlund is a driven Tech Entrepreneur and the Co-Founder of Clouder.
In her role at Clouder, Emma is at the forefront of reshaping how building technology is connected and integrated. By leveraging innovative approaches, she and her team are driving the development of smarter, more efficient, and environmentally conscious buildings. Clouder’s mission aligns with the growing emphasis on sustainability and cutting-edge technology within the construction and real estate sectors.
Emma’s passion for entrepreneurship and innovation extends beyond Clouder. As a Startup Coach at Kiuas, she provides guidance and support to budding startups. Her coaching role focuses on critical aspects of ventures, including new business development, go-to-market strategies, and growth planning. By sharing her expertise and insights, Emma plays a crucial role in fostering the success of early-stage businesses within the dynamic startup ecosystem.
Päivi Malinen
CEO, IR Partners Oy
Päivi Malinen is a versatile professional with extensive experience in the financial sector and corporate world. Since August 2023 she serves as the CEO of IR Partners Oy. Previously, as the CEO of Springvest Oyj, she was playing a pivotal role in facilitating investment opportunities for Finnish growth companies and investors while also contributing to the reform of the industry. Päivi’s leadership has been marked by significant milestones, including Springvest’s authorization by FIN-FSA as a licensed investment firm and its listing on the Nasdaq First North Market Place.
Her diverse background spans various aspects of the financial sector, including roles in a bank, mutual pension insurance company, and small investment firm. With experience as an M&A advisor and corporate lawyer and expertise in areas such as internal audit, risk management, and corporate governance, Päivi has built a comprehensive skill set.
Inka Mero
Founder & Managing Partner, Voima Ventures
Inka Mero is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and board executive passionate about purpose-driven digital and technology businesses. She has a diverse and impressive career spanning various roles in entrepreneurship, leadership, investment, and advisory capacities.
As the Founder and Managing Partner of Voima Ventures, a deep tech venture capital fund, she focuses on nurturing Nordic and Baltic deep tech startups at the pre-seed and seed stages. She is dedicated to supporting science-originated startups and entrepreneur teams with global potential, with the ultimate goal of scaling solutions that contribute positively to people, the planet, and various industries.
Inka’s global perspective is highlighted by her experiences working in different innovation hubs like Helsinki, Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv, and New York. Her approach of “Think-Build-Execute” underscores her dedication to strategic planning, agile execution, and measurable value creation for customers. With a remarkable track record and a passion for innovation and growth, Inka Mero remains a key figure in the tech and investment landscape.
Carita Orlando
CEO, The Women Entrepreneurs of Finland
Carita Orlando is a prominent figure in the Finnish business landscape, known for her significant roles in promoting entrepreneurship, advocating for the interests of businesswomen, and contributing to local governance.
Her role as the Managing Director at Businesswomen of Finland highlights her commitment to advancing the status of female entrepreneurs. With a vast network encompassing around 5,000 members in approximately 60 local associations, Carita and her team work tirelessly to empower women to excel in entrepreneurship, encouraging their success and fostering a supportive environment.
Riina Laaksonen
CEO & Founder, Nordic Fit Mama
Riina Laaksonen is a dynamic entrepreneur and supporter of healthy living with a focus on maternal healthcare. Her passion for promoting positive lifestyle choices and well-being has driven her to establish Nordic Fit Mama, a startup that aims to make top-quality maternal healthcare accessible to all mothers. Through her venture, she envisions creating a positive impact on mothers' physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
With a background spanning over a decade in both the IT industry and the health and well-being sector, Riina brings a unique blend of skills and expertise to her entrepreneurial journey. Her experience in management, leadership, coaching, customer relations, digital service development, and digital marketing equips her to navigate the challenges and opportunities of business development effectively.
Heli Kurjanen
CEO & Founder, Lune Group
Heli Kurjanen is a visionary entrepreneur, and the driving force behind Lune Group Ltd. Her journey as the Founder and CEO of Lune Group began with a mission to revolutionize period care solutions in Finland, and her dedication and innovative vision have propelled the company to a global brand that encompasses a wide spectrum of intimate wellness products.
Heli’s entry into entrepreneurship was marked by the creation of the Lunette Menstrual Cup in 2005, a pioneering product in the menstrual care space. Heli transformed from being a stay-at-home mother to leading one of the most progressive and forward-thinking period care brands worldwide in a remarkably short period.
Her leadership not only steered Lunette to become an international market leader, with menstrual cups distributed in over 45 countries but also garnered her prestigious awards, including the title of National Entrepreneur of the Year in Finland in 2017.
Miisa Mink
Founder & Managing Partner, DrivenWoman
Miisa Mink is a driven activist and entrepreneur dedicated to empowering women and creating positive change. She is the Founder at DrivenWoman, a dynamic empowerment platform and global community tailored for ambitious women seeking to accelerate their goals and aspirations.
At the heart of DrivenWoman’s mission is making personal development accessible to all women, helping them shift from mere contemplation to concrete action, from feeling overwhelmed to taking control, and from self-doubt to self-confidence. Through her work building the DrivenWoman community, Miisa has connected with countless women worldwide, hearing their shared narrative of feeling trapped by societal expectations and wanting to move forward but feeling paralyzed by fear.
Jenni Vartiainen
Founder, Kide Science
Jenni Vartiainen is a University Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Educational Sciences and also serves as the Founder of Kide Science.
With a Ph.D. in the field, Jenni possesses expertise in science, mathematics, and inquiry-based learning, particularly in the context of early childhood education. Her work centers around understanding the impact of play on children’s learning and development. This passion has driven her to conduct extensive research in the realm of early childhood STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) education.
At Kide Science, Jenni Vartiainen co-founded an innovative educational initiative that offers a play-centric approach to teaching science. The foundation of Kide Science’s pedagogical model is rooted in research, aiming to help educators globally introduce science education in the early years of schooling through playful and imaginative methods.
Maria Kuosa
CEO, Aeromon
Maria Kuosa is a seasoned professional with experience in both the industrial and design sectors. She currently holds the position of CEO at Aeromon, a pioneering company specializing in Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) assisted fugitive emission measurements for industrial clients.
Prior to her role at Aeromon, Maria Kuosa worked at Idean as a Lead Service Designer. In this capacity, she played a pivotal role in crafting service experiences across various touchpoints, ensuring seamless and impactful interactions for users. Her responsibilities extended to supporting and guiding designers involved in projects, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation.
Pia Santavirta
CEO, Tesi
Pia Santavirta is an accomplished leader in the investment and financial sectors, known for her strategic thinking, strong communication skills, and extensive experience in venture capital and private equity. As the CEO of Finnish Industry Investment Ltd (Tesi), Pia oversees a state-owned investment company with a substantial portfolio of EUR 2.4 billion in assets under management. Tesi’s investments span venture capital, private equity funds, and direct investments in Finnish startups and growth companies.
Before assuming her current role at Tesi, she held a prominent position as the Managing Director of the Finnish Venture Capital Association (FVCA) for nearly seven years. Under her leadership, the FVCA has grown into the largest venture capital and private equity association in the Nordics and Baltics, with over 180 members. Her tenure there marked a significant period of growth and influence in Finland's venture capital and private equity industry.
Nora Huovila
CEO & Co-Founder, Videoly.co
Nora Huovila is a business professional with a strong focus on leveraging video to enhance online experiences and empower women in business. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Videoly.co, she is at the forefront of the digital industry’s shift towards video content. In the evolving landscape of e-commerce, Nora recognizes the increasing importance of video as a tool to engage internet users and enhance product pages.
In addition to her work in the digital arena, Nora is also deeply committed to fostering the growth and success of women in business. As a Co-Founder of Aalto Women in Business, she is dedicated to creating a supportive and empowering environment where women are encouraged to set ambitious goals and actively help each other achieve their aspirations. Through a variety of events, including company visits, fireside chats, and social gatherings, Nora and her team have built a strong community where young, ambitious women can find inspiration, guidance, and opportunities for growth.
Meri Helle
Chairwoman & Co-founder, Summa Semiconductor
Meri Helle is a seasoned tech entrepreneur and leader with an extensive background in various fields, including (quantum) physics, material science, semiconductor technology, and business development. Her journey in the tech industry spans over 25 years, during which she has gained expertise in diverse areas such as manufacturing, supply chain, quality management, R&D, marketing, and sales.
As the Chairwoman and Co-founder of Summa Semiconductor, Meri is deeply involved in developing and growing advanced microelectronics technology. Her mission revolves around establishing a world-leading microelectronics technology hub or network of hubs, with a focus on manufacturing specialized semiconductor components like sensors, 5G technology, photonics, and power devices. She aims to bring this technology to Finland or other parts of Europe through strong global partnerships.
Amel Gaily
CEO, Cuckoo
Amel Gaily serves as the CEO of Cuckoo, a wellness tech company focused on enhancing the well-being, happiness, and productivity of employees within organizations. Cuckoo offers a gamified smart break exercise app that promotes physical and mental well-being among colleagues, regardless of their location.
At Cuckoo, Amel is leading a mission to address the issue of physical inactivity in the workplace, ultimately contributing to both employees' health and employers' financial well-being. Her engagement goes beyond Cuckoo. She also serves as a board member of The Shortcut, an organization that supports newcomers to the Finnish job market, and ARVO ry (Finnish Association for Social Enterprises), showcasing her commitment to community and social impact.
Ella Tieaho
CEO, EDUbyElla
Ella Tieaho is CEO of EDUbyElla which provides solutions and consulting related to Early Childhood Education and the educational field. Pedagogical management and content creating.
She is an innovative education professional who is involved in many different areas of the industry. She strongly believes in the digitalisation of the field of education as well as the utilization of technology. Besides serving as the CEO of EDUbyElla she is also Early Childhood Education Specialist at Playvation LTD.
Her work includes global teacher training, content creating, education policy, education export, public speaking, and expert and development work.
Related Posts:
Top Women From VC and Startup Ecosystem In Denmark (by Aleksandra Woszczyk, Vestbee)
Top Women From VC and Startup Ecosystem In Greece (by Aleksandra Woszczyk, Vestbee)
Top Women From VC and Startup Ecosystem In Belgium (by Aleksandra Woszczyk, Vestbee)
Top Women From VC and Startup Ecosystem In Austria (by Aleksandra Woszczyk, Vestbee)
Top Women From VC and Startup Ecosystem In The Western Balkans (by Katarzyna Groszkowska, Vestbee)
Top 25 Women From VC and Startup Ecosystem In Romania (by Aleksandra Wirth, Vestbee)
Top 30 Women From VC and Startup Ecosystem In Serbia (by Aleksandra Wirth, Vestbee)
