Technopolis and Greater Helsinki Promotion launched in May the Helsinki International VC Zone, an initiative aimed to providing top-tier, technology-focused international VCs with an easier way to conduct business in the Nordic Countries and find interesting companies for potential investments and/or partnerships.
At the VC Zone, international venture capital companies are provided with arranged meetings with pre-screened companies to add to their own agenda; full subscription to Technopolis Online – a leading English-language Finnish market intelligence service; access and visibility to the world-class MoneyTalks™ VC/Angel pitching events as a VC partner; and access to furnished offices during their visits to Finland. The services provided by the Technopolis Oyj and Greater Helsinki Promotion Ltd. partnership are free of charge.
By lowering the barriers for screening, analyzing, executing and managing deals in Finland, VC Zone aims to create a service that facilitates the setting up of operations by international technology-focused venture capitalists, so that they will become more active in the Finnish market. “The highlight of Technopolis’ approach is its laser focus on creating the most efficient process possible to help VCs analyze and process deal flow in Finland. The goal is to see an ecosystem develop where local and international VCs are routinely networking with entrepreneurs to create more growth stage investment into Finnish companies,” says Will Cardwell, Head of Aalto University Center for Entrepreneurship and member of the board of directors for Technopolis Ventures.
Technopolis and Greater Helsinki Promotion are confident that the VC Zone will help to create long-lasting investment partnerships that benefit investors by introducing them to Finland’s most promising high-tech start-up and growth companies, and in turn, make young Finnish companies grow into global players. “Building a vibrant business ecosystem in the Greater Helsinki region will boost business for all of Finland in the long run,” says Tatu Laurila, CEO of Greater Helsinki Promotion.
While Helsinki might be the starting point, it is obvious that the VC will look into the Finnish deal flow as a whole. “It is great to have the VC Zone as a base while in Finland and to have the support of Technopolis and Greater Helsinki Promotion. There’s a positive buzz going on in the start-ups and growth companies in Finland, and we are looking forward to our trip to the Helsinki area again this summer to meet with several of the most promising companies,” says Andrea Traversone of Amadeus Capital, a UK-based company.
For more information about VC Zone: contact Karita Huotari, Head of Strategic Matchmaking Services at Technopolis. Email: karita.huotari@technopolis.fi or tel. +358 40 579 8757.
For inquiries about making a booking with the Helsinki International VC Zone at Technopolis Innopoli, please contact Olli Pölönen: email: olli.polonen@technopolis.fi or tel. +358 40 352 0010.
Mr. Will Cardwell, Head of Aalto University Center for Entrepreneurship, +358 40 514 1325
Mr. Tatu Laurila, CEO, Greater Helsinki Promotion, tel. +358 40 564 3024
MoneyTalks™ Forum is a matchmaking event designed to give international venture capital investors a fast track to meet the top high-tech and technology-based start-up and growth companies in Finland. The MoneyTalks™ Forum’s long history helping companies meet to create successful partnerships and investments makes it the perfect launch pad for the new VC Zone.
Technopolis Plc provides business environments and services for knowledge-intensive companies and organizations. The service portfolio ranges from comprehensive business and development services to modern premises. Currently, close to 1,200 companies with 16,000 employees operate in the Technopolis centers located in Espoo, Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta, Oulu, Tampere and Vantaa in Finland, and in St. Petersburg in Russia. Technopolis Plc is listed on Nasdaq OMX Helsinki. www.technopolis.fi
