Global business expansion: Helsinki’s rising appeal

Helsinki is emerging as a focal point for international investors, particularly in the realms of sustainability, fintech, medtech, and the video game industry. This surge in interest is epitomised by the journey of three business executives participating in the 90 Day Finn Program, each with a unique vision for business expansion and a keen eye for Helsinki’s burgeoning market opportunities.

Sophie Winwood: A Journey in Sustainable Investing

Driving Fintech and sustainability through international investment

Sophie Winwood, a UK-based investment principal at Anthemis, specialises in fintech and insurtech startups. With a portfolio spanning across the US and Europe, Anthemis is now exploring opportunities in the Nordic region, particularly Finland. Sophie, attracted by Helsinki’s innovation in sustainability and smart city solutions, shares her insights:

There is a strong sustainability component to the Anthemis portfolio, and Sophie sees potential investment opportunities in Finnish startups doing carbon-tracking work. She’s interested in companies involved in smart city and urban planning applications too. Sophie also has a very personal reason for wanting to swap the hectic backdrop of London for a more laid-back lifestyle in Helsinki. In the spring of 2018, she was involved in a bicycle accident and sustained a serious head injury. Her symptoms of post-concussion syndrome persist to this day.

Sophie’s personal connection to Helsinki, fueled by her recovery journey from a serious injury, also resonates with her professional goals. Her interest in Helsinki’s lifestyle harmonizes with her business objectives, offering a refreshing perspective on business expansion.

Alli Óttarsson: Boosting the Video Game Sector

Elevating Helsinki’s status as the gaming industry’s hub

Alli Óttarsson has come to Finland looking for investment opportunities in the video games industry. The Iceland-born resident of Los Angeles works for a global venture capital company called Makers Fund. It invests in video game studios and other interactive entertainment companies.

Helsinki is the undisputed mobile games capital of the world. It’s getting challenged these days by Tel Aviv and Istanbul, but Finland remains a vast video game hub with a thriving ecosystem and lots of investment opportunities.

Alli Óttarsson – 90 Day Finn (2021 programme) & Investment Principal at Makers Fund

Makers Fund already has investments in four Finnish gaming companies: Redhill Games, Lightheart, Superplus and Savage Game Studios. With Helsinki as a temporary base, Alli also wants to get to know game developers in Tallinn, Copenhagen and Stockholm.

Fernando Ferrer: Big Data and Beyond

Exploring New Frontiers in Data Management and Tech Innovation

Fernando Ferrer, a seasoned entrepreneur and data expert, brings a wealth of experience in health, finance, and advertising tech. Since selling his healthcare data company in 2016, he has worked as a consultant, business mentor and angel investor. Fernando works 100% remotely and is in Finland with his wife and two young children. Over the past few years, the family has also spent time in Canada, Estonia, Spain and the United States.

His remote working lifestyle brought him to Helsinki, where he sees potential for new ventures and advises international funds keen on investing in Finland:

Fernando is deeply connected with the tech ecosystem in Toronto, the city his family moved to upon leaving Venezuela some decades ago. While attending Ontario’s Queen’s University, he developed a licensing system for clinical research. This knowledge formed the basis for a big pharma and medtech business intelligence company he founded with four partners in 2013. Today, Fernando focuses on data management for three sectors of tech: health, finance and advertising.

Fernando’s passion for technology startups and his commitment to technological democratization make him a key player in Helsinki’s international expansion narrative.

Helsinki: A convergence point for global business executives

Helsinki’s dynamic business environment is attracting a diverse range of business executives, each with a unique vision and expertise. This convergence of international talent and local innovation is setting the stage for Helsinki to become a key player in the global innovation ecosystem, particularly in technology, sustainability, and the creative industries. The stories of Sophie, Alli, and Fernando underscore the city’s potential as a hub for international business expansion, making it an attractive destination for forward-thinking business executives worldwide.