Finland

While a lot of effort goes into marketing and advertising to get new customers to buy a product or service, companies somehow do not share the same enthusiasm when it comes to providing a good experience. However, in a world where traditional monopolies are being broken by new age innovations, retaining customers is increasingly rising in importance. Companies, both startups …

In preparation for Slush x Ultrahack on the 6th through 8th of November, we talk with author, CEO, and Biohacker Teemu Arina. This article was originally posted on HYBE. He explains to Hybe: “Biohacking is the art and science of optimising your health and performance with the help of technological and biological tools.” “Food to me is a form of …

In preparation for Slush x Ultrahack on the 6th through 8th of November, Mikko Järvilehto, Ultrahack Executive Producer and CEO of Futuretournaments, interviews a series developers and partners for different challenge tracks.  Today, we talk with Jaakko Kaidesoja of the Finnish Postal Service, Posti. By Mikko Järvilehto & Niilo Korkiakoski Has your company partnered with other hackathons in the past …

In preparation for Slush x Ultrahack on the 6th through 8th of November, Mikko Järvilehto, Ultrahack Executive Producer and CEO of Futuretournaments, interviews a series developers and partners for different challenge tracks.  Today, he talks with Teemu Kinos, inventor of SOSHO. By Mikko Järvilehto & Niilo Korkiakoski AI powered shop clerks are taking over.  So thinks Teemu Kinos, the inventor …

On the day he closed a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, Petteri Lahtela, co-founder of health-tracking ring Oura, shared with Hybe his key lesson from the campaign. This article was originally posted on HYBE. Story It’s really important to get the story right. We were using a lot of time and several people, to really streamline the story so that all …

The app that makes jamming fun and simple, takes over the music education in Finland. If you have ever played a musical instrument – you will love that! If you need a reminder that business can be about having fun and doing what you love, you will love it even more! Find something really annoying about a hobby you are …

Almost a month ago, one of Europe’s largest online fashion retailers, Zalando SE, opened their new Tech Hub in Helsinki. At Nordic Startup Bits, we have asked them how the adventure is going so far. On August 27th, Zalando proudly announced that they expanded their European Tech operations to Helsinki.  Nordic Startup Bits caught up with them a month later …

Miia Liesegang and Taina Tallala are the architects behind the direction of a new Finnish startup which wants to make gardening more enjoyable and bring a real product to customers. With backgrounds in marketing and design, and a foothold in the entrepreneurial world for some time, they decided to team up to create Belightful, a startup aimed at producing butterfly …

Supercell co-founder and CEO Ilkka Paananen outlined some of his his key learnings in a speech at FallUp conference to 1,600 students in Helsinki on Sept 15. This article was originally posted on Hybe. 1) Before you start, spend time thinking about WHY you’re starting.  I hope the answer is not for the money, as it’s very likely you won’t …

Fall has arrived and Slush 2015 is approaching with over 500 startups already registered to the event. As well as promising newcomers, several young ventures are back after attending Slush in previous years. Next up are fours startups that are making their return to Slush during November 11-12th. Meet Game Analytics, Gizlo, Plumbr and Usetrace — four startups that deserve a …

Next week, on September 24th, in Helsinki you have the unique opportunity to exchange knowledge and generate new possibilities within Data Center, Cloud and Internet of Things/Industrial Internet sectors by joining the international conference and exhibition Nordic Digital Business Summit.   Anastasia Mc Avennie – Nordic Digital Business Summit Event Director, shares her excitement about the summit: “My inspiration for being …

Finnish entrepreneurs founded a startup grant for refugees, says Finnish Broadcasting Company. This article was originally posted on Arctic Startup. Finnish entrepreneurs and TV-personalities Tunna Milonoff and Riku Rantala have started a startup grant for refugees in Finland, says FBC. The goal of the ‘Startup Refugees‘ –program is to help the refugees arriving in Finland to have a fresh start …

Earlier this month, Boost Turku accelerator found it winners for its yearly summer edition of Startup journey. The Finnish accelerator provides a two months summer program for teams whom want to transform their ideas into businesses. The nine teams selected receive support, coaching and eventually a prize . This year, Boost Turku has decided to double up. In prizes. The …

Last week he visited us at the Founders House in Copenhagen to talk about Ultrahack, part of SlushHacks, the biggest European hackathon happening in Helsinki this November. In addition, he told us about an even bigger startup event called Slush.   “Each time I travel to different (Nordic) cities, I try to visit few co-working spaces. This time I was in …

One of Europe’s largest online fashion retailers, Zalando SE, is expanding their technology operations internationally by opening a new technology hub in Helsinki. On August 27th they welcomed their new local team to the company. By Dorte Primdahl Møberg Focusing on the development of innovative customer-facing products, such as fashion apps, Zalando aims to boost its fashion platform and increase …

Garage Technology Ventures, Norway’s StartupLab, and Silicon Valley-based MAD-Partners announced earlier this month the launch of Silicon Valley Catalyst, a new joint venture to fund and grow brilliant emerging European technology companies that are ready to launch in the U.S. The collaboration brings together a team of experienced Silicon Valley and Nordic venture players to provide investment capital and intensive …

Finnish startup Gizlo lets you give feedback on your experience at restaurants, bars etc. benefitting both customers and businesses. So you have been to this new trendy place, but did not feel there was a reason for it to be hyped. And you maybe had a surprisingly positive dining experience in a restaurant you passed in front a lot of …

In a world where content means everything, Finnish software startup Neonto claims that their tool makes it possible for anyone to create an app from an idea. Mobile software development is generally difficult – especially if one wants to make things ‘right’. Neonto Studio is a free Mac app (requires OS X 10.9 or newer) that creates native iOS and Android …

Facebook ad management looks deceptively simple. Sure, anyone can do it, but only the best practices resulting from painstaking trials and errors provide optimal/wanted results. Smartly.io is a Finnish startup that promises better and simpler platform for advertisers made through that process. Soon after the launch of Smartly.io in 2013, they became trusted partners in Facebook Marketing Partner community in building tools …

Emfit QS (Emfit quantified-sleep) is a device that can help users optimize their fitness performance by tracking heart rate variability. The company Emfit has a long track record, but is now pivoting into a fast growing health tech company. The device itself is a non-contact monitoring system that is unobtrusively installed under the mattress and it provides comprehensive reports about physical …