Client stories
Case Nokia Bell Labs: Ambion
Case Nokia Bell Labs: Ambion
At the heart of every research and innovation organization lies an incredible drive to discover and create. But turning these discoveries into real-world products that meet market needs can be a challenging leap. This is why we’re so excited that our Entrepreneurs in Residence (EiRs), like Mikko Alasaarela, have the chance to work with organizations like Nokia Bell Labs, bringing both the vision and experience to make this leap possible.
An EiR brings a fresh perspective, especially one rooted in the fast-moving world of startups, where ideas are shaped, tested, and launched in record time. This entrepreneurial approach can feel very different from the rhythm of a large corporation, where careful planning and detailed processes are essential. But a seasoned EiR understands both worlds and can help bring the best of both together. They help shape a clear path forward, balancing the stability of a large organization with the creative energy and speed of a startup.
With an EiR on board, research teams gain a partner who’s focused on the bigger picture—building a product and business that resonates in the market. This model offers great potential, especially for research teams with exciting technologies that need a market champion. The EiR approach supports not just invention but also real, meaningful impact.
The following story shares how Mikko Alasaarela has done just that by bringing his unique expertise to their groundbreaking Nokia Bell Labs’ AI project.
As an Entrepreneur in Residence at Nokia Bell Labs, Mikko brought a rich background as an international serial entrepreneur with experience in Berlin, USA and Singapore. His expertise in both blockchain and AI was exemplified by his win at the Global Blockchain Competition in Singapore in 2018 for an innovative AI solution. Through his market insights, Mikko recognized a crucial gap in customer-specific AI solutions for SaaS applications, a gap he was determined to bridge.
For nearly 100 years, Nokia Bell Labs has been at the forefront of technological innovation, from its early days within the Bell Telephone System to the future landscape of 6G communications. With a relentless commitment to improving and propelling communication forward, Nokia Bell Labs anticipates and addresses the challenges of human needs before they even arise.
Researchers at Nokia Bell Labs have played pivotal roles in nearly every significant technological milestone over the last century. They were instrumental in building the first lasers and transistors, discovering the origins of the universe, and connecting the globe through communications satellites. Additionally, they pioneered implementable technologies such as the solar panel and the first hearing aids while making substantial theoretical advances, including the foundational work in Information Theory.
Over the past century, the scientists at Nokia Bell Labs have achieved numerous groundbreaking discoveries and innovations, earning recognition through hundreds of prestigious awards, including ten Nobel Prizes and five Turing Awards.
Initially, OurAI aimed to build a decentralized AI infrastructure using smart contracts to facilitate secure data sharing between companies. However, under Mikko’s leadership and daily collaboration with the research team, the focus shifted toward a more targeted approach: creating customer-specific AI solutions for SaaS applications, known as Ambion. This pivot addressed a critical market need by prioritizing data privacy while enabling businesses to harness the full potential of AI tailored to their unique requirements.
Nokia Bell Labs demonstrated a strong commitment to pushing the project through quickly. The collaboration with the research team allowed for rapid iterations, fostering a positive startup vibe that energized the process. In the end the team was able secure pre-seed funding in just a few weeks.
Once Mikko articulated the market potential, the urgency became clear, prompting the team to make swift decisions. They recognized that the window of opportunity was short, and with confidence in their ability to execute effectively, they were determined to see the project through. This momentum underscored the commitment from Nokia Bell Labs, which aimed to maintain this pace moving forward. They were also able to convince other Nokia internal stakeholders, further solidifying support across the organization. As a result, Ambion quickly secured pilot customers, validating the direction of the project and positioning it for success.
Despite early successes, collaboration within Nokia Bell Labs introduced some challenges. Nokia Bell Lab’s strict security policies, essential for safeguarding data and ensuring compliance, naturally slowed development compared to the fast-paced, agile environment of startups. Startups can move quickly, adjusting processes on the fly, whereas in a corporate setting, protocols must be carefully followed.
This balance between maintaining robust security and driving rapid progress became an important learning experience for the team, highlighting opportunities to blend the strengths of both approaches.
To overcome these challenges, several solutions were proposed. A sandbox environment was suggested, which would allow for startup-like operations within Nokia Bell Labs. This would enable the Ambion team to bypass corporate bureaucracy and operate with greater agility.
Additionally, efforts were made to improve communication and collaboration across teams. Breaking down silos would foster a more integrated approach, ensuring smoother and faster project development.
Despite the challenges, there were clear signs of positive momentum within Nokia Bell Labs. Jani, a senior leader at Nokia Bell Labs, demonstrated a strong commitment to making the organization a hub for innovation, where entrepreneurs and researchers could thrive.
The Ambion project also highlighted lessons from past corporate venturing models, emphasizing the importance of empowering entrepreneurs and ensuring the agility needed to drive real innovation. The culture and way of working are rooted in trust, creating an environment where teams can take ownership and make bold decisions.
The next steps on the Ambion journey is to consider different ways to create value, for example creating a legal entity, move the Ambion intellectual property to the newly established entity, and then launch the MVP version of the Ambion platform. This makes the startup ready for a public launch.
The project showcases the tremendous potential that can be unlocked when entrepreneurs with strong backgrounds from startups and large corporations collaborate effectively. While challenges such as corporate processes and communication barriers can slow progress, they also present opportunities for transformation. For Nokia Bell Labs, the success of the OurAI project could serve as a catalyst for a broader shift towards a more entrepreneur-friendly model, where innovation is nurtured and commercialized at a faster pace.
Mikko’s leadership in pivoting the project toward customer-specific AI, along with his advocacy for more agile corporate structures, underscores the importance of flexibility in corporate venturing. As Nokia Bell Labs continues to evolve, the OurAI project stands as a promising example of how corporations can successfully foster and support internal innovation. This case has also contributed to a broader culture change within the organization, reinforcing the shift toward more dynamic and responsive ways of working.