WHO ARE WE

Maria Petrova boasts a decade long career in software and product management, where she has been focused on building software products solving real user needs. Throughout her journey, Maria has made her way into various senior roles in product management, showcasing her leadership and strategic skills. Her tenure at renowned tech giants like Smartly.io and Zalando marks a track record of success and innovation. Most notably, her recent accomplishment at Supermetrics stands out, where she spearheaded the development of one of Finland’s most acclaimed product teams. Maria’s approach, blending analytical prowess with user-centric design, has been pivotal in her teams consistently delivering excellence in the tech industry.

Matti's career in retail and ecommerce has been marked by significant growth and transformation. After contributing to the evolution of S-ryhmä’s ecommerce, he took a year off in 2022 to learn new things and build on his own business ideas. This led him to embrace entrepreneurship, founding a company and later joining Coventures. Matti's experience includes scaling a grocery retail segment from €10 million to €200 million, managing large product assortments, and enhancing customer experience. As an entrepreneur, he currently runs his own company and advises other businesses, leveraging his insights in digitalization, team dynamics, and business profitability to help clients grow and avoid common pitfalls.

Jesse has over 15 years of diverse experience in B2C digital businesses & sales, e-commerce, product management and B2B SaaS services. During his career he has held significant leadership roles in international business management, B2C digital sales and new business development. Jesse is known for his ability to lead complex eCommerce and digitalization projects and for his skills in nurturing teams that grow with the business. His approach is hands-on, data-driven and action-oriented, ensuring that decisions are informed and deliver tangible results. He wants to help companies avoid common pitfalls and believes in the power of agile methods and strong product management to drive growth and profitability.

Petri has over 30 years of extensive experience in sales and business development, specializing in both B2B and B2B2C sectors. Throughout his career, he has worked in launching, growing, and managing sales and multiple partner channels. Petri's particular strength is in developing and implementing growth and sales strategies for consistent growth. Petri has worked internationally for many years and has been involved in over 100 projects helping clients successfully enter new markets. He also has significant expertise in assisting companies with fundraising from seed to Series A rounds.

Nicolas is a leading expert in Digital Twins and the founder of WINNIIO AB, where he drives innovative strategies for transformative business impact. His unique skill lies in uniting leaders, AI experts, researchers, and technologists around a shared vision to create go-to-market strategies and digital business models. With a career spanning CTO, CEO, and CSO roles, Nicolas has led multimillion-dollar valuation growth and billion-dollar projects across industries like automotive, smart buildings, and industrial automation. A guest lecturer at Oxford University, he shares insights on Digital Twins, XR, and AI. As co-chair of the Digital Twin Consortium’s working group and an advisor to XR startups, Nicolas combines strategic vision with technical expertise to deliver groundbreaking solutions.

Mikko is an impact-driven AI entrepreneur and the founder & CEO of Equel, a professional community platform. Over his career, Mikko has founded seven tech startups across Helsinki, Berlin, London, and San Francisco, with three successful exits. A recognized thought leader in algorithmic influence, he is the author of The Servant Influencer, a book on leveraging algorithms for positive impact, and his writings have reached tens of millions globally. Mikko holds six international patents, has won the Red Dot Design Award, and led Inbot, a Web3 AI startup, to early revenue growth and a $3.5M raise. With deep experience in scaling businesses, including ZEF Oy and Gamelion, Mikko continues to inspire innovation and create meaningful change in the tech industry.

Otto is a serial tech entrepreneur with two successful exits and a passion for AI and emerging technologies. As Co-Founder and CEO of Speechly, he scaled sales to $1M ARR and led the company to its acquisition by Roblox in 2023. An alum of Y Combinator (W22), Otto has deep expertise in product-market fit and digital strategy. Previously, he co-founded Magenta Advisory, growing it to $4M ARR before its acquisition by BearingPoint. A lifelong tech enthusiast and investor, Otto has advised major European enterprises on digital transformation and supports AI startups worldwide.

Sami is a digital product development expert with over 20 years of experience, specializing in mobility services. As the founding CTO of MaaS Global, he created the award-winning Whim service, the first commercial MaaS operator, securing nearly €100M in investments. Sami has driven innovation in transport systems globally, from contactless payments and EV charging to smart city operating systems. He has held leadership roles at Nokia, Microsoft, and startups like Tranzer and Baloise Mobility, where he developed groundbreaking data platforms and led successful pivots and fundraises. Currently, Sami leads product development for the West of England MaaS project funded by the UK Department for Transport.

Timo is the co-founder and CEO of Ceterio, a robotics startup focused on innovative applications across retail, logistics, healthcare, and defense. With over 20 years of IT experience, Timo excels at translating cutting-edge robotics technology into practical, customer-driven solutions, leveraging design thinking and deep integration expertise. Previously, he led a global eCommerce rollout for a multinational enterprise and served as Director of Robotics and Incubator Business Units at a Nasdaq-listed company. Timo is also Chairman of the VAMOS ecosystem and a steering group specialist for the €12.5M Mixed Fleet R&D project, driving advancements in autonomous mobility and smart building robotics.

Dr. Jilles van Gurp is an accomplished technology leader with a strong track record of founding and running innovative startups and leading technology teams to create breakthrough products. With over two decades of deep expertise in search engines, geospatial technologies, and agile team management, he excels in crafting technical strategies and solving complex problems to drive product development and achieve long-term strategic value. Currently serving as the CTO at FORMATION Gmbh in Berlin, Jilles leverages his extensive experience to drive strategic and technical advancements. In addition to being a CTO, Jilles is also available as a consultant in which role he has supported a wide range of clients over the years.

For over a decade, Eemeli has partnered with companies in leading innovation and growth. He has gained extensive experience in helping them go from the strategic planning phase into a profitable new business. Eemeli is exceptionally skilled at connecting dots, conceiving ideas, and drawing out winning strategies. His amicable approach and natural talent for bringing people together help him get buy-in from all levels. Eemeli can get to a first answer quickly, and he’s great at keeping things clear, simple, and effective. He has worked with diverse companies, ranging from Fortune 500s to scale-ups and startups, and in various industries and markets. Along with his ample international experience that spans the Netherlands, UK, Germany, Nordics, and beyond, Eemeli has a unique and broad perspective to help guide businesses toward growth.

Anna Katariina is a seasoned Product Leadership expert with over 20 years of experience in the software industry, including 10 years in leadership roles. She has worked in developing, building, and launching successful software products in large markets, such as the US and the UK. Anna Katariina understands that product development requires a holistic approach, considering market demand, internal capabilities, and business objectives. As a leader, she works her magic, which includes a good bit of humor and drive, to align team members and create effective change. She is especially skilled in working collaboratively with teams across organizations, from strategy to design, engineering, and sales. Anna Katariina has been leading change and product leadership for a long time. Her depth of knowledge of product leadership is profound, making her one of the partners to support businesses in product and growth.

Asmo has a unique digital business career combining entrepreneurship, director positions in major corporations, and lots of startup experience. As a true digital generalist with over 20 years of experience, he can be an extremely versatile help in many areas: sparring the digital strategies, working around business design, making product development more focused and faster, and guiding teams with a strong intrapreneurship mindset. To put it short: Asmo is a warm-hearted team player with a superb “let’s get things done” attitude. You might have spotted Asmo also on television as he’s a regular commentator on Yle morning’s “Jälkidigi” program, focusing on the latest news and phenomena around the tech and digital world.

Ira is a highly experienced business leader with a background in digital strategy, UX, and product management. For over 15 years, she has helped companies at different growth stages, from near-bankruptcy to acquisition, and in complete restructures. Ira's coaching experience extends to mentoring junior PMs, advising early-stage startups on product management, and lecturing at Aalto University. As a business leader, her approach ensures the team creates actual end-user value, measuring and validating the work, and fostering a fun and productive environment. Ira aims at scaling as efficiently as possible and focusing on what moves the needle to achieve desired outcomes. Ira’s expertise is best suited to companies that are looking to establish a product organization from scratch or improve their existing product management processes, and create a data-driven product culture.

Juho is an experienced sales leader with a wealth of experience in business development. Drawing from his background in management consulting and firsthand experience developing and selling digital solutions, Juho has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to grow product and consulting businesses. As a Co-Founder at Coventures, Juho has worked with dozens of startups, scaleups, and enterprises in sales projects, helping them with go-to-market strategy, implementation, and building systematic sales systems. His ability to identify bottlenecks for growth, create effective solutions, and capitalize on market opportunities, coupled with his unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences, has earned him a reputation as a results-driven sales leader and trusted advisor.

Marko is the Co-Founder and CEO of Coventures. For the past 13 years, he has studied the art and science of value creation. Marko has hands-on helped large enterprises with corporate innovation, turning their ideas into new revenue. He has delivered more than 40 different innovation projects, giving him extensive insight into different types of companies and industries. Marko also understands the founder mentality and startup realities, having taken on several startup endeavors. He is considered one of the top Product Management experts in Finland, teaching courses on the subject at Aalto University, and coaching in leading incubator programs. Marko's personal insights into building new products and companies have allowed him to support others in growing their businesses. Marko always aims to overdeliver for his customers and ensure they are on the road to success.

Riku is an ambitious serial entrepreneur with over ten years of experience building ventures. His deep knowledge and experience building product-led businesses from the ground up make him an invaluable asset to any startup or growth company. Riku has also made a name for himself as an expert in discovering and validating opportunities for growth and identifying market gaps while helping other companies build new revenue. Most of all, Riku’s energy and drive are infectious, inspiring those around him. He is always looking for new challenges and opportunities to make a positive impact on the world, and his passion for innovation and entrepreneurship is contagious. Whether you are a scale-up or a large enterprise seeking to explore growth potential, Riku is the best aid for any organization looking to discover opportunities and build lasting value.

Sampo is a highly experienced senior strategy advisor with over 15 years of experience in leading companies to grow. He supports companies in corporate leadership, digital transformation, product development, and management advisory. Sampo's expertise has helped numerous companies build new revenue streams and achieve cultural turns, particularly in the energy, service, and technology sectors. In addition to his ample experience and knowledge, Sampo is known for his roll-up-your-sleeves approach. He is dedicated to delivering results and goes above and beyond to ensure that his clients achieve sustainable growth. Sampo is a strategic thinker who can see the big picture, and align teams for change. He is also highly regarded for his ability to develop strong partnerships with business leaders and supporting them in achieving their business goals.

Sebastian is a highly experienced strategy, innovation, and growth leader. His career began in management consulting, honing his skills in operating model development and change implementation across various industries. Sebastian spent nine years leading growth as a Head of Business Development and PMO. As New Business Director, he helped drive important change and systematically co-developed scalable circular economy solutions with customers. Sebastian is a genuine, bright, and driven team leader. He empowers his team members and fosters a culture of innovation and ambition. With his deep expertise in strategy, innovation, and implementation, Sebastian is a valuable partner to any organization looking to achieve sustainable growth.

Ville is a highly experienced serial entrepreneur and technology expert. With a background in building deep-tech companies, developing service-driven product development strategies, and dealing with venture capital, both as an investor and investee in Silicon Valley, Ville has a wealth of experience and expertise to offer. Ville's particular focus has been on AI technology productization, building effective go-to-market strategies, and commercialization, both locally in Finland and internationally. What sets Ville apart are his great facilitation skills and down-to-earth approach. Whether he's working with a small startup or a large corporation, Ville can quickly and easily establish rapport, build trust, and work collaboratively towards shared goals. He is a true and passionate entrepreneur at heart, and in his free time also enjoys making some music.

Samu is a deeply experienced product leadership expert, having built digital products from scratch and scaled multiple foundational fintech products, which now serve millions of customers globally. He is always up for a challenge and enjoys delivering complex projects with ambitious goals. Samu has also worked in corporate venture building and VC investment in Berlin. His role helped build and finance new digital ventures in energy, mobility, and health verticals. Whether he's leading a team of developers or brainstorming new ideas with colleagues, Samu brings his A-game to every project he is a part of. He has an eye for detail and enjoys creating products that people will love. Samu is the ideal partner for any sized company looking to establish a product-driven organization or simply build a killer product.

Tom is one of Finland’s most experienced innovation experts, with over 20 years of experience in the field. He is a truly unique talent, bringing together an engineering background with a humanist perspective, and a passion for driving positive change in the world. With his broad experience leading product development in several leading-edge startups and serving as CTO of a publicly listed company, Tom has honed his skills in leadership and building successful products. Tom is solution-oriented and a true team player. Moreover, you would be hard-pressed to find a more kind and open-minded person. Tom's genuineness, combined with his product leadership expertise and deep understanding of engineering principles, enables him to help customers develop new products that create long-term value for his customers.

Mirka is a passionate community builder, who believes people achieve great things together. She has a strong communications background, having worked in several roles including copywriter, PR, marketing, branding, and management. Mirka also spent eight years working as a personal coach in the wellness and fitness industry, leading her to open her own studio in Canada. Everything Mirka has done over her career has been oriented toward connecting people. In her own business, she was able to grow a tight-knit community of over 2k members. She continues to work in the wellness space, teaching yoga and helping people find the right tools to improve their well-being. She is also responsible for the Coventures community, working in both marketing and community management.

Ville is an accomplished business development specialist and sales leader, having worked with various large enterprises to establish and validate new businesses. Ville has also collaborated with accelerators, contributing to the selection process and assessing startups. As a passionate advocate for startup success, he offers practical sales coaching and guidance on how to pitch ideas to corporations. Ville also has experience in software product development, allowing him to understand common challenges and requirements that corporations face in this area. On a personal level, Ville is a sociable person and enjoys nature sports like randonnée skiing with friends. With his expertise and dedication to bringing people together, Ville can provide significant support to companies looking to expand and diversify their revenue streams.

Valtteri is a strategic innovation and technology sales expert. Over his career, Valtteri has gained a deep understanding and experience in building innovative solutions. He is passionate about designing unique business models that solve real problems for real customers. His experience extends from leadership, team building, and business development. In his view, truly innovative businesses require a multidisciplinary approach, from technology to sales and management. Valtteri is also never afraid to ask questions. In fact, his most successful ventures were directly born from his curious approach, as well as helping numerous companies in building and growing new revenue. Valtteri believes facing your fears is the only path to real growth.

Jesse is a skilled venture builder with a strong computer science and business background. As a product team leader, Jesse has successfully scaled R&D teams to launch multiple new product segments. He has a profound understanding of technologies and developing digital products and services. Jesse also has extensive experience leading operations and product development in Finland and the US, and has participated in executing 15 M&A deals, including the integration phase. Jesse's strategic thinking, attention to detail, and ambition make him a valuable partner for any organization seeking to build digitally driven ventures.