Ilkka Kivimäki joins Inventure

    In more HR moves out in Otaniemi, Ilkka Kivimäki now joins Inventure, the Finnish VC firm that earlier in January announced a new €50 million fund.

    Most know Kivimäki as the past head coach of Startup Sauna, Chairman at Slush, as well as being founding chairman of the Startup Sauna Foundation, a €1 million+ budget that puts money into Startup Sauna and Slush. The foundation is funded by Aalto University, Tekes, The Federation of Finnish Technology Industries (where Kivimäki is a board member of the Growth Team), and Sitra, as well as a few individuals.

    Kivimäki gave away the Head Coach role at Startup Sauna at the end of last year, but will remain as the chairman of the Startup Sauna foundation and the Chairman at Slush.

    “Inventure has a great team spirit and solid performance on the first fund so it is great to become part of the team and bring my expertise to the portfolio companies,” says Kivimäki.

    In our January interview with Inventure, Sami Lampinen, the founder of Inventure, tells us their strategy is to focus on actual early-stage investments, and grabbing good deal-flow from their close ties in the Finnish startup ecosystem.

    Lampinen comments, ”Ilkka brings tremendous value to our portfolio; we need hands-on experience in building international high-growth companies. Ilkka’s entrepreneurial approach and strength will benefit the entire Finnish Venture Capital industry.”