Public Funding, Growth, and Internationalization
The program is subject to updates. We reserve the right to make changes to the content.
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Irene Viinikkala
Board Member, Angel Investor, and Portfolio Entrepreneur
FiBAN’s network of over 600 angel investors has invested nearly half a billion euros in Finnish growth companies. Irene Viinikkala serves as a board member at FiBAN and works as an angel investor, advisor, and board professional for SMEs, growth companies, and startups. She accelerates business development and growth through data, technology, and bold decision-making.
Kim Väisänen
Startup Investor and Entrepreneur
Kim Väisänen, an entrepreneur and startup investor from Eastern Finland, is also a non-fiction author, board professional, and keynote speaker. He travels extensively, meeting and advising growth entrepreneurs in various ways. Väisänen is widely known to the public as a familiar face from the TV show Leijonan luola (the Finnish version of Dragon’s Den).
Sarita Runeberg
CEO
Sarita leads one of Europe’s largest startup ecosystems, where startups, investors, and corporate partners collaborate to build the next generation of success stories. With over 10 years of experience in international business and scaling companies—from early-stage startups to global players—she specializes in growth strategies, entering new markets, team building, and creating long-term value through partnerships. Sarita is a passionate advocate for diversity, working to ensure that more female and minority entrepreneurs receive the support, funding, and networks they need to succeed.
Anne Horttanainen
Finnish Venture Capital Association
CEO
Anne Horttanainen’s path has been guided by a desire to develop and make an impact. In working life, she encourages a fearless attitude toward life. As the CEO of the Finnish Venture Capital Association, she advocates for sustainable growth and the creation of prosperity in Finland. In her speech, she explains why companies backed by private equity and venture capital grow faster than their peers, what different classes of investors exist, and what a private equity investor looks for when choosing a new investment target.
Marjo Ilmari
Business Finland
Senior Director
Business Finland creates prosperity and well-being for Finland by accelerating the renewal and sustainable growth of companies. In her presentation, Marjo Ilmari will talk about funding services aimed at companies in the growth and scaling phase
Jonathan Andersin
Partner
Jonathan is a partner at the law firm DLA Piper and a lawyer specializing in venture capital and growth investments. He has assisted numerous Finnish startup and growth companies, as well as both domestic and international investors, in financing rounds. In addition to venture capital investments, Jonathan also advises on a wide range of corporate and financing transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, debt financing arrangements, and fund formations, as well as on general corporate law matters and the day-to-day affairs of startup and growth companies.
Hanna Loikkanen
Finnfund
Investment Director
Finnfund is a development financier and impact investor that builds a more sustainable future and creates lasting impact by investing in companies that address global development challenges. In her speech, Loikkanen will explain what kind of companies Finnfund’s annual investments (€200–250 million) are targeted at.
Erja Retzén
Nasdaq
Account Director
Erja Retzén has worked as a Client Director for Nordic IPOs at Nasdaq for 20 years. At the RISE 2026 event, she brings her energetic approach to exploring company growth journeys—from the startup phase to going public and operating as a listed company—sharing practical insights drawn from decades of experience. Erja’s broad perspective on the different stages of corporate growth helps the audience understand the opportunities and choices companies face on their path from initial spark to sustainable, scalable growth.
Sarita Runeberg
RISE
CEO
Eija Ranua, CEO of RISE, is passionate about supporting growth entrepreneurship. Rise is a movement that accelerates Finland’s economic growth by strengthening the growth entrepreneurship ecosystem and collaboration among stakeholders across the country. female and minority entrepreneurs receive the support, funding, and networks they need to succeed.
Coming soon
Sarita Runeberg
CEO
Sarita leads one of Europe’s largest startup ecosystems, where startups, investors, and corporate partners collaborate to build the next generation of success stories. With over 10 years of experience in international business and scaling companies—from early-stage startups to global players—she specializes in growth strategies, entering new markets, team building, and creating long-term value through partnerships. Sarita is a passionate advocate for diversity, working to ensure that more female and minority entrepreneurs receive the support, funding, and networks they need to succeed.
Heikki Oinonen & Matias Vihko
Founders
Heikki Oinonen and Matias Vihko, founders of the award-winning marketing entertainment agency Koju, demonstrate how a company’s story can be turned into a growth-driving instrument. Koju is a Finnish creative agency that has helped brands such as Valmet, Mastercard, Osuuspankki, Pihlajalinna, LähiTapiola, and Gofore create content that delivers results. The company partners with both Finland’s largest and internationally operating brands to support their growth.
Eija Ranua
CEO & Founder, M.Sc. (Econ.)
Eija Ranua, CEO of Rise, is passionate about supporting growth entrepreneurs. Rise is an initiative that drives Finland’s economic growth by strengthening the growth entrepreneurship ecosystem and fostering collaboration among stakeholders across the country.
10.00
Opening Show
Welcome to RISE!
10.20
Welcoming words
The Growth Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Finland.
10.40
Speaker
Now is the Time for Growth – What Finland’s Ecosystem Needs to Thrive?
11.00
Without Growth Entrepreneurs, There is No Prosperity – The Link Between Economic Growth, Living Standards, and Entrepreneur-Friendly Policy
Juhana Brotherus, Suomen Yrittäjät
11.20
Speaker
Going Global and the Export Sector
11.40
Rewarding
RISE annually presents three prestigious business awards: the Boldest Advocate for Entrepreneurship, the Finnish Company with the Highest Growth, and the Finnish Company with the Best Performance.
12.00
Public and Private Funding – Complementary or Competitive?
An Overview of the Finnish Funding Landscape
Global from Day One – What We Can Learn from the Startup Mindset When Planning Internationalization
Maria from 01 explains how the internationalization mindset differs between startups and traditional companies. She also explores why customer-centricity, validation, and multicultural teams are at the heart of a successful internationalization strategy.
The Future of International Finance and Payments – A Focus on Stablecoins and Tokenization
Did you know that with stablecoins, €1 billion can be moved across continents in just 10 minutes? Tokenization is also set to make accessing capital much easier in the future.
EU funding
Sustainability and the Green Transition – How Do EU Targets Affect Financing?
Future Priorities of Public Funding Providers
Finnvera
Loans and Guarantees
ELY
Investment and Development Grants for SMEs
Regional Councils
Rural Business Funding and Local LEADER Action Groups
Bringing Vitality to Rural Areas Through Public Funding
Internationalize or Perish
Scale Abroad Wisely: Concrete Examples and Strategies for Growing Exports
Strategic Partnerships and Co-Investment Models
Don’t Forget Alternative and Supplementary Financing Options
Regulation and Scalability – Friend or Foe?
How Regulation, Taxation, and the Public Sector Affect Growth Opportunities
Investments, for Heaven’s Sake – Attracting International Investors to Finland
Investor Relations and the Role of the Domestic Ecosystem
16.00
Raise a Toast to Growth
Sparkling Drinks Served: Let’s Raise a Toast to Finland and Finnish Growth Entrepreneurs!
12.00
Welcome!
Agenda
Angel Investing as a Catalyst for Growth
FiBAN explains how angel investors strengthen the growth entrepreneurship ecosystem and act as catalysts for startup growth.
Pitch Like a Pro: Crafting Stories That Secure Funding
A Skilled Pitch is a Strategic Tool, Not Just a Presentation.
Equity Offerings for Private Companies
Private Investors & Closed Rounds: Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A/B/C Financing
Round by Round: Key Learnings from Seed to Series A
Entrepreneurs Share Practical Insights and Pitfalls from Various Funding Stages
HOTTEST tips for startup founders
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An Exit Isn’t the Finish Line – What’s Next? The Next Chapter for Serial Entrepreneurs and Ex-Founders
Selling or Going Public: Key Lessons Learned
For Growth Companies, Story is Currency – Use the Right Marketing Tool at the Right Time
Heikki Oinonen and Matias Vihko, founders of the award-winning marketing entertainment agency Koju, will show how to turn a company’s story into a growth-driving instrument. A memorable story is the most effective way to increase brand awareness, attract investors, and engage customers. After this session, you will know which marketing tool works best at each stage of growth.
Crowdfunding (Equity & Debt)
Featuring, among others, Invesdor, FundedByMe, Springvest, and Venture Capital Finland. Equity or debt-based crowdfunding.
Private Equity Investments
Scale-up and growth-stage companies
Private Equity Playbook – How to Build an Investment-Ready Growth Company
What does an investor really look for in the team, the market, and the growth potential?
Growth Story: MV-Jäähdytys
MV-Jäähdytys, a pioneer in refrigeration and electrical engineering, shares the keys to its success and how its international growth has been financed through private equity investment.
International B2B Social Media Marketing for Industrial Companies
Lauri Vuohensilta, Hydraulic Press Channel
The Anatomy of a Term Sheet – Which Terms Are Worth Negotiating and Why?
Soft and Hard Terms with an Investor: A Lawyer’s and Founder’s Perspective on the Pitfalls of Investment Terms
Corporate venturing
Large corporations also invest in startups or acquire equity stakes.
16.00
Raise a Toast to Growth
Sparkling Drinks Served: Let’s Raise a Toast to Finland and Finnish Growth Entrepreneurs!
12.00
Welcome
Agenda
Bridge, SAFE, Convertible – Which One Suits Your Stage of Growth?
Konkreettinen katsaus vieraan pääoman instrumentteihin.
Debt as a Growth Accelerator – When Is a Loan Better than an Equity Raise?
Investment and Working Capital Loans: Case Examples of Companies That Scaled Using Debt Financing.
Loan with Finnvera Guarantee
Loans Granted with a Finnvera Guarantee
Convertible Loans Received from Investors
SAFE Agreement (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) and Convertible Note
Revenue-Based Financing (RBF)
A loan that is repaid as a percentage of revenue.
Factoring and Invoice Financing
Invoice Financing and Cash Flow Management: Selling or Advance Payment of Accounts Receivable to a Financing Company.
Leasing and Installment Financing
Financing for Equipment, Vehicles, and Software
How does a financier assess the repayment capacity of a growth company?
The Importance of Risk Management and Cash Flow from the Perspective of Debt Financing.
Platform Thinking for SMEs – Can Every Company Grow into a Platform?
Opportunities and Risks of Digital Business Models
16.00
Raise a Toast to Growth
Sparkling Drinks Served: Let’s Raise a Toast to Finland and Finnish Growth Entrepreneurs!