Aspia Stage
Host: Jasmine Pajari (3.rd floor)

Opening show and Welcoming words

Surprise performer
Aspia Stage host, Jasmine Pajari
RISE CEO, Eija Ranua

DLA Piper Nordic VC Report 2026 launch 

Publication of DLA Piper’s Nordic VC Report: Nordic VC Report by law firm DLA Piper is particularly relevant for investors, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders in the startup and venture capital ecosystem. The report provides valuable insights and conclusions on market trends and deal terms, including investor and portfolio company profiles, financial terms, and key legal conditions.

Jonathan Andersin, Partner, DLA Piper Finland

 Global from day one – What can we learn from the startup mindset when planning internationalization? 

 How does the internationalization mindset differ in startups versus traditional companies? Why are customer-centricity, validation, and multicultural teams at the heart of a successful internationalization strategy? 

Sarita Runeberg, CEO, Maria 01

 The owner’s will ignites growth – What keeps growth going? 

 Growth requires the courage to make decisions even when the next step feels uncertain. Aspia’s Sales Director, Kari Putkonen, explores what it truly takes for a company to leap from under €1 million in revenue to over €15 million. This presentation combines the insights of a governance professional in SMEs with the experience of a former growth entrepreneur to highlight what sustains ongoing growth. 

Kari Putkonen, Sales Director, Aspia

 Award Ceremony 

 RISE and Aspia will present three prestigious business awards. 

Aspia & RISE

 The program now continues across four stages: 
Aspia Stage, Funding Stage, Growth Stage, Caravantures Stage

Private Equity Investments

In her presentation, CEO Anne Horttanainen explains why companies backed by private equity tend to grow faster than their peers, the different types of private equity investors, and what a private equity investor focuses on when selecting a new investment target.

Anne Horttanainen, CEO, FVCA

 Scaling in the AI Era: Choosing the right Growth Partner 

  International growth and navigating the AI era demand more than capital – scaling requires proven experience, tested methodologies, and real execution power. The right partner can accelerate your trajectory or hold you back.  In this session, we’ll explain why choosing a growth partner with hands-on operational expertise, AI capability, and long-term alignment is critical if you want to turn your B2B software company into a market leader.

 Niklas Carling, Growth Manager & Jacob Fellman, Platform Lead, Finland, Monterro   

Ilpo Mäkelä, CEO, MV-Jäähdytys

Innovating for international success – Business Finland as a partner for scalable growth

Business Finland provides innovation funding and growth services for Finnish companies. Our strategic mission is to take on part of the risk so that entrepreneurs dare to aim higher and build global success stories. In her presentation, Marjo Ilmari, Director responsible for funding startup and scaleup companies, explains how Business Finland supports bold innovations and strategic pivots, and helps companies build international networks.

Marjo Ilmari, Senior Director, Business Finland

Panel: The importance of Finnish companies’ funding and internationalization expertise for Finland’s economic growth

Panel: Investments, perkele!
How do we attract international capital to Finland?

Growth Drivers Amid Chaos

The world order is changing, and the operating environment is full of uncertainty that nations, people, and companies must navigate. Yet every crisis also contains seeds of growth. What does this development look like from an entrepreneur’s perspective, and what should we focus on right now to enable future growth?

Petri Salminen, Chair, Suomen Yrittäjät

 Panel: Radical solutions for Finland’s economic growth – 3 perspectives 

Inka Mero, Founder & Managing Partner, Voima Ventures

Funding Stage

Host: Kaisu Aarno-Kaisti (2nd floor)

 Development Grant 

 Kirsi Wendelin-Arponen,  Development and Service Manager, Economic Development Centre

 Finnvera financing for business startups, growth, and internationalization 

 Finnvera enables company growth and internationalization by working closely with the entire financing ecosystem. 

 Jani Tuominen,  Chief Financing Officer, Finnvera

Do companies get loans from banks?

Business financing is in transition. New players are challenging traditional banks and changing the way companies seek growth funding. How did Qred succeed in creating an alternative to bank financing, support the growth of thousands of companies, and grow its own revenue to over €100 million in just ten years?

 Thomas Jansson,  Chief Growth Officer and Founder, Qred Bank

Visibility and Growth Acceleration Through Nasdaq

Going public is an opportunity to elevate a company’s story to a new level. It brings visibility, builds trust, and opens doors to a broader investor base. In an IPO, a company can raise growth-accelerating capital while strengthening its strategic direction and long-term development. When preparations are solid and timing is right, going public can be a decisive step toward strong and sustainable success.

Erja Retzén,  Account Director, Nasdaq

 Panel: IPO clinic — On the road to the stock market? 

 Going public is a significant step in developing a company’s operations, involving many opportunities and questions. The IPO Clinic provides growth companies with a comprehensive and practical overview of what is expected from a company preparing to list, how to get ready for an IPO, and what operating as a listed company entails. The panel is aimed at companies already planning to go public as well as those still considering future financing models. 

Erja Retzén, Account Director, Nasdaq
Markku Puolanne, CFO, GRK Infra
Janne Paavola, CEO, Nokian Panimo
Jukka Koivusaari, Managing Director, SEB Corporate Finance
Tero Huovinen,  Director, Capital Markets Advisory, Miltton

 If your purchase depreciates, rent It 

Is It Profitable for a Company to Own Production Equipment? This talk challenges business leaders to rethink investments from a fresh perspective: if an asset loses value, why tie up the company’s capital in it? Jussi Jokinen explains how renting can free up capital, increase flexibility, and make a company’s finances more agile. Jussi Jokinen serves as CFO for Grenke in Finland and Sweden, bringing over 25 years of Nordic expertise in equipment financing.

Jussi Jokinen, CFO, grenke

EU Rural Funding: now and in the future 

 Juuso Kalliokoski, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry 

How Can a Finnish Growth Company Attract International Impact Capital in Emerging Growth Markets?

Impact investors seek opportunities that deliver measurable effects alongside financial returns. Emerging growth markets, and the impact capital directed toward them, offer Finnish companies new pathways for growth. Team Finland, together with its impact investment arm Finnfund, can finance Finnish growth stories and create connections to international funding channels. Hanna Loikkanen, Investment Director at Finnfund, explains how companies can craft a credible impact story and stand out in the global competition.

 Hanna Loikkanen, Investment Director, Finnfund 

Angel investing as a catalyst for growth

How do angel investors strengthen the growth entrepreneurship ecosystem and act as catalysts for startup growth?

 Irene Viinikkala, Board Member, FiBAN 

 Panel: What makes a company investment-ready? 

 Irene Viinikkala, Board Member, FiBAN 
Kim Väisänen, Angel Investor 
Hanna Nyholm, Founder of Shevestments & Angel Investor
Peter Vesterbacka, Angel Investor

Growth Stage
Host: Rami Valli (3rd floor)

TBA

The Future of International Financing and Money Transfers – Focusing on Stablecoins and Tokenization

Did you know that using stablecoins, €1 billion can be transferred from one continent to another in just 10 minutes? Tokenization will also make raising capital easier in the future.

Aki Kola, Head of Sales, Coinmotion

A well-designed tax strategy doesn’t limit growth – It accelerates it

VeroSatama is always on the side of growth entrepreneurs. In his presentation, Rantala explains how tax optimization, corporate structures, R&D deductions, and proactive tax planning support a company’s internationalization and financing readiness. A well-designed tax strategy doesn’t limit growth – it accelerates it.

Hanna Rantala, CEO, VeroSatama

Economic growth Is still surprising – The building blocks of growth are aligning

Economic development in Finland has been stagnant for years, and strong growth has yet to take off. However, the building blocks for economic growth are falling into place as the labor market performs better than its reputation suggests, entrepreneurial activity increases, and technology supports development.

Juhana Brotherus, CEO, Finnish work

What must a company have in order before a funding round?

The prerequisites for a successful funding round are determined before the process even begins. In this presentation, Marko Roukkula highlights the key areas of preparation: what a company needs to have in place to be credible and attractive to investors.

Marko Roukkula, Director, BDO Oy, Corporate Finance

Internationalization Without Chaos – How to Build a Finance Function That Supports Growth

Internationalization can transform a growth company’s financial management overnight: currency risks, VAT issues, local regulations, consolidated reporting, and transfer pricing all come into play at once. Yet many companies enter international markets without sustainable financial structures. In his presentation, Pasi Tasanen explains how to build a growth company’s finance function to withstand the complexities of international expansion – and what kind of infrastructure is needed so that growth is enabled through structures rather than hindered by them.

Pasi Tasanen, CEO, Valjas Services Oy

María Pulkkinen, CEO & Founder, Arctic Oak

Growth requires courage

The Finnish business landscape is currently in a “level-water” phase, where caution is the biggest barrier to growth. Based on the recent Talouspulssi 2026 report, this presentation shows how winners stand out by leveraging real-time data and technology to support strategic decision-making. Learn how to move from retrospective reporting to bold, forward-looking growth.

 Sampsa Wulff, Growth Program Director, Netvisor (Visma Solutions Oy) 

A growth company’s strongest currency is its story – Choosing the right marketing tool at the right stage

The founders of Koju, an award-winning company specializing in marketing entertainment, demonstrate how to turn a company’s story into a growth instrument. A memorable story is the most effective way to increase brand awareness, attract investors, and engage customers. After this presentation, you’ll know which marketing approach is most effective at each stage of growth. 

Heikki Oinonen & Matias Vihko, Founders, Koju

International B2B Social Media Marketing for Industrial Companies

Caravantures Stage
"The global growth roadmap"
Host: Ebra Gohari (3rd floor)

Opening keynote
"Why your mindset could be the biggest bottleneck to scaling up"

 
Ebra Gohari,  Founding Director, Caravantures

Theme: Winning in Europe

 Germany (DACH): The Compliance Wall
"Why your paperwork is your best salesperson in Germany" 

In Germany, your product gets you a meeting, but your audit trail gets you
the contract. If you aren't "audit-proof" under new laws like the LkSG, you are invisible to
the biggest German buyers. We show you how to stop selling features and start selling
the reliability that the German Mittelstand demands. Learn how to pass the German
"trust test" and become "German-Proof" in 90 days. 

TBA

 France & Benelux: Getting Paid to Expand
"How to Get the French Government to Fund Your Growth!"

France is pouring €54B into industry, but they only pay companies that help
Europe stand on its own feet. If you are just another "foreign seller" without a local
strategy, you are invisible to their biggest procurement funds. Learn how to stop selling
"Finnish know-how" and start selling "European resilience" to unlock massive
state-backed capital. 

TBA

 Nordics  

TBA

 Poland & Baltics: The new industrial heartbeat
"How to use the east to beat your competitors on speed?" 

If you still think of Poland and the Baltics as just "cheap labor," you have
already lost the race. Poland is now a €53B logistics powerhouse, handling nearly 90%
of China-to-EU rail flows as the high-speed engine of the EU. Today, we learn how to
stop looking East for low costs and start looking there for supply chain optimization.
Learn how to use this region for rapid testing and faster delivery to get your products to
market before your competitors.

TBA

Theme: Global Battlegrounds

 USA: The state-by-state maze
"Why your first US hire should not be a salesperson?" 

The United States is not one market; it is 50 different regulatory
battlegrounds where treating California like Texas will kill your expansion. If you ignore
local rules or new FDA labeling deadlines, your €10M investment will die at the border
before you make a single sale. Today, we learn why your first US hire shouldn't be a
Sales VP, but a Regulatory and Logistics Lead who can navigate the maze. 

TBA

Canada: The $6M R&D Hack
"How to let the Canadian government fund your expansion?" 

Most Finnish companies look at Canada as a "smaller version" of the US, but
that is a multi-million euro mistake for your bottom line. In 2026, Canada is the ultimate
funding bridge where you can reclaim up to $6M in tax credits for your R&D. This isn't
just for software; it applies to manufacturing methods and process innovation too. Today,
we learn how to use Canadian government cash to fund your global expansion and
de-risk your North American launch. 

TBA

 Latin America: The New Digital Market 
"How to win the world’s fastest growing digital middle class?"  

If you still think of Latin America as a "cash-only" market, you are missing a
digital explosion that is outpacing Europe. In 2026, 80% of the region’s 600 million
people are now connected via unified digital payment and logistics networks. Learn how
to navigate the new digital trade routes that bridge the gap from Helsinki to São Paulo
and Mexico City.  

TBA

Theme: Frontier & Future

Why the UAE & Dubai are the next growth markets for Finnish companies – and how to enter them

The United Arab Emirates is one of the world’s fastest-growing business environments, offering Finnish companies access to a capital-intensive, investment-driven, and international market. This presentation covers concrete opportunities across different industries, explains how market entry in the UAE works in practice, and shows how a digitized go-to-market model makes internationalization faster, more controlled, and more achievable.

 Awab Al Mashkoor & Marko Raatikainen, Partner – Nordics, Omendon 

 China & Hong Kong: Managing Global Risk
"How to protect your intellectual property in large markets"

China in 2026 requires a "Local First" business structure due to new global
data and privacy regulations. You can no longer run these operations as a simple branch
of your Finnish office without exposing your core technology to local audits. Today, we
show you how to use a "Firewall" setup to keep your global secrets safe while still
capturing growth. Learn how to ring-fence your most valuable assets so you can scale
safely in the world's largest markets.

TBA

 APAC: Local Hero Dominance 
"How to find the local partner who needs your Finnish quality?" 

In Japan, South Korea, and Australia, being a "Global Brand" is no longer
enough to win the contract. In 2026, local customers and businesses only buy from
those who are deeply integrated into their local supply chains and digital platforms.
Today, we show you how to find a "Local Hero" partner who already has the customers
but needs your Finnish engineering and safety standards to beat their own competitors. 

TBA

 India: The "stack" integration
"How to plug your business into the world’s fastest digital engine?" 

India is no longer a single market; it is a collection of "Digital States" that
move faster than Europe. If you aren't integrated into the national payment and ID
systems, the friction of doing business will kill your profit margins. But the real prize isn't
just selling to India, it's using their 24/7 digital infrastructure to run your global
operations. Today, we show you how to plug into this engine to eliminate payment delays
and power your business around the clock. 

TBA

 The Grand Closing

Your Roadmap to the World A final wrap-up on the short-cuts to international growth and how to join our pilot program to de-risk your next move.

TBA

 Please note that the program content is subject to updates, and new presentations will be added until April 2026.
We reserve the right to make changes to the content.