Reflections from MoneyTalks Forum

It was interesting to see such a huge participation and engagement at MoneyTalks Forum (November 12-13, 2009). Microsoft was featured and especially its BizSpark Program. I did not post this write up just after the event because I wanted to see how many will connect and interact with me among the business cards collected. I found the value of such great thinkers in my network and I maintain my live network online in LinkedIn. I felt that I made to the 6th biannual MoneyTalks Forum–without realizing the previous five successful ones!

The Finnish Mobile Assoiciation organized the moble circus during the second day of the event. This shows that the locus of mobile innovation is still live and kicking in Espoo no matter what the giants in mobile domains are doing!

Interesting part to this event is that you can book a meeting with the other participants in advance and there are 20 minute slots meant for that. This is where you have a chance to create the right connections for your collaboration or financing or both.

The whole delegation from Israel and US made the atmosphere interactive in dark Finnish weather. 7 minutes pitches and 1 minute pitches and even elevator pitches were interesting to observe! I summarized these in my previous blog – basics of entrepreneurship while presenting you cannot miss these components.

Ericsson, Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks, Microsoft, Otaniemi Marketing, Greater Helsinki Promotion and the main organizer of the event Technopolis deserve the great applaud in organizing such a great event. We look forward to future events from Technopolis to be of great success as well and sooner there will sustainable business model for Technopolis ventures as well.

Some of the companies featured on the event through presentations and pitches were: BookIT, Canatu, Ecotec, Cityvice, Fambit, Med-Byte, GP Bullhound, M-Technology, Pocum, Suntrica, Embedone, Embelir, FEnomen Creator, Mobiletools International and Sibesonke. Canatu and Sibesonke were voted best ventures with growth potentials. This shows that creativity as a differentiating strategy works and the light of beacon is emerging…

Finland’s Solution for Economic Turnaround

5.11.2009 at Otaniemi Forum organized by VTT, TKK, Otaniemi.fi, and AmCham.

The debate has just begun on Finland’s Solution for Economic Turnaround. The theme goes like this: Technology, Business, Design…and I would like to add the PEOPLE as knowledge worker. Without that the notion of creating competitive edge is a dream!!

The program was divided into two sections : Finnish and English presentations. The speakers during Finnish part were Jaakko Pellosniemi of Mobidiag, Ismo Rantala of Finnish Mobile Association and Mikko Kalhama of Design Forum Finland. Jaakko had a view of Government not doing enough and he used the literature to analyze Finland’s situation. Michale Porter’s Competitive Advantage of Nations argues that Government to become facilitator not the controller. Marching of public sector and private sector is not in harmony… He thinks that Mobidiag’s innovation will be a grand success!!

On the other hand Ismo Rantala revisted Slush Helsinki 2009 an event just unfolded. This event has just introduced Finland to the world as innovation hub. The locus of innovation is shifting from Silicon Valley to the northern hemisphere–stay tuned!!

Mikko Kalhama wants to see design as a core competence for Finland and Design as innovation enabler from the artistic heroes. The movement has just begun!! In Finnish he says–‘koolla ei ole väliä’. You can use google translate to see what does it mean!!

Well the english part started after a debate session of Finnish part where experts from various sectors e.g. Aalto University, VTT and alike were asking tough questions and commenting on the presentations.

The Fun part began with new entrants (English speaking group)!! The presenters during this session were Ludovic Gaudé, Zokem; Rob Kommeren, Philips Innohub; Marco Steinberg, Sitra. The session had a theme of FINLAND’S UPTURN!!

Gaudé shared the idea if international entrepreneur’s path to Finland–why he chose Finland as a top destination for innovation!! Having worked with Nokia and Google and in different locations across the continent, he found Finnishness as a way of innovation. He thinks Zokem can be a huge success but he just does agile planning and of course with Fun. He has a passionate team of diversified people which can make things happen easily…

Kommeren talked about moving from Singapore to Finalnd and why Philips chose Finland as its next innovation Hub. Steinberg took the audience in mesmerizing surprises by showing how Design can be applied in strategic decision making. Mind it –it is not Process!! Steinberg is an active participant in numerous national innovation programs to promote industry competitiveness through design research.

The program was hosted by very competent Kristiina Helenius, AmCham Finland’s Director. At the end I would like to thank the organizers for the best event so far in Otaniemi Marketing’s history…My call is to gather impact analysis of such events…Please send your comments how you benefited from such coverage and events!! For me this event turned out to be a turning point!!