Vesa Lehtinen, who was elected as the Chairman of the Board of Startup Lions in August, brings to our team additional broad and industry-neutral expertise in business development and extensive networks for various funding opportunities. He is an experienced angel investor, serial entrepreneur and distinguished board professional with a passion for entrepreneurship.
Lehtinen emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship as a social force. He is more fascinated by the fast-paced and innovative nature of startups than by the operating models of large organizations.
Lehtinen, who is passionate about the practical development and coaching of startups, has been following Startup Lions for several years, and is already familiar with the company’s long-standing board members Jukka Huikari and Jari Puranen. When Huikari contacted him to inquire about his interest, the decision to jump on the Startup Lions journey was a natural continuation for Lehtinen.
Lehtinen has invested his own funds in companies since 2011 and has a solid background in strategic business growth and internationalization. “I can help startups, especially in improving their financial readiness. It is important to ensure that business growth is profitable also from the perspective of financiers and investors. In addition to demand, a company needs a competent team and a product that is in good shape. With the help of my network, I help find the right channels and resources.”
Startups often have difficulty obtaining funding, so it is good to be aware of the different opportunities. Lehtinen has extensive networks of financiers and investors internationally. She is a member of FIBAN, EBAN, Sophia Business Angels (SBA) and Flying Finn Angels (FFA), which focuses on the funding challenges of female entrepreneurs and female-led organizations.
In addition to funding, Lehtinen has a desire to help early-stage companies more broadly. For example, success at pitching events can determine the future of a startup. Lehtinen has solid evidence of how, with the right coaching, pitching can be successful.
Startups often have to operate with limited resources, and Lehtinen is ready to solve this challenge at Startup Lions. He can provide support in the following areas, for example:
- internationalization of business
- strategic business development
- improving financial capacity
- finding funding channels
- pitching coaching
A warm welcome to Startup Lions!