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Our amazing team and advisors

At epicMeets, our fantastic team uses the latest neuroscience and behavioral psychology breakthroughs to help startups and scale-ups thrive. This cutting-edge expertise makes us unique and helps your business become fast, agile, and super successful.

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Thomas Tuominen
Founder, CEO

Thomas has 25+ years of B2B service sales and sales and marketing management experience. His primary focus has been in the corporate events and meetings industry, where he has leveraged the connections between stakeholders into successful business models. He has also been an entrepreneur in the HoReCa sector. 

His responsibilities have included international expansion, building efficient sales teams and models, and strategic planning, and he has also been responsible for Marcomms teams. This experience has honed his skills in strategic thinking, team leadership, and international business development. Thomas has gathered this experience in diverse locally and globally operating companies such as Schibsted, Management Events International, Huone, Smarp (later merged in Haiilo), and Clear Channel International. Thomas has an MBA from the University of Northampton, Business Management and Administration.

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Robin Gustafsson
Founder, COO, Head of product

Robin is an associate professor of strategic management at Aalto University, where he has been since 2013. His research extends into impactful strategy workshops, focusing on facilitation techniques and fostering playfulness in the workplace. Notably, Robin has led several successful strategy workshops for major corporations, resulting in significant improvements in their strategic planning processes.

Robin is a trained facilitator and has frequently worked with SMEs and large-company managers and executives, as well as government officials and public sector leaders from all over the world (inc. Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, South America, and the US), facilitating their strategy and policy work, and supporting their skills development in strategy work and strategizing in the age of digital and platform economy.

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Juuso Heikkilä
Founder, CTO

Juuso's arrival in the team in September 2023 marked a new era for our software development. As a seasoned professional with experience in two software startups, he has proven his skills in operations management and investment securing.

His unique specialization in the interplay between technical knowledge and social implications, coupled with his Master’s with minors in Machine Learning and Data Science, ensures that our software development is in capable hands. Juuso also has extensive insight and knowledge in startup funding. 

 

 

 

Nanna


Nanna Ruotsalainen
Junior Software Developer

Nanna is an exceptional Software Developer at epicMeets, having made noteworthy contributions since October 2023. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor's and Master of Science in Computer Science at Aalto University and is expected to graduate in 2026. Nanna boasts a comprehensive skill set, including expertise in various programming languages such as Flutter, Node.js, React.js, Express.js, and Socket.io, as well as mastery in Microsoft Azure and Azure Cosmos DB.

Her technical acumen, honed through her education and practical experience, makes her a versatile developer who can tackle a diverse range of challenges in the tech landscape. Nanna's specialization in Large Language Models and Artificial Intelligence makes her an invaluable addition to our software development team. Currently, she is spearheading a research project and testing a novel method of analyzing voice recordings to enhance individual meeting participants' sentiment and communication skills.

Nikolai

Nikolai Denissov
Senior Software Developer

Nikolai is a versatile professional with extensive experience in Management and Software Engineering, making him an excellent addition to the EpicMeets founding team. His career shift from business to software engineering underscores his adaptability and commitment to continuous learning. 

As a Delivery Lead at Ubisecure, he has honed his skills in cybersecurity and back-end development, as well as product backlog managemen, all crucial for driving EpicMeets' success. At VR Group, he managed distributed teams and developed backend sales solutions, highlighting his ability to lead complex projects. 

His previous roles at Sulake, CSC, and Tallink Grupp demonstrate his proficiency in feature implementation, process facilitation, and CI/CD pipeline maintenance. With a Master’s in Software and Service Engineering from Aalto University and a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering from Metropolia University, Nikolai's strong educational background complements his professional achievements, positioning him as a valuable asset to the EpicMeets founding team.

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Erik Langinkoski
3D Artifact Designer

Erik is a highly skilled 3D designer and design assistant who is currently pursuing a Technical Design degree at Omnia Leppävaara. He is expected to graduate in 2025. At just 24 years old, Erik has already showcased his talent by securing third place in the Taitaja 2023 competition's CAD design category. This nationwide contest measures sector-specific expertise among vocational students in Finland. Erik has been instrumental in developing the design language and production technical definition design principles at epicMeets. He is proficient in a variety of technical tools, including AutoCAD, Inventor, Fusion 360, and Blender. Erik is passionate about technology and enjoys 3D printing, gaming, and drawing.

Our excellent advisors

Combined experience in successful exits, software, International SAAS sales, and top-notch gaming industry
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Kim Väisänen

Angel investor and entrepreneur. Kims portfolio currently includes over 30 investments. Co-founded the world’s leading data erasure software company Blancco.

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Paul Arpikari

Paul is the Chief Evangelist of Sellforte, a rapidly internationally growing BtoB SAAS Martech company providing advanced analytics to optimize digital marketing.

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Juha Äkräs

Juha is a scholar and a business leader, who believes that magic happens when you combine extraordinary talent; empowering and transformational leadership; and inclusive, psychologically safe, yet effective, innovative and customer focused organisational culture.

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Timur Kärki

Timur co-founded Gofore and became CEO of the company in 2010 when Gofore had 25 employees. During his nine years as CEO, the company grew 50% yearly. Today, Gofore employs almost 600 people across Finland, Germany, Spain, and Estonia.

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Lauri Ahlgren

Lauri spent over a decade at Supercell, being one of the central figures of Clash of Clans. Lauri helps us understand what triggers and hooks users. 

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What is an R2B Project?

With Research to Business funding, public research organizations can prepare the commercialization of research-driven product or service ideas and conduct applied research that supports commercialization.

The project's main goal is the preparation for commercialization. At the same time, researchers can increase their commercialization skills.

  • Nearly 50 startups and spin-offs created which has raised over 500 M€ investment money