1/31/12

1/20/12

Top 20 Finnish start-ups by Talouselämä

Their list comprises the following raising stars:


Name, start-up yearWhat they offer...?
Aava Mobile, 2009 An open-source mobile device platform for the OEM/ODM market
Applifier, 2008 Helps game and app publishers of all sizes grow their applications through cross promotion.
Blaast, 2010 Bring mobile apps and a smartphone user experience to the next billion people (i.e. to the less developed economies) via cloud-based services.
DealDash, 2009 By combining a game-like experience with a sophisticated bidding platform which may provide brand new products for huge discount.
Digital Foodie, 2009 An online community that helps consumers shop smarter and eat healthier and helps grocery retailers to engage more transparently with their customers to build customer loyalty.
Flowdock, 2009 A shared team inbox with group chat.
Makia Clothing, 2006 Clothing firm with attitude.
Microtask, 2009 A proprietary software platform, which automatically splits work assignments into tiny pieces and distributes them to our digital workers around the world.
Multi Touch, 2007 Provides interactive multiuser displays and software platforms.
Oncos Therapeutics, 2009 Oncos Therapeutics develops novel cancer therapies based on its next generation oncolytic viruses.
Ovelin, 2010 An iPad game that makes learning to play the real guitar fun, addictive and motivating.
Rightware, 2009 Provides graphical 3D user interface solutions e.g. for mobile devices and cars.
Senseg, 2006 A new generation of haptic technology that delivers sophisticated tactile sensations and enriches digital communication by electrically generated force fields.
SkySQL, 2010 ”New MySQL" i.e. open source database producer.
Supercell, 2010 Develops social network games for smart phones, tablets and browsers.
Tinkercad, 2010 Web-based CAD modeling and 3D printing.
Valkee, 2007 Earphone-type-of device that channels safe bright light directly
to photosensitive regions of the brain through the ear canal.
Valon Lasers, 2011 Method of photocoagulation that makes a full PRP faster than earlier .
WOT Services, 2006 Community-powered service for secure web browsing for firms.
ZenRobotics, 2007 Specializes in AI and robotic recycling technology.

1/16/12

Lecture on starting up a start-up

Yes, the concepts are a mess nowadays but the context remains interesting.

On 30th of January an entrepreneur, former TSE student, Tuomas Talola will shed light on his start-up, Lainaaja.fi. He and his business idea on social loaning, if I recall correctly, won BoostTurku's pitching competition on last March.
So be there.... I mean here:
Turku School of Economics, Elovena -hall (LS11), 30th January, 12:15-13:45.

More info (in Finnish): http://www.tse.fi/FI/media/tapahtumat/Pages/Vierailuluento-start-up-verkkoliiketoiminta.aspx

1/13/12

Finland is "slowing down" what comes to measuring the economic freedom

For over a decade, The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, Washington's preeminent think tank, have tracked the march of economic freedom around the world with the influential Index of Economic Freedom. Since 1995, the Index has brought Adam Smith's theories about liberty, prosperity and economic freedom to life by creating 10 benchmarks that gauge the economic success of 184 countries around the world. With its user-friendly format, readers can see how 18th century theories on prosperity and economic freedom are realities in the 21st century. The Index covers 10 freedoms–from property rights to entrepreneurship.

The latest Index of Economic Freedom ranks Finland 17th among 184 economies included in the annual index. Finland's economy is still pretty free, but mainly considerable deterioration in the management of government spending has caused the drop in ranking.

The report concludes that "the strong competitiveness of Finland’s economy is built on openness and transparency. The quality of the legal framework is among the world’s highest, providing effective protection of property rights. The rule of law is well maintained, and a strong tradition of minimum tolerance for corruption continues. Although public debt remains under control, respect for the principle of limited government has been seriously undercut by heavy public spending that amounts to more than half of total domestic output."

Positively, Finnish regulatory environment encourages entrepreneurial activity and innovation, sustaining a high degree of overall competitiveness.

[heritage.org]

1/12/12

GEDI 2012 launch

Last week we has the 2012 launch of the Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index at the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC with Ambassador Miller. The focus of the launch was on the Americas and the future of entrepreneurship in Latin America.


The event was attended by 60 high level academics, government officials and policy makers. This year's Index was very well received and viewed as a valued addition to the existing set of tools to better understand the global economy.

http://bcove.me/d2v3c9w4