Lifeline Ventures

Lifeline Ventures is a Helsinki-based, sector-agnostic early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to supporting resilient founders from the very beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. The firm primarily focuses on pre-seed and seed investments, aiming to be the first point of contact for ambitious teams striving to become industry leaders. They partner closely with founders, providing not only capital but also extensive support throughout their growth, including assistance with scaling, fundraising, recruiting, and strategic advice.

Founded in 2009 by a group of serial entrepreneurs, including Timo Ahopelto and Petteri Koponen, Lifeline Ventures brings a wealth of firsthand experience in building and scaling companies. The firm's ethos is rooted in honesty, trust, and openness, coupled with a proactive 'just doing it' approach. Their team members have diverse entrepreneurial and CxO backgrounds, enabling them to offer practical guidance and leverage their global networks to benefit their portfolio companies.

Lifeline Ventures boasts a robust portfolio featuring several notable companies that have achieved significant milestones. Key investments include Oura, known for its smart rings; Iceye, a leader in radar satellite constellations; and Supercell, a prominent mobile game developer. Other significant portfolio companies include Aiven, a provider of managed cloud database services, and Wolt, a popular food delivery service. The firm has also recently invested in companies like Ever Cars, an AI-native auto retail platform, and Inven, an AI-powered platform for deal sourcing and company research.

The team at Lifeline Ventures comprises seasoned professionals with deep industry knowledge and a global perspective. Founding Partner Timo Ahopelto, for instance, previously led CRF Health to unicorn status, while Founding Partner Petteri Koponen co-founded Jaiku and has chaired several successful startups. Partner Jyri Engeström has invested in multiple unicorns and brings experience from True Ventures and Yes VC. This collective expertise allows Lifeline Ventures to provide comprehensive support, from navigating early-stage challenges to facilitating international expansion.