Introducing you Eetu Helminen, Urban Tech Helsinki's project manager

1. Could you please give us a short introduction about yourself? (Name, position in ASUC, etc.)

Hi, I’m Eetu Helminen. Project Manager of Urban Tech Helsinki incubator. At Urban Tech Helsinki, we support startups by helping them address the smart, clean and sustainable city challenges. My job is to make sure the programme runs as smoothly as possible and that the startups get the help they need to grow and solve the world’s wicked problems.

2. Can you tell us a bit about your professional background?

I’ve got a varied background spanning from Sales and Business and Service Design in a startup to being a business journalist and sustainability/impact expert.

I’ve been a news journalist in the biggest Finnish media and lead a news team at the Finnish Broadcasting Company. Then I decided to get a life and started working for Siemens Finland as a Communications Manager which also included a lot of change management and where I took my first dable at foresight. From there to Helsinki Metropolitan Smart & Clean Foundation and to Solved the Cleantech Company. The last two were small organisations so the tasks have varied from sales to presentations to leading communications to business design and marketing. Maybe the guiding line through all the jobs have been the want to get to the bottom of things and simplifying them to understandable form. 

The other has really been sustainability. At the Smart & Clean Foundation and at Solved I’ve consulted different companies and organisations on sustainability. The focus being on how to create new . From there are two issues that I will keep on banging about. The first is how to scale up multistakeholder solutions - especially in city context - and how sustainability and positive impact should be core meaning of business, and next to all activities. How to think differently to turn a business or activity to first create a positive impact and then how to make that into business.

3. Can you explain a bit about your role at Aalto Startup Center?

The main job is to make sure our startups in the Urban Tech Helsinki incubator get the support and help they need to grow. That can vary finding the right expert to help in eg research or the contact from Helsinki City to support in piloting in the city to just giving a shoulder when needed.

4. So, what brought you to Aalto Startup Center originally?

The Urban Tech Helsinki and it’s mission of helping startups to address the smart, clean and sustainable city challenges as well as what the Startup Center in general does just felt right. I also feel that I can contribute to the work by sourcing from my varied experience to the good of the community and cities in this role. The idea of having a positive impact on fellow citizens’ lives was important.

5. After a few days of working here, do you enjoy the experience? Which part is your favorite so far?

The people. Everyone here is helpful, enjoy a laugh – and most importantly – they all share the same mission of supporting the fledgling entrepreneurs to make a success of their business ideas. The other thing that is a real joy is the discussion culture, people are open to listen and learn. I suppose it goes without saying as the center is part of Aalto University. To me it is worth mentioning even as it is kind of given.

6. What have you been working on recently?

We did a touch up on our kitchen in the spring, so that is the last tangible work I’ve done. Then I worked on mentoring a couple of startups in a EU funded accelerator. Since I started working at Urban Tech Helsinki, the main thing has been getting acquainted to the next batch of companies starting on Wednesday. Also getting acquainted to the 8 week initial programme they are offer as well as what could we do with the previous batches. It has to be said, that it’s been a pleasure to jump in to a well prepared project. The programme is excellent and the businesses seem to be with potential.

7. What’s your preferred work style?

I’m a discussionist. I know it’s not a real word, but I like to discuss, listen, contribute, argue and go forward together with the people. The second thing is that something needs to get done. After it’s done, it can be discussed and debated again and altered. But if there is nothing concrete, it can not be evaluated and improved. So, I suppose, lean methodology without strict methodology.

8. Do you want to say something to our startups?

Chapeaux for going for it.

10. Tell us one thing about yourself that would surprise us

I always wear odd socks.

• Learn more about Urban Tech Helsinki: urbantechhelsinki.fi
• Learn more about Aalto Startup Center: startupcenter.aalto.fi