Super Day for Startups – Demo Day Showcased the Innovations of the Future

The annual event once again provided a comprehensive look at cutting-edge technologies as more than 80 startups and research projects showcased their expertise and business ideas in Otaniemi, Espoo. Participants included companies and projects from Aalto Startup Center acceleration programs: Research to Business, Business Generator, Urban Tech Helsinki, and ESA BIC Finland.  

In addition, participants had the opportunity to learn about other Aalto Startup Center programs such as Aalto Creatives, D2XCEL, Seeds of Bravery and ESA Phi-Lab Finland.  

The day was dedicated to meaningful encounters, discussions, and new collaboration opportunities. 

"Go for it!" encouraged Venture Partner Janiina Lammi, who arrived at the event with great expectations, motivating new entrepreneurs on their journey toward international success. Lammi represents the investment firm BSV Ventures, which works closely with Aalto Startup Center.

"Aalto University fosters amazing innovations, and we want to support startups emerging from here at an early stage. Finland has an excellent startup culture and ecosystem – a great launching pad for global success," Lammi continued.

Innovations from Well-being to Space Technology 

Uoma Mind, the developer of a voice-controlled therapy application that leverages AI and storytelling, showcased its solution for improving the accessibility of mental health services at Demo Day. 

"We are the first company to bring narrative therapy into a digital format. We are now looking for investors and university researchers to validate the effectiveness of our application. One billion people worldwide suffer from mental health issues, and we are launching our operations in the UK market," said Uoma Mind CEO Hateem Khuja. 

Uniki, a company producing fiber-based biomaterials as a plastic alternative, sought both customer contacts and investors at the event. The company’s patented, biodegradable packaging material can be manufactured using standard paper and cardboard machines. 

"We are transitioning from lab-scale production to full-scale demonstration and are reaching out to potential client companies to make this happen. Our solution enhances packaging material production, allowing twice the number of packages to be made from the same forest resources," explained Uniki co-founder Matti Hietaniemi.  

The Diamant team, originating from Aalto University’s Space Technology Laboratory, aims to revolutionize satellite communications with an innovation that enables multiple frequency bands and services to be provided with a single antenna element. Their targets include both defense and commercial markets. 

"Aalto Startup Center is supporting our transition from the Research-to-Business phase into a company and helping us find the right partners. This is Finland’s best startup ecosystem," described Diamant team member Tuukka Kuuramaa. 

Networking and Speed Pitching 

In addition to company showcases and networking, Demo Day featured a diverse program, including a panel discussion on lessons from Silicon Valley for Finnish startup entrepreneurs. The discussion delved into key success factors, the impact of global political changes on business, and common pitfalls startups face. 

A matchmaking session organized by the startup accelerator KIUAS helped over 70 co-founders find each other, and more than 20 startup applications were submitted for the Nordic Science Investments and Arctic Startup pitching competitions. 

Demo Day culminated in an energetic Speed Pitching competition, where eight startups presented their business ideas to the audience and jury. Success required speed and clarity – each team had just two minutes and a single presentation slide. After a fierce competition, the victory went to Sara Ikonen from NPHarvest.

Further information:

Marika Paakkala, Director, Aalto Startup Center 
marika.paakkala@aalto.fi 
+358 40 8292 286 

Päivi Meros, Marketing & Communications Specialist, Aalto Startup Center 
paivi.meros@aalto.fi 
+358 50 32 98 554 

Aalto Startup Center plays an important role in building and developing the Finnish startup ecosystem. The business accelerator provides a growth platform for start-ups that are less than three years old, especially in the technology sector. This includes companies originating in Aalto University and elsewhere, and the accelerator also generates new business from research projects. In spring 2023, Aalto Startup Center was selected as one of the top three university-based business incubators in the world.