Startup Sauna comes to Krakow

By Paul Chen

On Saturday September 27, 2014 Startup Sauna will make a stop in Krakow's own Colab for a coaching event. Startup Sauna is an accelerator that helps promising early-stage startups to get ready for taking the next step, be it entering their market or raising a seed round of funding. Our coaches are some of the most talented serial entrepreneurs, investors and other industry experts. 126 companies have gone through their program since 2010. These companies have raised more than USD 37 million in funding. They’ve done over 90 events like this one in Nordics, Eastern Europe and Russia, which has given them a good understanding what early-stage startups from the region needs. 

Startups could be invited to join the startup Sauna accelerator program which is a one month intensive sort of a „bootcamp” for startups focusing on business development. The best teams are brought to Silicon Valley to help them understand the US market and make good connections to investors and partners. The startup from the Startup Sauna program will also have access to Slush which is one of the premier startup event in Europe. With more than 6,000 attendees, 1,200 startups, 100 VC funds, and 300 media reps, it was one of the biggest in Europe in 2013. The next edition is on November 18-19 in Helsinki, Finland. The mentors that will be here are:

OskariLehtonen

Oskari is seed investor and accelerator at Finnish investment firm KoppiCatch Oy. Oskari has lived and worked in Silicon Valley, London, Singapore among other places. He has founded, advised, accelerated, floated, sold and acted as a chairman or a board member of various growth companies. Currently he is CEO of one edutech company called Tabletkoulu. Oskari particularly interested in media, education, commerce and analytics domains.

Pentti Karjalainen

Founding Partner and co-owner at T1Consulting Oy.  Pentti has worked on numerous CEO and other senior management positions during his career. He specialises in change management, especially changing company’s mindset from product orientation to client relationships and customer care. He has notable experience in advising small and medium-sized companies in generating new businesses and approve profit by increasing customers loyalty with better customer care. Pentti is a change manager with strong drive and significant strategic and administration experience. He works also as an executive business coach as well as helps selected start-ups with pro bono basis.

Jan-ErikNyrövaara

Jan-Erik is a managing partner and co-founder of Helsinki Ventures, a startup accelerator focused in digital innovation in Russia and East Europe. During his 15+ years in startup business, Jan-Erik has experience as entrepreneur, accelerator and early stage angel investor, including advisor and director seats in promising startups. Having lead innovative teams in professional services, technology, UX and marketing communication, Jan-Erik loves disruptive ideas, creativity and uncompromising execution.

You can apply to be a pitching startup here: https://www.f6s.com/startupsaunainkrakow-sep27th#/apply

More info can be found here: http://startupsauna.com/localevent/krakow-fall-14/

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