Leading Nordic startup hub Maria 01 announced on Tuesday that it is looking for a new Chief Executive Officer. Current CEO Ville Simola is set to part ways with the company in November 2023.
The new CEO will have a crucial role in helping the hub achieve its goal of becoming one of Europe’s biggest startup hubs. Currently, it houses over 180 startups and 1,500 members, comprising investors, ecosystem experts, and corporate partners. They will also support the City of Helsinki’s strategy as a Place of Growth.
In the near future, the campus in Helsinki plans to expand from its current 20,000 square metres of space to 70,000 square metres. This expansion is expected to attract over 600 startups and 6,000 community members.
With this expansion plan, Maria 01 says it seeks someone with extensive Finnish and Nordic startup scene knowledge. Applicants must have exceptional networking skills and the ability to act as a voice for the Maria 01 startup community. The recruitment period begins today, August 29, and ends on September 17.
Bidding farewell to current CEO
Ville Simola joined Maria 01 in the autumn of 2019. At the time, the hub was home to over 130 startups in the centre of Helsinki. Apart from being the CEO of Maria 01, Simola is also the co-founder of the internationally recognised Startup Sauna accelerator and co-working space.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed these past four years being the voice of the Maria 01 community and leading an organisation that is a rendezvous for various stakeholders, be it startup employees, investors, other startup communities, or bigger corporations,” says Simola.
“Maria 01 is truly a place for coming together and creating new solutions with likeminded people,” adds Simola.
Simola helped Maria 01 grow significantly. In 2022, the startups at Maria 01 raised a record-breaking total of €219M in funding.
Chair of the Board, Jarmo Hyökyvaara, thanked Simola for his dedication to Maria 01 and for helping it to become “a leading one [startup hub] in the Nordics.” His hard work helped strengthen the startup culture in Maria 01.
“We wish him all the best in his new chapter,” says Hyökyvaara.
Building a more robust startup ecosystem in the Nordics
Maria 01 is a key player in the Finnish and Nordic startup ecosystem, working alongside organisations such as the Finnish Startup Community, the Finnish Startup Foundation, and Slush. They collaborate to create a more supportive environment for startups.
The Finnish startup ecosystem is becoming increasingly crucial to the country’s economy. In 2022, members of the Finnish Startup Community generated a turnover of €4.5B, potentially reaching €15B by 2030. This figure is similar to the turnover of the country’s forest and metal industries.
However, the ecosystem faces a talent shortage, which could hinder its growth. Maria 01 highlighted the importance of attracting foreign talent to the startup ecosystem in Finland. According to Hyökyvaara, international talents play significant roles in keeping the Finnish startup ecosystem growing.
This aligns with the Finnish government’s plans in 2021 to triple the number of new international students to 15,000 students per year. The aim is for 75 per cent of these students to stay in the country for work after graduation.
