Klarna is one of the world’s most successful startups. We sat down with Head of Nordics Björn Bryngelson to discuss the company’s growth journey, making big bets, attracting top talent, and common misconceptions about Klarna.
Learn more:
https://www.klarna.com/
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bj%C3%B6rn-bryngelson-b0b80310/
(0:00) Introduction
(0:30) Why Björn joined Klarna
(5:08) Consumer behavior and user experience
(7:57) Key decisions for driving growth
(14:03) Entering and succeeding in the US
(19:02) Rebranding Klarna and building a bold global brand
(23:38) Competing by providing value
(27:39) Making big bets and moving fast
(30:24) Nordic advantages in building startups
(33:03) How Klarna uses AI
(38:38) Attracting top talent
(43:38) Misconceptions about Klarna and closing thoughts
Enfuce is a fast-growing fintech with a bold goal of becoming the #1 issuer processor in Europe and reach billions in ARR. We sat down with co-founder and co-CEO Monika Liikamaa to talk about what it takes to build a successful startup in a conservative industry: earning trust, hiring top talent, and moving fast while doing the right thing. We also talked about entrepreneurship as a mindset, the stress of building a company, and how small teams can do big things.
Learn more:
https://enfuce.com/
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/monikaliikamaa/
(0:00) Introduction
(0:30) Fintech and the insight behind starting Enfuce
(9:10) Earning trust in a conservative industry
(14:37) Why Monika became an entrepreneur
(30:33) Building a top team and attracting early talent
(42:23) Compliance, fraud, and doing things right
(49:15) The future of fintech and reaching 250M€ ARR
Ilkka Kivimäki built and sold a company to SAP, was the first investor and chairman of Wolt, and now runs a 180M€ seed fund. We sat down to discuss everything from startup investing and growth to quantum computing and food innovation.
Learn more:
https://maki.vc/
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilkkak1/
(0:00) Introduction
(0:31) Building a company during the dot‑com crash and exiting to SAP
(6:35) Finland’s startup ecosystem
(13:00) Becoming an investor and Wolt’s success
(18:00) Starting Maki.vc and investing in 50+ startups
(23:20) Quantum computing
(30:25) Robotics and autonomy
(35:55) Innovations in food and material sciences
(43:30) Lessons from startups and investing
Pia Lemmetty is an Investment Director at Tesi, Finland’s state-owned investment company. We talk about Finnish startups and scaleups, Finland’s international reputation, and what it takes to attract more talent and capital. We also cover M&A, IPOs and what growth companies can do better when it comes to corporate finance.
Learn more:
https://tesi.fi/
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pia-johanna-lemmetty-tarasiuk/
(0:00) Introduction
(0:35) Pia’s career in investment banking, M&A and venture capital
(6:30) What Tesi is and how it operates
(13:00) Growth funding and capital availability in Finland
(21:45) Finland’s startup ecosystem and international reputation
(28:53) Succeeding globally and attracting top talent
(37:18) Enabling billion-euro industrial investments
(43:18) How growth companies can improve on corporate finance
(48:45) M&A as a growth driver
(56:50) Should Finland have more IPOs?
SATS is the largest fitness chain in the Nordics, with over 270 gyms and 10,000 employees. CEO Sondre Gravir joined us to talk about creating a great customer experience and strong culture at scale, how SATS continues to innovate, and what it was like leading the company through the lockdowns. We also covered fitness trends, the role of technology, and the impact of gyms on public health.
Learn more:
https://satsgroup.com/
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sondregravir/
(0:00) Introduction
(0:30) Why Sondre joined SATS
(3:00) Public health, fitness trends and the Nordic gym market
(11:08) Growth drivers and the power of group classes
(16:52) Technology, opportunities and limits of digital fitness
(21:59) Growing the market as a category leader
(24:56) Scaling culture and values across 10,000+ employees
(33:19) Covid, lessons learned and what’s next
Voima Ventures is one of the only VC funds in Europe focused only on deep tech. With over 200M€ raised in total, they invest in everything from quantum computing to hormone testing and new biomaterials. Founder and CEO Inka Mero joins us to share how they find and fund world-changing startups, what a great founding team looks like, and how to build a venture fund from scratch.
Learn more:
https://generogrowth.com
https://voimaventures.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/inkamero
(0:00) Introduction
(0:30) What is deep tech?
(10:40) What makes startup teams succeed?
(18:30) How investors pick and support startups
(29:22) Building a successful venture capital firm
(36:13) Ambition, timing, and founder mindset
(45:10) Biggest challenges and proudest moments
(54:06) Poetry and Inka’s new book
Since joining Veritas, Carl Haglund has led the pension company to record-breaking growth in a highly regulated industry. We talk about how he and his team made it happen, the CEO’s role in sales, and how customer experience became their advantage. With Carl’s background in politics and 5B€ in assets under management, we also discuss investing, geopolitics, and why Finland isn’t growing.
Learn more:
https://veritas.fi/
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-haglund-30b2172/
(00:00) Introduction
(00:30) Why Carl joined Veritas
(05:45) Transforming a legacy pension company
(15:00) Customer experience as a competitive edge
(21:42) Selling as a CEO
(25:30) Why isn’t Finland growing?
(44:00) Investing, macro, geopolitics, and defense
Pernilla Ramslöv is the founder and CEO of NOX, the IT consultancy she built from the ground up into a 500M SEK business. In this episode, we discuss building a strong company culture, how loving leadership and psychological safety drive results, the hidden climate impact of IT, and the threats and opportunities of AI.
Learn more:
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.noxconsulting.se/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pramslov/
(00:00) Introduction and reflections on 2025
(02:32) Building NOX by challenging traditional consultancy models
(17:45) Culture, values, and why loving leadership is good for business
(35:55) The hidden environmental cost of IT
(40:23) AI and opportunities in sustainable tech
(46:15) Will AI take our jobs? How to navigate the rapid change
Jussi Kallasvuo is a General Partner at Antler, a global early-stage investor and the world’s most active investor in AI. We talk about what makes a great startup, common founder mistakes, the importance of grit, how AI is fundamentally changing how companies are built, and more.
Learn more:
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.antler.co/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jussi-kallasvuo-9748953/
(0:00) Introduction
(0:45) What is Antler and how it’s different from traditional VC
(9:52) How Antler finds top talent from 180,000+ applicants
(19:07) Common founder mistakes, problem-first thinking, and business models
(36:30) Building startups in Finland vs Sweden and Estonia
(45:57) How AI has changed company building
Nordic Business Forum started with evening seminars in Jyväskylä and grew into one of Europe’s leading leadership and business events. We sat down with CEO & Co-founder Hans-Peter Siefen to talk about navigating the pandemic, building an unforgettable customer experience, and what it takes to run a world-class event.
Learn more:
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.nbforum.com/
(0:00) Introduction
(1:35) The early days of NBF
(10:15) Getting Al Gore as a speaker
(15:20) Scaling NBF into Europe's top leadership event
(20:00) Sales, rejection, and the mindset for success
(28:10) Creating an unforgettable customer experience
(31:20) Surviving the lockdown
(37:45) Virtual, hybrid and in-person events
(47:50) Why leadership is difficult and lessons from great leaders
Risto Siilasmaa co-founded F-Secure in 1988 at just 22, and later became Finland’s richest person during the dot-com bubble. As chairman of Nokia, he led the transformation of the company from a struggling handset maker to a global leader in network infrastructure. He has one of the best startup investment track records, with multiple unicorns in this portfolio.
In this episode, Risto shares 30+ years of insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and tech.
Learn more:
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/siilasmaa/
(0:00) Introduction
(0:55) Starting F-Secure: early challenges and IPO
(8:50) The dot-com bubble and how money changes people
(24:50) Tough decisions and building resilience
(34:20) Nokia: crisis, disruption, and transformation
(58:53) Investing in unicorns and how to spot great founders
(1:12:35) Future tech trends: AI, quantum computing and clean energy
Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae is one of the most respected and sought-after business leaders in the Nordics. She currently chairs the boards of companies like Finnair, BoConcept, and Posti Group. We discuss the six essentials and superpowers that drive leadership success. Learn more: https://generogrowth.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sannasuvantoharsaae (0:00) Introduction (1:30) How to lead yourself (12:00) Why results matter and how to achieve them (26:40) How to keep learning and avoid stagnation (35:29) Future orientation: stop fault-finding, start forward-thinking (40:40) The most important thing (50:25) Why fun and trust make teams perform better (58:19) Europe’s challenges and lessons from Denmark
Bob W. is a fast-growing, profitable startup that’s raised €70 million to transform hospitality through technology. What began as an Airbnb side hustle is now Europe’s top-rated hospitality brand, operating in 10 countries. We sat down with CEO and co-founder Niko Karstikko to discuss their incredible growth journey. Learn more: https://bobw.co/ https://generogrowth.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikokarstikko/ (0:00) Introduction (0:30) From corporate life to entrepreneurship (3:15) How an Airbnb side hustle and travels in Asia sparked the idea for Bob W. (7:45) Finding a German co-founder (12:30) Lessons learned from his first startup (16:30) The insight and journey to finding product-market fit (21:30) Building a leaner, tech-powered model for hospitality (25:00) Early challenges: water damage, bad press, and starting up in Estonia (30:00) Navigating the pandemic (33:50) Raising €100 million in funding (40:02) Expansion and customer acquisition (51:40) Growing as a CEO: building a strong team and creating the right work culture
Saxdor is the world’s fastest-growing boat brand. We sat down with CEO Erna Rusi to discuss the journey to 100 million euros in revenue, scaling a team of over 600, driving innovation, and building a global brand. This podcast was recorded live at a Genero Growth Event. Learn more: https://saxdor.com/ https://generogrowth.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/erna-rusi-b677a25b/ (0:00) Introduction (0:45) Erna’s journey from telecom to boating CEO (3:11) The Steve Jobs of boating (5:07) Demand creation vs. demand capture (7:17) Managing the operational challenges of growing to 100 million euros (10:28) Capital efficiency and financial discipline (13:15) Building a strong team culture with 600 people (17:10) Global expansion, innovation, and customer experience (32:37) Being fast in actions and decisionmaking (34:30) The best and the worst parts of being a CEO
Fredrik Heinonen is a partner and Deputy Managing Director at Miltton, a Nordic consultancy specializing in communications, insight, and strategy. We discuss the agency’s journey from 4 to 400 employees, navigating the different phases of growth, the rising importance of stakeholder management, effective communication in a noisy world, attracting top talent, and more. Learn more: https://miltton.com/ https://generogrowth.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrik-heinonen-42a58b1/ (0:00) Introduction (1:18) The early days of Miltton (5:15) Why is Sweden so good at communications and marketing? (8:10) Attracting and retaining talent (13:45) Internal communications at Miltton (19:15) The stakeholder economy (22:30) Developing insights that drive strategy (25:15) How to communicate effectively in this day and age
Rolf Ladau is the CEO of Paulig, a 148-year-old family-owned food company. We discuss the fundamentals of consumer branding, growth playbooks, the business case for sustainability, how Santa Maria grew to become the European leader in Tex-Mex and more.
Learn more:
https://paulig.com/
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rolf-ladau-458b892
(0:00) Introduction
(1:10) Working at Unilever, P&G, Coca-Cola and more
(4:15) How to build and maintain world-class consumer brands
(11:40) Do brands spend too little on marketing?
(14:25) Becoming the CEO of Paulig
(20:30) Santa Maria’s growth journey, playbooks, and the future of snacking
(33:07) How Paulig has succeded for 148 years
(40:15) The art and science of brand positioning
(46:05) Feedback loops and learning from mistakes
(49:33) The business case for sustainability
Marianne Vikkula joined Wolt as a small startup with fewer than 100 employees. Today she’s the COO, overseeing a global operation with 10,000+ people across 27 countries. We discuss operational excellence, how to hire well, lessons learned from DoorDash, and how leaders can increase speed, raise the bar for quality, and narrow the focus.
Learn more:
https://wolt.com/
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mvikkula
(0:00) Introduction
(1:08) Marianne’s background and why she joined Wolt
(4:42) Operational excellence and bringing energy into an organization
(10:34) Increasing speed
(17:07) Raising the bar of quality
(25:30) Narrowing the focus
(32:24) Doing hard things
(37:45) How to grow and develop as a leader
(41:25) Lessons learned from DoorDash after the acquisition
(47:57) How to hire
(57:56) The future of Wolt
As CEO of Pilke, Mari Puoskari has driven rapid growth and achieved profitability at Finland’s largest private early education company. Now also CEO of Dibber Sverige, Mari joins us to discuss the Nordic model of early childhood education, employee well-being, leadership, personal habits, the future of childcare, and more. Learn more:
https://generogrowth.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mari-puoskari-b0ab69
https://pilkepaivakodit.fi/
https://www.dibber.com/
(0:00) Introduction (0:45) The business of early childhood education (5:40) Priorities as a CEO (9:30) Employee well-being and labor shortage in the industry (15:18) Growing from 100 to 150 million euros and turning profitable (18:00) The Nordic approach to early childhood education (22:10) Sweden vs Finland (26:00) Screen time, physical activity, and other trends related to children (32:53) How curiosity drives success (35:50) Corporate strategy and internal communication (41:11) Routines, habits and personal productivity
The Finnish state is an investor or owner in over 70 companies. We discuss with Minister Anders Adlercreutz the state's role as a shareholder, lessons learned from the Fortum-Uniper deal, challenges with subsidies, and more. Learn more:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andersatz
https://valtioneuvosto.fi/omistajaohjaus/yhtiot
(0:00) Introduction (0:30) How the Finnish state manages its portfolio of 70+ companies (3:28) Government ownership of public companies (12:05) Northvolt and the challenges with state aid (18:30) What can we learn from the Fortum-Uniper deal? (21:54) Political strikes and SSAB’s 4.5 billion euro investment (24:20) Should Finland be more ambitious with our state-owned investing and ownership?
Antti Kummu, a founding partner of CapMan Growth, joins us to discuss their take-private of Silmäasema, what makes companies valuable, the importance of storytelling, Elon Musk, and much more.
Learn more:
https://capman.com/private-equity/growth/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/antti-kummu-cfa-a85aa11/
(0:00) Introduction
(0:40) Antti’s background and Finnvera and Tesi
(3:35) Working as CFO at a rapidly growing company
(6:53)The role of metrics and data in understanding a business
(14:07) The insights behind the Silmäasema take-private
(18:47) CapMan Growth’s investment strategy
(23:55) Working with strong-willed entrepreneurs
(26:25) What makes companies valuable?
(31:17) Storytelling
(36:37) Timing the market vs building a good business
(38:55) Raising 130 million euros
(44:45) Private equity in Finland, Elon Musk
