Jury
Experienced investors and startup ecosystem professionals.
The Dream jury consists of experienced investors and startup ecosystem professionals with a strong understanding of early-stage growth, founder potential and scalable business ideas.
In addition to evaluating pitches, Dream creates space for further discussions around investment, mentoring, sparring and future collaboration.
Meet the jury
Riikka Rajaviita
Mentor, Founder & Operator,Human Runway
Rajaviita is an investor in early-stage startups with a focus on #healthtech. Founder of Human Runway, extending the most critical runway in any startup: the founder.
Mikko Kiertonen
Startup Mentor, Advisor & Business Developer,Aalto University
Kiertonen is a an advisor, coach and a startup architect for early-stage startups. His passion is to help entrepreneurs turn ambitious visions into scalable businesses. He has over 20 years of experience in sales, business development and entrepreneurship.
Vesa Riihimäki
Head of Startup & Growth, Nordea FinlandStartup & Growth unit specialises in serving high-growth companies and companies in their early stages looking for fast growth. They want to build long-term customer relationships and be the partner that supports businesses to grow and succeed throughout their life cycle. In Finland, they have 2,500 clients, of which 1,600 are currently progressing with the help of their financing. Team also provides support in developing growth capabilities and facilitates matchmaking with partners such as venture capital funds, business angels, accelerators, industrial buyers, and others.
Pirita Koskinen
Business AngelKoskinen is a Well-Being and Happiness Enthusiast and Bridges Spirituality and Business and writes a book about it.
She is a Business Angel @ FIBAN helping startups, executives and organisations succeed.
She is a Maverick: innovative, outside the box-thinker, undaunted by failure and determined to make a difference. She seeks to find new and better solutions with inspirational
attitude ”making the impossible possible”.
Juha Miettinen
Angel Investor & Startup Mentor,Coubonga, Tangently, Smooth It & Norolan
In 2001, Miettinen founded Labyrintti Media Oy, a SaaS company specializing in SMS services. He served as the CEO, and under his leadership, the company became the market leader and the most profitable player in its niche sector in Finland. He successfully exited the business in late 2016.
Today, Miettinen leveraged his entrepreneurial experience as an investor, angel investor, and mentor, helping businesses grow and succeed.
Sith “Joe” Sicoravit
General Partner,Valkeus Ventures
An early-stage venture platform connecting Nordic startups with growth opportunities in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand. Joe works across the Nordic and Southeast Asian startup ecosystems, connecting early-stage founders with investors, corporates, government agencies, and other ecosystem partners.
Joe combines an investor and operator background, with experience across venture investing, strategy, technology, e-commerce, and corporate development. Before Valkeus, he held leadership roles at Shopee, Central Group, and Minor International, and worked in investment banking and strategy consulting.
Mithuran Gajendran
Investment ManagerFailup Ventures
Failup Ventures is an AI-native early-stage fund backing startups across the Nordics and the US. Mithuran focuses on machine learning and applications that advance AI capabilities and distribution. His background includes machine learning experience, from adversarial attacks to deploying models on embedded systems. He previously served as CFO of Volvo Cars Tech Fund, working on startup investments and bringing new technologies into industrial use.