Caroline Gattner

As an Investment Manager at Maki.vc, Caroline focuses on enterprise software, fintech, and deep tech investments. Prior to entering the world of VC, she gained experience in product operations at Stocard, a leading fintech in mobile wallets, and also has a background in management consulting. Her educational journey includes management degrees from universities in Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Finland, and a specialization in data and business analytics. During her free time, you can find Caroline playing piano, guitar, and in Helsinki running trails.

Mona Saurén

Mona is an investment manager at Maki.vc and responsible for overseeing Maki’s ESG work. She supports Maki's portfolio companies in every stage of their ESG journey, from forming policies to developing ESG strategy. Holding a Master’s degree in finance from Hanken School of Economics, she enjoys working with numbers. Prior to joining Maki.vc, Mona gained experience within financial and business development roles in both a SME and a startup as well as in EY. Outside of work, she enjoys pushing her limits through running and tennis.

Ilkka Kivimäki

Ilkka is a serial entrepreneur turned investor and a stalwart supporter of emerging startups. He was the first investor and former chairman of Wolt, sat on the board of Beddit before it was acquired by Apple, and sold his own company to an industry giant. Ilkka is not just about investment, he’s also passionate about developing the Nordic startup ecosystem. He has chaired Slush and Startup Sauna, sat in the Aalto university board, served on the boards of the student-led VC Wave Ventures and Europe’s biggest hackathon Junction, and acted as Head Coach for Startup Sauna, mentoring a new generation of entrepreneurs.

Paavo Räisänen

PARTNER
PAAVO@MAKI.VC
+358 40 773 8363

With over two decades in the intersection of tech and business, Paavo fluently navigates all levels, from boards to cutting-edge ventures. Drawing insights from his experience as an entrepreneur and startup executive turned investor, Paavo works closely with Maki’s portfolio, guiding them from inception to commercial scale. His investment focus spans B2B SaaS, fintech, and a diverse array of deep tech cases from industrial climate tech to alternative proteins and nanotechnology.

Irina Miettinen

As the backbone of our fund’s finances, Irina is in charge of Maki’s finance management and fund reporting. She's the reliable and precise money-manager who doesn’t cut corners, even in the stormiest weather. Prior to Maki, Irina worked at the consulting company Deloitte and construction company YIT, and holds a Master’s degree from Aalto University. Apart from numbers, she’s also a big fan of everything Italian, whether it’s the culture, food, or beautiful sights.

Pirkka Palomäki

Pirkka has a long background in tech, both as an investor and in operational roles. He has worked at F-Secure and Enevo in several C-level positions, as well as held advisor roles at several startups. Pirkka was one of the first investors in the European success story Wolt and currently works with a range of Maki's portfolio companies that are building solutions in fintech to quantum computing. Skippering success at work, and boating in spare time is his lifestyle.

Pauliina Martikainen

From consumer applications to enterprise software, from artificial intelligence to health tech and commerce technologies, Pauliina’s investments have covered a range of categories. She has solid strategy and business management skills combined with a passion for finding creative ways to drive growth. Before joining Maki.vc, Pauliina co-founded Wave Ventures, a pre-seed VC fund investing across the Nordics. Prior to making the shift into venture capital, she worked in the field of marketing and communications with global brands in various industries, including pharma, retail, food, and beauty.

Ella Eskelinen

Ella, a graduate of Maki's internship program in 2023, brings her expertise and hands-on attitude to sourcing new startups. Ella has a master's degree from the Copenhagen Business School, and before joining Maki, she gained valuable experience from the other side of the table, working at B2B SaaS company Happeo in Amsterdam. Ella will work to strengthen Maki's position, especially in the Nordics and currently you can catch up with her in Stockholm! Besides sourcing new startups, she loves staying active through various sports and having “fika” with her friends.

Tim Bolte

Tim Bolte has previously been a driving force of Maki during his time as our Entrepreneur-in-Residence. With a strong background in tech startups and a track record as an angel investor, Tim knows the ins and outs of what early-stage founders need to thrive. His 20+ years of experience in B2B software, where he held various leadership roles, have equipped him with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the industry. Residing in Germany, Tim is particularly focused on advancing B2B SaaS and deep tech startups, especially in Northern Europe. You can find him walking his dog Nanook or exploring new culinary experiences when he's not diving into the latest tech trends.

Anette Kinnunen

Anette oversees daily operations at the Maki office. After more than a decade in the health tech industry, she transitioned to the dynamic startup world. Anette brings a rich international perspective, having served at the Singaporean Consulate in Helsinki and worked in various positions in the tourism industry. Her global experiences in India and France have fueled her interest in cultural diversity and social interactions. Alongside her operational role, Anette is a dedicated yoga enthusiast, also teaching it part-time.

Jani Puroranta

As Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Maki.vc, Jani leverages over 25 years of diverse B2B business development experience, from startups to global corporations, to help portfolio companies overcome scale-up challenges. His career highlights include serving as Chief Digital Officer at Metso, where he integrated digital and deep tech solutions into some of the world's largest mining equipment. At McKinsey & Co., Jani advised prominent Nordic corporates and private equity houses. He has successfully scaled multiple B2B businesses, raised venture capital, managed production sites, and executed brownfield capacity expansion projects. Outside of work, he enjoys the competitive spirit of ice hockey in the “beer league”.