Team
Maria Wasastjerna
Founding Partner
maria@kvanted.com
Before transitioning into venture capital, Maria was a business lawyer for more than 15 years, working with technology, M&A and digital markets. Her passion lies in the digital transformation of industry, having written her PhD on the data economy. At Kvanted, she focuses on digital and data-driven innovations. With her previous experience from the corporate, regulatory and startup environment alike, she brings unique perspective and skillset to support Kvanted's portfolio companies as they navigate challenges and opportunities in the industrial sector. Known as a people-person, Maria always approaches founders and colleagues with a friendly and encouraging can-do mentality.
Axel Ahlström
Founding Partner
axel@kvanted.com
Axel has an analytical mindset yet a hands-on and pragmatic approach to making things happen. With over ten years of experience in the industrial sector as a private equity investor, strategy consultant, and board member, he has developed deep expertise in the industrial value chain with broad networks across Europe. Axel is known to bring a good amount of energy, determination, and Finnish “sisu” to the table to help founders in good times – and when things get tough. Prior to Kvanted, he worked as an investment professional at Altor Equity Partners and as a consultant at Bain&Company.
Eerik Paasikivi
Founding Partner
eerik@kvanted.com
Eerik has an extensive experience in early-stage investing in the industrial sector. Before co-founding Kvanted, Eerik spent over a decade managing venture capital firm Valve Ventures, supporting startups such as Sulapac, Infinited Fiber and Norsepower among multiple others. With his broad knowledge across the European industrial ecosystem and strong networks, he is always ready to connect founders with industrial stakeholders. As an early investor in several sustainability-focused companies, Eerik is the go-to person for entrepreneurs looking to build something meaningful in the realm of industrial value chain. Eerik is especially enthusiastic to hear about new material innovations looking to take off.
Combining deep industry know-how with hands-on experience
Henna Keränen
Venture Scout and Nordic Network Advisor
henna.keranen@kvanted.com
Spearheading Kvanted’s Nordics & Networks efforts, Henna is dedicated to establishing collaboration opportunities, scouting startups, and bridging connections between Kvanted and the key ecosystem players within the Nordics. With extensive experience in working with startups and innovation, Henna serves as the go-to person in the team for those seeking to explore different collaboration opportunities.
Jenni Suhonen
Finance and Operations Manager
jenni@kvanted.com
Jenni holds a double degree from Aalto University and CEMS MIM, with majors in accounting and international management. As the Finance and Operations Manager at Kvanted, her role extends to overseeing financial reporting, budgeting, and ensuring the smooth operation of day-to-day work at Kvanted HQ. After a short corporate career at multinational conglomerate Stora Enso, Jenni moved to private equity working as a Controller at Juuri Partners. Prior to that, she gained startup experience in a fast-growing fast-casual restaurant chain Fafa’s. She thrives in a dynamic, start-up-like environment where change is constant and rapid.
Lyydia Lappi
Investment Manager
lyydia@kvanted.com
Before joining Kvanted, Lyydia spent three years at NGP Capital, a global VC firm specializing in Series A-C investments, and focused on industrial tech topics such as industrial data, analytics and automation. Lyydia holds a degree in finance from Aalto University, and her career in VC began during her university years with the Finnish Venture Capital Association and Wave Ventures, Europe’s largest student-run VC, where she gained both a broad overview and hands-on experience in the VC ecosystem. She has further honed her strategic skills at Oliver Wyman in Stockholm. Her in-depth knowledge of the European industrial technology ecosystem and passion for the tangible impact enabled by industrial tech startups ultimately led her to Kvanted.
Miika Nylén
Investment Intern
miika@kvanted.com
Miika is currently pursuing a master’s in Finance at Aalto University. His professional journey includes roles at BCG in consulting, Valor Partners in investment banking, and private equity at DevCo and Intera Partners, where he developed expertise in strategic problem solving, corporate transactions, portfolio company development, and deal flow management. With this broad background across finance and strategy, he brings strong analytical and transaction skills to the Kvanted team, along with a passion for supporting disruptive innovations in Europe’s industrial transformation.
Annika Winter
Investment Intern
annika@kvanted.com
Annika is currently pursuing a master’s in Business Analytics at Aalto University, having previously completed a bachelor’s in Information and Service Management. Her professional experience spans Venture Clienting at Combient Foundry as well as Venture Capital at Antler and Failup Ventures. Through these roles, she has gained insight into how startups and corporates can co-create solutions, particularly in industrial contexts, and has built strong skills in analyzing and evaluating early-stage investments. With her combined expertise in venture building and investment analysis, Annika brings to Kvanted a sharp perspective on how emerging technologies can transform traditional industries.
Board Members
Heikki Westerlund
Board Chair
Heikki has over 30 years of experience in venture capital and private equity, and has been elected twice as the Finnish Venture Capitalist of the Year. Former CEO and President of CapMan.
Heikki is currently an active investor and board chair/-member in several listed and private companies.
Ville Kivelä
Board Member
Ville has over 25 years of experience in institutional investing and international investment banking, advising on deals with a focus on industrial manufacturing.
Currently Ville serves as the Chief Investment Officer at Oras Invest.
Sharp focus on foundational industries, exceptional industrial networks and diverse skill sets
Our Venture Partners are industrial sector and growth company experts who actively support both Kvanted's team and our portfolio companies with their knowledge, skills and extensive networks.
Venture Partners
Kai Öistämö
Venture Partner
Kai is the President and CEO of Vaisala. He has over 30 years of experience in large technology corporations, including serving as the Chief Digital Officer at Nokia and the Chief Operating Officer at InterDigital. In addition, Kai is a Board Member at Nokia
Suvi Haimi
Venture Partner
Suvi is the co-founder and CEO of Sulapac, an internationally awarded material innovation company. Prior to becoming a startup entrepreneur, Suvi spent 10 years in leadership positions at universities in Finland and The Netherlands.
Antti Vasara
Venture Partner
Antti Vasara bridges scientific research and industrial application, having spent a decade as President and CEO of VTT, one of Europe's top research institutions. Antti holds a doctorate in technical physics and his background spans Nokia, McKinsey, and various positions of trust in Finland and EU. He currently serves on the boards of Stora Enso, Detection Technology, and Bioretec. Antti supports Kvanted’s portfolio companies to turn breakthrough tech into scalable solutions for real-world impact.
Mårten Mickos
Venture Partner
Mårten Mickos built one of Europe's earliest unicorn startups, MySQL AB. He spent two decades in Silicon Valley building disruptive and category-defining companies with community-based business models. Mårten is now focused on helping strong startup CEOs to succeed more wildly. At Kvanted, he will support portfolio founders in leadership, building world-class teams and global growth strategies.