Helsinki Think Company

This Bootcamp is made for You

Posted on 12.2.2014 by

“I thought a business idea has to be a product, like a chair. On the bootcamp I realized you don’t have to go to a business school to start a business.”
– Academic Action Bootcamper 2012

25th of March a bunch of students from the University of Helsinki boards on a ferry and crosses the sea to explore academic entrepreneurship. You should be one of the bunch. Academic Action Bootcamp is both a coaching programme for budding business ideas and an opportunity to get to know other students interested in changing the world and to connect with other builders of new kind of entrepreneurship culture in Europe. You will take part in shaping the trip programme yourself.

The previous Bootcamp in autumn 2012 had participants from different faculties and majors. It resulted in 7 entrepreneur teams: Avanto, DIY Helsinki Showroom, Huhu, Itäkomppania, Kaskas Media, Torstai and Yhteismaa. In addition to developed business concepts, the boot generated a lot discoveries. Read how a sociologist discovered the link between anarchy and entrepreneurship.

Apply by telling why you want to join in and describing your budding idea with a few sentences. Your idea can be just a vague start or something you’ve been working on for a while. Read more about the bootcamp and apply by 17 February by filling in the application.

Tech is for Kids

Posted on 24.1.2014 by Elina K Uutela

Most of us humans, especially the non-tech-savvy ones, have a complex relationship with technology. On the other hand it makes our lives easier – imagine all the stuff you can do just with your phone and your laptop. However, when it comes to understanding why your cellphone thinks you’re in Greece when you’re actually at the Center Campus of University of Helsinki, you might feel quite lost.

We all have plenty of friends stating that they’re just “bad with computers”. If using new software seems difficult at first, they give up. How applications work seems to be a great, almost divine mystery. This makes it easy to follow the instructions of Arthur Weasley: “Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain!”.

Suddenly, a wild Finn appears, stating that she will create a children’s book about coding and technology for 4–7 year old kids. A story of a little girl called Ruby and her adventures. And even though Ruby’s world is full of amazing opportunities, it has nothing to do with magic.

The girl behind Ruby

The author of Hello Ruby is Linda Liukas, whose career seems to be a collection of projects making technology more approachable. She is the founder or Rails Girls community that helps women to get started with technology and teaches the basics of programming. Rails Girls workshops have been organized in over 160 cities. She has also been working at Codecademy, an education startup teaching people to code.

To make little Ruby alive, Liukas started a 30-day Kickstarter project to collect 10 000 dollars to hire an editor and print the hardcover books. Launched yesterday, the project has now collected over 100 000 dollars and has more than 2500 backers. This might easily be the most successful Finnish crowdfunding campaign ever.

Still afraid of tech?

If you want to start your own journey in the adventurous world of technology, start easily by reading Ruby’s Christmas Calendar (just click the arrow on left to go through all the posts). It teaches 24 little things about her world – like the fact that “Snowleopard and Android disagree on many things, but Ruby thinks they both are good-hearted and will learn to live together”.

I think you’re going to love it. And if you love it, you should back the project on Kickstarter.

Pictures in this blog post are snapped from Hello Ruby Kickstarter video.

Work With Stuff that Matters

Posted on 16.1.2014 by Elina K Uutela

At the Center Campus of University of Helsinki most faculties aren’t the most keen environments for entrepreneurially-minded folks. When gazing to horizon from Kaisa-talo, all the startup buzz and growth entrepreneurship seem distant – “not my piece of cake”.

The Center Campus is filled with people with a strong urge to change the world, create welfare and have a positive effect on people’s lives. Unicafes and corridors are filled with discussion about actual problems to be solved, and people obviously are up to date on what’s happening in the world.

At the same time on some lines people are worried about if they’ll find a job at all – and in addition to this there are a lot of people just looking to do at least something related to their own industry, not actually thinking what they want to do and achieve in their lives. So many students carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, but when it comes to how they want to spent most of their day – work – you rarely hear passion-driven comments or big plans for the future.

The thing is that thinking small never changes the world or solves great problems. And, more importantly, mere thinking changes nothing. Open your mind a bit – could it actually be that entrepreneurship is the most agile way for you to be the change you want to see?

Make a difference with your skills

The worst mistake is to let stereotypes qualify what kind of entrepreneurship and on what scale one is able to do. People study what they want to learn: the other half is to understand what people can do with all that knowledge in working life. It’s good to remember that what you study no longer determines your career.

Entrepreneurship is mostly teamwork, and gathering a passionate team from individuals with different skillsets is the first step to start working with the nasty problems you want to overcome.

If you feel that you don’t have any skills or knowledge to turn into business, I dare you to think again. Let’s look at Upworthy. You’ve all spotted the content of the site: the touching videos with discernible headlines filling your Facebook News Feed. Themes vary from equality issues to people struggling with cancer, from giving homeless people a chance to learning to do CPR.

Upworthy is stating their mission to be “to make important stuff as viral as a video of some idiot surfing off his roof.” They’re bringing together meaningful content all over Internet to make it more visible, to make people think. So basically they are doing something to one thing most people (including you!) have only been whining about.

This company has raised $12 million in investment. Don’t get me wrong: money is not the motivator. But money enables scaling up and reaching more people – and that way Upworthy can push the internet generation to care about those who are powerless (you know, in addition to powerless cute cats on Youtube).

Why wouldn’t you do the same?

PS. If you feel that working life is changing too fast and you are the only one with difficulties in coping, forget it – it’s the same with all of us. Luckily there’s three things that will always help you forward!

Life is full of surprises!

Posted on 20.12.2013 by

At the start of the year I was learning how to make chicken curry in an Indian restaurant in Uganda. I thought life could not get much better than this: open-minded people were giving me interviews for my thesis and at the same time I was taught how to make delicious food.

Then I came back to Finland and thought life would get somewhat unsurprising for the rest of the year. Little did I know.

By a coincidence I happened to find out that Helsinki Think Company was going to be opened. I welcomed the thought of having a networking and co-creation space at the university and did not have to think twice when I heard they were looking for hosts to run the place.

During the year I have learned, and I think Ella and Katja will agree on this, some very basic things about communication and building networks – and well, life in general. (I am pass caring about how full of cliché’s I might sound).

LISTEN

You have a lot to learn from others

ASK QUESTIONS AND GIVE COMMENTS

People appreciate your interest and like to share their stories and sharpen their point

BE HONEST AND OPEN ABOUT YOURSELF

Tell what ideas and dreams you have – no matter how silly or unfinished they may seem to you. By sharing you will get feedback from others and that may prove to be vital.

TEAM UP

Tell your friends and connections what you are planning to do. If it’s close enough to their own interests they will most likely come along.

In the end everyone has ideas but the team is what makes them work.

DO IT! QUIT OVER ANALYZING

Trust me, it can be really refreshing and you learn a lot along the way.

1378703_641989529178412_1067301712_n

MAKE MISTAKES

How else would you learn?

And finally: RELAX AND ENJOY!

It is now time to head to holidays and close Think Co for the year. Host team 2013, Ella, Katja and me, will head towards new adventures in Italy, Austria and Ethiopia and the 2014 host team – Laura, Matti and Niina – will welcome you after Christmas brake on the 13th of Jan 2014.

Thanks to the Think Co community for making this year full of new experiences, laughter, jokes, life-long memories and most especially learning by doing! 🙂

TJ 0

Posted on 19.12.2013 by Deleted User

Hiljaisuuden rikkovat jouluradio ja viherseinän kastelujärjestelmän hurina. Avantolaisiakaan ei enää näy. Ihan korkea aika siirtyä lomille siis. (paitsi että Tiina on kyllä täällä vielä huomenna pitämässä paikkaa pystyssä, no worries.)

Viimeisen työpäivän kunniaksi postailen tämän täysin turhan postauksen, millä ei ole muuta tarkoitusta kuin toivottaa hyvää joulua, ratkiriemukasta lomaa, onnistuneita UV-bileitä ja supersiistiä ensi vuotta!

Kiittimoi!

Pikkujoulut!

Posted on 16.12.2013 by Deleted User

Pikkujouluiltiin perjantaina! Tarjoilut olivat kohdillaan ja viiniä riitti santsattavaksi asti.

Juhlapuheilta ei tälläkään kertaa säästytty.
Host-tiimi viihdyttikin pikkujouluvieraita spontaanilla kiitospuheellaan. Päätimme demokraattisesti Katjan kanssa, että Tiina saa luvan aloittaa. Onneksi Tiina oli miettinyt etukäteen fiksua sanottavaa, niin Katjan kanssa pääsimme helpolla. Ja kun puhe kerran pääsi alkuun, niin loppua ei meinannutkaan ihan heti tulla.. Katjan sanoin “Kunhan joku muu aloittaa, niin voin kyllä jatkaa puhumista vaikka loppuillan.”

Jouluradion lisäksi pikkujouluissa kuultiin myös elävää musiikkia. Illan kulttuuritarjonnasta vastasi Seikkailukollektiivi, ja Katri, Leena ja Niilo olivat aivan yhtä ihastuttavia ja valloittavia kuin aina. Sääli tosiaan, että jazz-laulamisen sijaan Leena ja Katri työllistävät itsensä aivan muiden projektien parissa. 😀

..Mutta oli kyllä oikein mainio ilta ja loistava lopetus tälle vuodelle! Kiitos vaan kaikille osallistuneille.

Viimeisiä työvuoroja viedään, tämän viikon perjantaina alkaa tammikuun puoliväliin kestävä joululoma. Vuodenvaihteessa uusi tiimi alkaakin pyörittää Think Companya, kun karkaamme Tiinan ja Katjan kanssa maailmalle. Vähän uusia haasteita elämään!

Well, how was the SLUSH?

Posted on 5.12.2013 by

Here is some Think Company’s instagram pics from the SLUSH 2013. Enjoy!

One day before Slush at Helsinki Think Company. Be creative or go Slush.

Breakfast by Slush/Ruoto Catering. Delicious!

Illkka Paananen from Supercell talking.

Girls got some accessories from Reaktor.

1st day afterparty by Supercell

Second afterparty by Peloton.

Thanks Slush, see you next year again!

Muodin teemailta

Posted on 4.12.2013 by

MUOTI, BISNES JA SUOMI.

Mahdoton yhtälö?

Ei välttämättä.

Helsinki Think Companylla perjantaina 8.11 järjestetty muodin teemailta keräsi talon täyteen muotialan toimijoita ja muita aiheesta kiinnostuneita. Puheenvuorojen ja keskustelun tavoitteena oli pohtia Suomessa toimivien muotiyrittäjien yleisintä ongelmaa: rahoituksen puutetta tai sen vaikeaa saatavuutta.

Illan aikana kuultiin kolme mielenkiintoista puheenvuoroa: Noora Salonoja Aalto yliopiston International Design Business Management (IDBM) -ohjelmasta, gTie-merkin perustaja Jenni Ahtiainen sekä Royal Majesticsin Johannes Savolainen. Tapahtuman olivat järjestäneet Fashion Institute Finlandin perustaja Oona Colliander sekä DIY Showroomin perustaja Katja Meriläinen.

Mitä muotisijoittaja sitten hakee? Ainakin hyvää tiimiä, liikevaihdon kasvua ja skaalautuvuutta, kertoo Noora Salonoja, joka on tutkinut muodin rahoitusta Aalto-yliopistossa. Johannes Savolaisen muistuttaa, että sijoittaja tähtää yleensä aina yrityksen myyntiin. “Yrittäjän täytyy ennen rahoittajan hankkimista vakavissaan miettiä, onko valmis myöhemmin myymään tuotemerkkinsä.”

Myytävän osuuden kanssa tulee olla tarkkana. Mieti, minkä arvoinen yrityksesi todella on, neuvoo Jenni Ahtiainen, joka sai hiljattain 300 000 euroa gTien toiminnan laajentamiseen.

Haluatko kommentoida aihetta? Jätä viestisi alle.

Linkkin videotallenteeseen illasta julkaistaan myöhemmin täällä.

Posted on 22.11.2013 by Ira Leväaho

Elina Uutela Helsinki Think Companyn kapteeniksi

Posted on 13.11.2013 by Ira Leväaho

“Maailmaa ei muuteta joustamattomilla rakenteilla, mutta sitä on muutettu ja tullaan

muuttamaan yrittäjyydellä”, Helsinki Think Company uusi opiskelijakapteeni Elina Uutela toteaa. Aaltoes:in ruorissa opiskelijavetoista yrittäjyystoimintaa kehittänyt Elina palaa juurilleen Helsingin yliopistoon ja tarttuu innolla Helsinki Think Companyn yrittäjyysyhteisön vahvistamiseen.

“Kaiken ei tarvitse olla valmiiksi suunniteltua – uskon vahvasti yhdessä tekemiseen ja kokeilemisen kulttuuriin. Think Co. on startannut innostavasti ja on mahtavaa olla vahvistamassa yrittäjyyskulttuuria ja luomassa yrittäjyyteen kannustavaa ilmapiiriä Helsingin yliopistossa”, Elina hehkuttaa vuoden 2014 alusta käynnistyvää pestiään.

Helsinki Think Company on ydinkeskustan kohtaamispaikka uudenlaiselle yrittäjyydelle, jossa opiskelijat, tutkijat ja yrittäjyydestä kiinnostuneet voivat tavata ja luoda uutta. Se on yhteisöllinen työtila, tapahtumanäyttämö ja väylä yrittäjyyden palveluihin. Think Co. on alusta yliopistosta syntyvälle yrittäjyydelle ja auttaa ideoiden jalostamisessa liiketoiminnaksi. Tila on avoinna kaikille yrittäjyydestä kiinnostuneille, yrittäjähenkisille, yrittäjiksi aikoville, yrittäjille ja yrityksille.

“Suurimmat onnistumiset saavutetaan, kun innostuneita, lahjakkaita ja tekemisorientoituneita ihmisiä saatetaan yhteen. On hienoa olla mukana viemässä Helsingin yliopiston valtavaa potentiaalia entistä vahvemmin myös yritysmaailmaan”, Elina tiivistää.

Helsinki Think Company on osa Helsingin yliopiston ja Helsingin kaupungin pitkäjänteistä yhteistyötä alueen kilpailukyvyn ja hyvinvoinnin edistämiseksi.