Strongly Supporting Finnish Entrepreneurship

Team

Juuri Partners’ team consists of thirteen people, each with an extensive knowledge base that supports the Fund’s operations. The team’s diverse expertise covers business development, board work, business management, marketing & brand building, financing, technology, mergers & acquisitions and private equity investing.

Joni Mäkelä

Joni has over 20 years’ experience in demanding finance positions in domestic and foreign companies. He is experienced Management team member and has been responsible of Finance, Administration, Logistics and IT functions. He has strong background in internal and external accounting, reporting, budgeting/forecasting and cost accounting. Joni is responsible for the portfolio company Finance, Admin, IT and Reporting development.

Tommi Asmala

Tommi has experience in investment banking both mergers & acquisitions and IPOs & equity offerings as well as strong background in strategy and market analyses. Tommi supports target companies in strategy implementation and produces market analyses.

Hanna Viinikainen

Hanna has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, debt financing, and transaction structuring, with a strong track record of working with growth companies. She specializes in designing and implementing financing solutions and driving successful transactions, while actively supporting companies in their development and growth journeys.

Tapani Varjas

Tapani has extensive over 20 years’ experience in entrepreneurship, investment banking, mergers & acquisitions, minority ownership, corporate governance and risk management. Tapani is responsible for the development of corporate governance, M&A and financing documentation, risk management and shareholder value creation through management of corporate responsibility in the investment activities.

Anita Ojala

Anita has over 20 years’ experience in debt and equity financing of mergers & acquisitions. She is an experienced company analyst and has strong sectoral and financing expertise. Anita is responsible for the financial analysis of target companies, investment structure planning, implementation of financing arrangements, financial follow-up & monitoring, refinancing and exit preparations.

Markus Einiö

Markus has versatile over 20 years’ experience as entrepreneur, consultant and professional manager in business development and management. He has a strong background in especially sales, marketing and brand building. Markus is responsible for the analysis of target companies, supporting the target companies’ strategy work, business development and change management as well as monitoring the implementation of development programs in the target companies.

Samuli Sipilä

Samuli has been engaged in the financial sector during his entire career, serving as a CEO for two different companies during the past 8 years. Samuli has extensive experience in the initiation, growing and selling of businesses. He has served on the boards of numerous companies since early 90’s when he served as the Chairman in a family company. Samuli has been in the private equity industry over a decade and he acts as the CEO of Juuri Partners Oy, the advisor to Juuri Fund.

Aki Samaletdin

Aki Samaletdin

Investment Manager
+358 50 558 1752

Aki has experience in financial due diligence in various transactions including mergers & acquisitions, disposals and carve-outs. He has a solid background in performing detailed financial analysis on companies. Aki is involved in analyzing potential target companies and related markets, coordinating M&A processes and monitoring target companies.

Laura Pirhonen

Laura Pirhonen

Investment Manager
+358 40 706 2624

Laura has experience from multiple industries on topics ranging from business planning and strategy to marketing and sales as well as support function optimization. Laura will be involved in business development of the targets, analyzing potential target companies and related markets, as well as coordinating M&A processes.

Antti Antikainen

Antti Antikainen

Investment Manager
+358 40 484 9695

Antti has extensive experience from advising in various types of transactions including M&A, real estate and bank financing transactions. Antti is involved in business development of the targets, risk management, analysing potential target companies and related markets, as well as coordinating M&A processes and preparing documentation.

Eetu Blomqvist

Eetu has vast international experience in technology and business development. He is responsible for accelerating digitalization and developing technological capabilities of target companies. Additionally, Eetu provides support to target companies throughout the investment lifecycle and adds a technology perspective in analysis of potential target companies and markets.

Iiro Salminen

Iiro Salminen

Investment Analyst
+358 50 361 4439

Iiro has a few years of experience in investment banking, where he has particularly focused on initial public offerings and M&A transactions. He has deep expertise in analyzing companies and various markets. Iiro supports the Juuri team in executing transactions, conducts market analyses, and takes part in the development of target companies.

Maiju Saarela

Maiju Saarela

Sustainability Manager
+358 40 5154297

Maiju has extensive international experience in management consulting, where she has helped companies integrate sustainability into their operations, specialising in CSRD and ESG strategies. Before shifting her focus to sustainability, Maiju worked primarily on data and analytics projects. At Juuri, Maiju oversees sustainability reporting and assesses investments, aligning responsible practices with financial performance.

Board of directors

Juuri Partners’ Board of Directors consists of three external members and one of the partners of Juuri Partners. When forming the Board, we have sought extensive expertise especially in strategic and operative management, entrepreneurship, finance, reputation management and media relations.

Topi Paananen

Chairman of the Board

Background: Peikko Group (CEO), Foxconn, Eimo, Akzo Nobel

Strengths:  Entrepreneurship and family entrepreneurship, leadership, internationalization and growth

Why Juuri?  Juuri’s strategy to finance and support the growth companies is certainly suitable for both family businesses and businesses aiming for international markets. Through Juuri, I will be able to provide my expertise and experience to Finnish SMEs.

Kati Levoranta

Member of the Board

Background: P2X Solutions (EVP), Rovio (CEO), Nokia, Pöyry, Valio

Strengths: Business management, international business, brands, team builder

Why Juuri? It is great to be a part of Juuri’s activities and to help Finnish entrepreneurs build success stories. Juuri has a first class team and I am very happy to be able to work with them on portfolio companies

Reetta Rajala

Member of the Board

Background: CCEA (founder & CEO), HP, Veho

Strengths: People change management, growth entrepreneurship, large-scale enterprises, sales

Why Juuri? External investor often brings comprehensive changes to the company, owners, management and employees. It is fantastic to join the Juuri team to help ensure successful people changes in the portfolio companies.

Johan Aalto

Member of the Board

Background: Hannes Snellman Attorneys Ltd (Partner), Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland rf:n the chairman of the board (Skattmästare)

Strengths: M&A, leadership of professional services organizations, internationalization

Why Juuri? It’s great to become involved in building Finnish growth stories on the board of Juuri Partners. Finland needs growth and entrepreneurship. The team at Juuri Partners and the growth funds they manage offer entrepreneurs support and tools to achieve their growth goals.

Experts

A wide network of experienced players in different fields have been involved in developing and supporting the operations of Juuri Partners. Successful, experienced entrepreneurs who have transformed their industries have been invited to become members of the Juuri Partners Oy advisory network. The advisors are part of the Juuri Partners’ network and are involved in facilitating the growth and success of the target companies of Juuri Fund.

Max Alfthan

Member of the Board

Dan Ahlstedt

Member of the Board

Antti Vilkuna

Member of the Board

Petri Kalliokoski

Member of the Board

Jaakko Tennilä

Member of the Board

Johan Sandell

Member of the Board

Pertti Nupponen

Chairman of the Board

Tuire Nyberg

Member of the Board

Pasi Rannus

Member of the Board

Samu Konttinen

Member of the Board

Saila Miettinen-Lähde

Member of the Board

Jan Mattlin

Chairman of the Board

Mikko Soirola

Chairman of the Board

Sami Luokkamäki

Member of the Board

Petri Pitkäranta

Member of the Board

Jan Vapaavuori

Member of the Board

Jukka-Pekka Särkkä

Hallituksen jäsen

Hanna Reijonen

Member of the Board

Kari Liuska

Chairman of the Board

Laura Tarkka

Hallituksen jäsen

Perttu Kröger

Hallituksen jäsen

Hannes Helenius

Hallituksen jäsen

Teresa Laimio

Hallituksen jäsen

Kalle Ruuskanen

Hallituksen jäsen

Antti Haapakorva

Hallituksen jäsen

Juha Westerlund

Hallituksen jäsen

Kim Pomoell

Hallituksen puheenjohtaja

Tuomas Hurmerinta

Hallituksen jäsen

Juha Järvinen

Hallituksen jäsen