Many people have asked me what kind of experience Startuplifers has been for me and how has it been leading the program. For a while, it was hard to answer – I feel like I have gone through 5 years in year and a half. Now, after taking a trip down the memory lane, I can say this will probably be one the best jobs and experiences what I will ever face.

During my time at Startuplifers we have welcomed Sweden into our team and expanded the program to cover China and Japan. I have been in a Nasdaq opening bell ceremony and met some of the coolest entrepreneurs in the world. I have made lifelong friends. We are now looking for a new team, and I want to share some of the coolest things about working in the Startuplifers team. It’s safe to say that I would recommend this experience to anybody who is really looking forward to kickstarting their career.

Alumni & Alumni’s to be

I get to work with the most passionate and entrepreneurial talents, who will someday run the startup world. Our alumni Nelli Lähteemäki said in a Kauppalehti interview, that the most important thing for her career was to go to San Francisco in the early stage of her career – and now she is an awesome Founder and CEO of Fifth Corner Inc. You know you are in the right place when you can really help people succeed.


Hanging out with people from our San Francisco community in Dolores Park on Sunday afternoon.

Traveling

I’ve been really fortunate to see the top current and the up-and-coming startup hubs in the world – San Francisco, New York, Shanghai  and Tokyo in addition to our fellow Nordic countries. And even better than just seeing the cities, we get to meet the most passionate entrepreneurs and companies which are truly changing the world we live in. When I stop and think of the people and places I’ve been, I realise I’m some lucky twenty something.


Startuplifers was opening Nasdaq with the #NordicMade community. We saw how all the major news channels in the US were showing us cheering for the opening bell.

One of the most memorable trips was the trip around the world with our team to visit our destination cities. We traveled together for three weeks, staying one week in each city. We met some of the best accelerators, incubators, startups and entrepreneurs – and of course did some sightseeing. I’m not going to lie, traveling for work is rough and exhausting, but I really can’t think of a better way to get to know all those cultures, get the first-hand knowledge about what’s new in the startup world and just have the time of your life.


Waiting for the meeting to start at We+ co-working space in Shanghai.

Everyday Life

One person from our previous teams said that being in the Startuplifers team is like a huge rush – your emotions are going up and down, one minute you think you’re in the top of the world, sometimes you think nothing is going to work out. And I agree – being in the team is like building a startup, hard but rewarding.


On our way in to a meeting through Yoyogi Park in Tokyo.

Luckily whatever happens you always have an amazing team to back you up. Startuplifers team has always been full of amazing and crazy people, and I have had a blast working with Siiri, Eemeli, Veera, Alex and Toni during my time, and of course our Sweden team Rebecca, Martin, Marcus and Kristofer – thank you for each one of you for making it so.

Best,
Henni