MARKO SEPPÄ, PhD, Professor, Head and Co-Founder of GVL

Marko was apprenticed venture capitalist in Finland and the US in the late 1980s, ran a pioneering VC operation in Russia and the Baltic Countries in the 1990s, completed a PhD in 2000, and co-created an e-business research center ("GVL-to-be") for an ambitious local pilot of eEurope, in 2001-2006. For the 2007-2011 period, he was invited by JYU as the Professor in charge of Technology Business (TLT) and was the 2nd M to join the team. Via his private company, established in 1989, he has made experimental "knowledge investments" and served as co-entrepreneur in selected growth ventures.

Home base: Tampere, Finland.  marko.seppa(at)econ.jyu.fi

CHRISTIAN ASPEGRÉN, M.Sc. Econ., Director of Business Services

Christian is a global industrialist, growth resourcer, and entrepreneur with passion, since the 1970s, for motors of innovation. At GVL, he is designing new instruments to mobilize global growth.

Home base: Helsinki, Finland. christian.aspegren(at)jyu.fi

LENI KUIVANIEMI, PhD, LLM, Co-Director of Study Programs

Leni is a lawyer turned sales coach and motivational entrepreneur driven by Big Problems. Her PhD thesis was on the topic of "understanding reasoning in entrepreneurial opportunity recognition". She is interested in ownership in business ecosystems.

Home base: Helsinki, Finland. leni.kuivaniemi(at)jyu.fi

MARI SUORANTA, PhD, Assistant Professor, Program Director Human Business & Tech Business

Mari has passion for entrepreneurial marketing as researcher, teacher, learner and do-er. She started JYU’s Technology Business (TLT), in 2006. The team’s first M is active in bringing "live cases" into the classroom and curious about turning students, as well as herself, into co-entrepreneurs.

Home base: Jyväskylä, Finland. mari.suoranta(at)econ.jyu.fi

ILKKA HÄMÄLÄINEN, PhD, Management consultant

Ilkka is GVL’s first "dirty dog", having gone through GVL’s director-to-doctorate track and earning a doctorate degree in August 2010.

Home base: Helsinki, Finland. ilkka.hamalainen(at)ihoy.net

MERIE JOSEPH, M. Sci (Econ/IT), PhD Candidate, Health Kiosk Project Manager

Merie is ready to embark on a journey to the Bottom of the Pyramid, helping GVL India with the Health Kiosk Project for her PhD candidacy.

Home base: Jyväskylä, Finland. merie.joseph(at)jyu.fi  

MILA HAKANEN, M.Sc. Econ., PhD Candidate, Action Researcher, Events & Relationships Manager

Mila has organized people and things for events ever since 2000. Based in Tampere, Mila is passionate about networking, social capital, shared venture parenthood and shared growth strategies.

Home base: Tampere, Finland. mila.hakanen(at)jyu.fi

MIA HÄKKINEN, M.Sc. Econ, PhD Candidate

Mia explores brands as platforms for growth venturing. With UTA as Alma Mater and TUT as former employer, she is well placed to connect the local dots to global dots.

Home base: Tampere, Finland.  mia.hakkinen(at)jyu.fi

AKI SOUDUNSAARI, M.Sc. Sport and Health, Entrepreneur, Project Researcher

Aki is a PhD student in Business Creation and a High Growth Venture Researcher. Aki has a background in education and he is passionate about building creative solutions to Problems Worth Solving.

Home base: Jyväskylä, Finland.  aki.soudunsaari(at)jyu.fi

KATRI MÄKINEN, B.A., Research assistant

Katri is GVL's newest recruit, drafted directly from the final year of her MA degree to join the team. Skilled in languages and communication, Katri has a curious mind about business and co-creation.

Home base: Jyväskylä, Finland.  katri.makinen(at)jyu.fi