Helen Ventures – your rock-solid guide into the complex energy sector

Northern Europe is a natural meeting place of thousands of startups, visionary investors and a scientific community investing in new technologies.

In Finland, Helen supports the Government’s target to achieve the carbon neutrality already by 2035. This includes a three-part roadmap: 1) New energy system that contains sector integration, customer cooperation, enabling networks, and developing the expertise. 2) Cleaner energy such as emission free electricity, integrating district heat, and facilitating circular economy. 3) Energy as a solution where industries are electrified, traffic is cleaner, and heating solutions are sustainable.

Therefore, it goes without saying that Helen Ventures has a natural incentive to support the startups and companies who positively disrupt the energy sector and bring new solutions and technologies in the game.

Why you should probably consider partnering up with a corporation?

I’ve heard some comments from the critical heads of start-up companies about corporations. The rumours might tell you something about extra reports, incompatible targets, decision-making that is taking forever, and so on. The prospect of collaboration with large companies that are seen bureaucratic, was chilling. To them, partnership was comparable to the role of subcontractor, only assumed when no other options are available, and often only when the coffers are already empty.

I might be biased, but I strongly think, this is not the whole truth.

Yes, it’s true that companies with many hundreds of employees aren’t always as fast and agile as startups with for example 5-10 eager talents. But when you start to list the pros of a company that has operated for decades, like Helen, the list is pretty impressive: strong brand, large customer base, wide geographical reach, ability to invest, stability, IPR, availability of reliable data, experts with super deep experience but also inflows of fresh talent, energy sector partnerships, and the cumulative knowhow of the entire organization. Undoubtedly, it would be a great competitive advantage for any startup to have access to this cornucopia, a horn of plenty.

Helen Ventures opens doors to complex energy sector

It’s true that energy sector is still rather closed and almost pretentiously complex. However, Helen, if anyone, can help in understanding its details, interpret the customer needs and open the doors to the most important international networks, such as other investors in the sector and leading consultants.

Helen Ventures’ idea is to preserve the space required by your business. This means, you retain responsibility for the customer acquisition, expanding the team, developing technology, fine-tuning the delivery chain, and gaining access to a new target market. Yes, we will acquire a share of your company, but at the same time, you obtain more capital, which you can utilise to perhaps seek market-based business loan at improved rates. Right at the outset, we will agree the shared game rules, we promise to avoid unnecessary reporting, and we are not overly jealous of the other collaborative configurations. The Helen Ventures team can provide professional help, fast-moving and agile when necessary.

So, do you represent a company promoting digital technology, engaged in areas like smart buildings, energy efficiency, electric transport, renewable energy or their management? If your answer is in the affirmative, our strategic growth areas may be compatible. Our vision is to bring the opportunities of the new energy era within everyone's reach. We will again look over hundreds of companies from Europe this year. We would love to hear about your plans for the future, too.

Drop us a line and let’s talk more!

The author, Sampo Lehtiniemi, heads Helen's strategy, conceptualised Helen Ventures (with sharp partners) and acts as startup advisor.