People
Jari Mieskonen, Managing Partner
With almost two decades of experience in technology financing, Jari has seen the ups and downs of the industry many times over. His ability to put things in perspective helps entrepreneurs understand the undercurrent and maintain focus on the essential.
Prior to Conor, Jari worked as Founding Partner at Eqvitec Partners, a Finnish venture capital company, and as Investment Director in charge of seed and early stage investments at Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund.
He has served as a board member in several early stage venture funds and numerous start-up companies. Jari is now most actively involved with Aito Technologies, Crystalsol, Plexpress and TactoTek.
Read more and connect with Jari Mieskonen on Linkedin.
Sami Ahvenniemi, Founding Partner
Having held leadership positions in technology companies for more than a decade, based both in Finland and in the United States, Sami has a broad personal experience of the key challenges and success factors in growing and internationalizing technology start-ups. Mix with strong experience in venture capital, and out comes an invaluable resource for ambitious entrepreneurs.
Before Conor, Sami worked as interim CEO for Bluegiga, a bluetooth module and solutions provider, and Investment Director for Holtron Ventures, a Finnish venture capital company. Earlier, he was a key player at SSH Communications Security, a Finnish security software developer, holding several roles including VP Product Management in the company’s Helsinki headquarters and CEO & VP Sales in Silicon Valley.
Sami is currently most actively involved with BehavioSec, Neo Technology and Sensinode.
Read more and connect with Sami Ahvenniemi on Linkedin.
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Manu Mäkelä, Founding Partner
An investment professional from head to toe, Manu has worked in technology venture capital for more than ten years. He knows the business inside out and proves his worth when the time comes to find, select and negotiate additional financing rounds with international investors.
Manu joined Conor from Holtron Ventures, a Finnish venture capital company, where he held the position of Investment Director. Prior to Holtron, he worked as Investment Director for Eqvitec Partners, a Finnish venture capital company, and as Financial Analyst for Eqvitec Advisors, a joint venture between Eqvitec Partners and Robertson Stephens, a US based investment bank.
Manu is currently focused on working with Eniram, Imbera Electronics, Omegawave and Supponor Systems.
Read more and connect with Manu Mäkelä on Linkedin.
Jarkko Penttilä, Partner
Combining strong industrial and investment experience, Jarkko is a specialist in turning innovations into commercially viable businesses. Jarkko has worked and lived in Finland and Sweden and is widely networked within the Nordic start-up and venture community.
Jarkko joined Conor in November 2010 from Eqvitec Partners, where he worked as a Partner and was based in both the Helsinki and Stockholm offices. Before Eqvitec, Jarkko worked as Manager at Ericsson Business Innovations and held various managerial positions at Ericsson.
Jarkko is currently most actively involved with AnaCatum, Sensinode
and Scint-X.
Read more and connect with Jarkko Penttilä on Linkedin.
