With a very special edition for Oulu2026, our Day Conference topic, “Cultural Capital in Startup Growth,” will explore the role of culture and creativity in startup growth.
During the Day Conference you will also have the opportunity to book meetings with other participants through our matchmaking tool and have a big lunch break for additional networking. Start your Polar Bear Pitching day with a deep dive into growth and sustainability at our Day Conference! We have secured local experts and speakers to bring you a program with invaluable insights.
Place: Radisson Blu, Hallituskatu 1, Oulu
Date: Thursday, 26th of February, 2026
Schedule
8:30 Registration open & Morning coffee
9:00 Welcome words
9:10 Sarita Runeberg: ”Ecosystem DNA: How Culture Powers Startup Growth and Fuels Global Impact”
9:30 Maria Pennanen, ”Startup Culture Unplugged: The Power of Courage and Presence”
09:50 Panel ”Investment cultural climate change” Hidekuni Takagi (Takagi Building Co., Ltd. & Investor), Ville Heikkinen (Butterfly Ventures), Maximillian LeRoux (Acouspin), Sami Lampinen – moderator (Inventure)
10:20 Ronny Eriksson,” Entrepreneurship as Culture, Culture as Entrepreneurship: case ODDfest. ”
10:40 Rasmus Wiinstedt Tscherning European Creative Business Network “Creativity as Europe’s Next Growth Engine”
11:00 Lunch
13:00 Elise Pietarila, ”Growing projects into a global phenomenon through creativity.”
13:20 Daniel Fischer, Fingersoft” Building work culture when you work in a passion industry.”
13:40 Panel ”Investing in Creativity: Rethinking Value and Growth in Startups” Victoria Fäh – moderator (PRvc), Milja Mäkelä (FiBAN creative), Kati Uusi-Rauva (EIT Culture & Creative North), Jukka Vidgren (Whatever Pictures)
14:10 Fanhaven: “From Fandom To Funded: Building at the Intersection of Culture & Capital”
14:30 Steven Lavalle, ”The Impact of Cultural Values on Entrepreneurship”
Startup Studio workshops
09:00-09:55 Ronny Eriksson: Team Building
10:00-11:30 Todd Davey: Startup Engine
11:45-12:15 Erkki Holmila: What every startup should know about intellectual property
12:30-12:55 Aleksi Kallio: LUMI AI Factory – How we support startups
13:00-13:55 Laura Meriläinen: Startup Jungle
14:00-15:00: Walid O. El Cheikh: Pitching For Life – Present Like Your Life Depends on it!
Also check out other Business events in Oulu, Conferences in Oulu, Workshops in Oulu.
