Tom Henriksson, a seasoned venture capitalist and General Partner at OpenOcean, began his career in the 1990s when Finland’s startup ecosystem was just emerging. Reflecting on that time, he said, “You could count the truly interesting companies with global potential on one hand.” Today, the Nordics are recognized for their robust STEM education and data-driven innovations, producing companies that excel in analytics and automation despite a small population base.

Tom shared how OpenOcean, founded in 2010, was inspired by the success of MySQL, one of Europe’s earliest unicorns. “We wanted to help entrepreneurs from small places in Europe make similar journeys,” he explained. With its fourth fund aiming to raise €135 million, OpenOcean continues to invest in early-stage, data-intensive business software across Europe, focusing on practical AI applications and vertical-specific solutions.

AI has revolutionized how businesses operate, but enterprises still struggle to adopt these technologies effectively. OpenOcean invests in solutions that simplify adoption, such as tools enabling engineers to handle tasks traditionally reserved for data scientists. Tom highlighted a success story: Cambridge, a Finnish company leveraging AI to optimize product launches. “It not only predicts success but also suggests improvements, reducing waste and enhancing profitability,” he noted.

Each year during Slush, OpenOcean hosts a poker tournament that has become an iconic part of the event. Tom credited its origins to Riku Seppälä, a former OpenOcean principal, and shared a legendary anecdote: “The first prize was 3.1415 Bitcoins, which one winner used to pay his rent, while another held onto them—an ultimate poker win!” Beyond the fun, the event fosters meaningful connections in the startup ecosystem.

By blending a focus on data-intensive startups with a deep commitment to the Nordic ecosystem, Tom Henriksson and OpenOcean continue to shape the future of venture capital. Whether helping enterprises navigate AI or hosting iconic events like their poker tournament, their mission remains clear: empowering entrepreneurs to build scalable, impactful businesses.

Find Tom on:

LinkedIn: Tom Henriksson

Twitter/X: @openoceanvc

Find Ben on:

LinkedIn: Ben Costantini

Twitter/X: @bencostantini

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