Jouko Ahvenainen

Jouko Ahvenainen is a Senior Advisor at Startup Commons and a serial entrepreneur with experience in startups all over the world. Jouko has a long history of working in digital humanities, dating back to their days as a student at the University of Helsinki. After graduation, they co-founded Prifina, a software company that was later acquired by RoboCorp Technologies. Jouko then spent several years working in the European Commission before moving on to Difitek, where they were responsible for launching several successful startups in the USA, Europe and Asia. In recent years, they have been a Managing Partner at Grow VC Group and the CEO of Replicon Group.

Jouko Ahvenainen has an MBA in International Finance from Aalto University, as well as an MBA in Finance & Venture Capital studies from Texas McCombs School of Business. Jouko also has a M.Sc. in Computer Science from Aalto University, and a B.Soc.Sc. in Social and Moral Philosophy & Economics from the University of Helsinki. Additionally, they participated in a summer exchange program in Computer Science at Grenoble INP - UGA, and holds a Private Pilot License in one-engine aircraft from the Flying Club of the Aalto University (PIK). Jouko also has certification from Traficom, Finland in Private Pilot Licence (single engine aircraft).