Lifeline Ventures is a Helsinki-based venture capital firm founded in 2009 that partners with founders from day zero, often before a pitch deck exists. The firm has become one of the most active and influential early-stage investors in the Nordic region, backing entrepreneurs who build globally competitive technology companies from Finland and across Europe.
Lifeline Ventures focuses on very early-stage startups developing transformative technologies across consumer internet, enterprise software, health, deep tech, and frontier innovation. The firm is typically the first institutional investor, providing initial capital and hands-on support as companies shape their product and market.
It retains reserves to follow on in later rounds, ensuring continuity for founders as they scale.
In October 2025, Lifeline Ventures announced the launch of Fund VI, a €400 million vehicle aimed at backing Europe’s next generation of startups.
With this fund, Lifeline strengthens its proven model of investing at the earliest stages and maintaining deep commitment through later funding rounds.
Fund VI expands the firm’s ability to support portfolio companies as they mature, providing the capital needed for scaling operations, hiring key talent, and entering international markets. The new fund underscores Lifeline’s belief in long-term relationships with founders, a strategy that has helped it nurture several of Finland’s most successful startups from inception to global success.
Leadership
The firm is led by General Partners Timo Ahopelto and Petteri Koponen, both seasoned entrepreneurs and investors with extensive experience in scaling technology companies. Their leadership has been instrumental in Lifeline’s reputation for identifying exceptional founders early and helping them navigate growth challenges from product development to international expansion.
Investment Strategy
Lifeline Ventures follows a “founder-first” approach, investing in ambitious teams at the earliest stages of company formation. The firm prioritizes conviction over consensus, backing founders based on vision and capability rather than early traction.
It often serves as the first institutional investor, providing seed capital and hands-on guidance, while reserving significant capital for later rounds to ensure consistent long-term support. Lifeline’s strategy also leverages Finland’s strong technical talent and innovation ecosystem, with a growing focus on pan-European opportunities.
Notable Investments
Lifeline Ventures has been the first investor in most of Finland’s seed-funded unicorns, including:
These companies have collectively shaped Finland’s modern startup landscape and exemplify the firm’s ability to identify world-class teams at the idea stage.
Notable Exits
Notable exits include Supercell (acquired by Tencent), Wolt (acquired by DoorDash), and several public or large-scale acquisitions of its other portfolio companies.
These exits highlight Lifeline’s success in scaling local innovation into global market leaders.
Other
Lifeline Ventures is known for its close, long-term partnerships with founders, often helping shape product strategy and business development from the ground up.
Its collaborative approach and extensive network within Europe’s tech ecosystem make it an ideal partner for early-stage entrepreneurs.
firstname@lifelineventures.com
Timo Ahopelto - Founding Partner
Jyri Engeström - Partner
Elina Holkko - Partner & CFO
