Another Technopolis event coming up is MoneyTalks™ Forum Special on 8th of May, claimed to be the largest investor event in Finland during the spring of 2008. The event is invitation-only and targeted to VCs, business angels and promising high-tech & innovation based start-ups seeking financing. Companies interested in pitching in the event should check for further information.

The bi-annual special event promises to feature the rising stars of the Finnish high-tech scene and prominent early stage investors from Finland and abroad. Participants should have plenty of opportunities for one-one-one meetings with investors and entrepreneurs.

Photo by cpalmieri.

Technopolis and Technopolis Ventures organize a brief morning seminar on April 29th in Espoo with a theme “Virtual Communities as a Tool for New Businesses”. The free of charge event is quite short, light even, but does feature a keynote from the software business research legend David G. Messerschmitt, what might make it just worth your visit.

More information and registration (due April 24th).

There’s some good comments being thrown around as Erick Schonfeld of TechCrunch interviewed the developers of Scred in Amsterdam’s NextWeb Conference. There are a lot of competitor’s names as well and it just shows what kind of competition you usually end up with once you execute.

I’d be even daring to say that the idea is nothing, execution is everything.

I and Miikka had a chat yesterday with Tatu Laurila, CEO of Greater Helsinki Promotions about a venture they are organising for Finnish startups and prospects to Israel. Greater Helsinki Promotions is co-organising the event with Technopolis ventures.

Ten of the finest Finnish companies eligible for this venture will be sent to Israel to the IVA Hi-Tech Conference 2008. The event is held in Tel Aviv 19.-20.5.2008. The Israeli Venture Capital Association (IVA) has offered the Finnish organizers an opportunity to bring 5-10 promising start-ups plus an accompanying delegation to Tel Aviv for IVA’s annual conference, which attracts about 1,500 global players from the high tech industry, including VC and Corporate investors. Large number of global VC’s will attend the conference. The estimated cost for the whole program is a maximum of 5000 € at the maximum, a more exact budget will be available in the next couple weeks.

Deadline for enrollment is 2.4.2008. If you’re interested, contact Will Cardwell of Technopolis Ventures for more information on how to apply.

For those who are unaware with the startup and entrepreneurship environment in Israel, it is a lot more effective than it is in Finland. The countries themselves are similar in size and population. With a focus on entrepreneurship and a 15-year strong track record, Israel has managed to enlist over 100 companies to Nasdaq and there seems to be more in the pipeline. There’s definitely a lot there to learn. Arctic Startup will try to cover the process, preparaion up to the event and the event itself as thoroughly as possible. Stay tuned!

Tekes organizes a free morning seminar “Doing Business in the USA - An Overview of the Opportunities and Challenges” April 7th in Helsinki.

Keynote will be delivered by Marshall S. Ferrin, Director, International Business Development Program, George Mason University. He will provide an overview to business opportunities in the East Coast USA, especially in the capital area, and related challenges to Finnish firms. You can also schedule one-on-one with Mr. Ferrin, taking place after the event.