Vision+ A New Revenue Share Fund In Finland
Vision+ is a new royalty-based fund set up in Finland that is looking to invest in applications, games, and services on all digital platforms. The model is different from the average VC fund. Rather than taking equity, investor return consists of royalties of the product’s cash flow, offering the benefit of not diluting existing shareholders' equity. Currently Vision+ has raised €26 million, but aims for a €100 million fund.
Interview With Steve Blank
Editor's note: This is a cross-post from the Steve Blank visits Finland -website. His visit and the awesome agenda for the week is made possible with the help of AaltoES, Tekes, Sitra, Teknologiateollisuus and others. Original text by Kalpana Shah.
Steve Blank is that rare combination of successful entrepreneur and inspiring teacher who’s also an insightful writer. His writings define, explain and predict trends that are sweeping the entrepreneurial world. Customer Development, Agile Development, the Lean Startup, The Four Steps to the Epiphany, Business Model Generation are all terms for methodologies that can actually help startups get on in life.
AW-Energy Launching Pilot Wave Project in Portugal
AW-Energy, the Finnish wave energy developer, is launching its pilot project in Peniche (Portugal) in October this year. The goal of the project is to demonstrate its Wave Roller technology on a significant scale, including the manufacture and deployment of the first grid connected 300 kW WaveRoller unit. The deployment, which has a one year test period, is scheduled for the summer of 2011.
"The key difference between the demonstration unit and commercial scale unit is the nominal capacity. The demo focuses on validating our results from the prototype testing, CFD simulations and tank testing." explains John Liljelund, the new CEO of AW-Energy. "After the demon
Waterix: Advanced Water Technology For Coke And Crabs
Do crabs and Coke have something together? Yes they do, both are fully en
joying the results of Waterix water technology. Finnish Waterix sells AIRIT aerators, MIXIT mixers and COOLIT process water coolers for municipal and industrial sewage treatment and process water cooling. In addition, Waterix is Finland’s largest manufacturer supplying aerators for natural bodies of water and market leader in waste stations' leachate water treatment.
Over 10 billion euros global aerator and cooler market has enjoyed even 10 per cent annual growth due to stricter environmental permits. The demand for COOLIT coolers increase, while it is not allowed to direct hot process water into the river flowing nearby. Waterix AIRIT aerators in turn, treat water by adding oxygen to water. The added oxygen starts the natural, biological cleaning process and bacteria split organic material into less harmful substances when bad odor or algae disappear in days.
Part 1: Finnish And Swedish Strongholds In Renewable Energy
Let's take a short overview on Nordic strongholds and current renewable energy promotion instruments in these countries. We are happy to start with Finland and Sweden, which have some similarities (and differences) together.
Over 60 per cent of Nordic electricity production and about one third of Finland's electricity generation is based on renewable energy sources: hydro, bio-fuels and wind. For next years, wind power is central growth area for Nordic countries to meet EU's goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. By now, wind power plants have been build mainly on coastlines. In the next phase, numerous wind power plants will be constructed offshoe. Hydropower is important as natural regulating power to wind generation in Nordic countries. Becouse wind speeds are not constant, regulating power is needed to compensate for fluctuation in wind power production. (Please look at Fortum's Technology Brochure)
