The Finnish Business Angels Network (FiBAN) has appointed Milja Mäkelä as its new COO (Chief Operating Officer). This is a brand-new role at FiBAN, designed to strengthen the strategic renewal that began last year.
“FiBAN is one of Europe’s leading angel investor networks, and to stay ahead, we need to continuously evolve our operations, priorities, and day-to-day work. We’ve revamped job descriptions across our team to ensure we deliver maximum value to our members, partners, and the startups seeking funding,” emphasizes FiBAN’s CEO, Tiina Laisi-Puheloinen.
From Films and Startups to Finance
Milja Mäkelä, who joined FiBAN in 2022, previously served as the Communications Manager. She brings a diverse background to the team, including experience as a startup co-founder, and CMO, and roles in communication and marketing across sectors such as pharmaceuticals, film, and culture. “Milja’s professional skills and her experience in the startup world make her an excellent fit for the role of COO at FiBAN,” adds Laisi-Puheloinen.
“I’ve picked up various tools along the way, whether from my time as an entrepreneur or from having done marketing and communications for global brands and creative projects. That being said, I can thrive even in quite opposing environments. My entrepreneurial background has been especially useful at FiBAN, as we work with ambitious, entrepreneurially minded individuals. The work is very much like a startup—always developing and evolving. That’s who I am as a person too, entrepreneurial at heart,” Mäkelä says, describing her background.
People-Centric Approach to Business
Mäkelä holds a Master of Arts degree in Media Studies. She describes herself as a bit of an odd bird in the startup scene but sees her generalist background as a significant strength. “At the end of the day, business is about relationships between people, and those relationships are rarely straightforward. As our investors often say, the team is the most important factor. You could say that the barriers to and solutions for growth in companies often come down to people, not just technology,” Mäkelä notes.
When it comes to investing, she currently favors fund investing.
“I regularly invest in funds and occasionally in stocks, but I’ve also bought shares in a private company through an equity crowdfunding campaign. That purchase has already proven to be a good investment, as the company is now going public,” she explains.
Mäkelä is keeping an eye out for making her first angel investment. However, she plans to first take advantage of FiBAN’s angel investor training.
“I’ve come across countless amazing companies through FiBAN’s deal flow, and many have left a strong impression. I believe it’s just a matter of time before I make my first angel investment. But first, I want to complete FiBAN’s angel training and earn my angel investor certificate, so I feel more confident when making that first investment,” she adds. Read more about FiBAN’s certified angel training.
Break the ice with Milja
- Master of Arts from the University of Turku, majoring in Media Studies with minors in Musicology and Psychology.
- Passionate about music: She’s a recording artist with three full-length albums.
- Learning the Greek Language slowly but surely.
- Proud owner of perhaps the world’s smallest dachshund, Sisu.
- Connect with her on LinkedIn.