As we step into 2025, we at FiBAN look back with pride and excitement at the progress made in 2024 and eagerly anticipate what’s ahead in this milestone year—our 15th anniversary. The year 2024 was nothing short of transformative as we worked hard to modernize our systems, processes, practices, and how we work, and also, to improve our member services and key numbers.

FiBAN reached unprecedented milestones, as highlighted in our 2024 Achievements Article, with over 1,000 startup applications and nearly 90 new angel investors joining our growing community. But while numbers tell part of the story, it’s the collective passion and dedication of our members that shape angel investing.

Looking Back: FiBAN’s Journey to 15 Years of Impact

FiBAN’s story began in 2010, from a conversation at Istanbul Airport between Juha Kurkinen and Ari Korhonen. They envisioned a collaborative network to unify Finland’s angel investors and support early-stage startups. From our first meeting in Helsinki’s World Trade Center with 18 founding members, we have grown into one of Europe’s leading angel networks, with over 650 active investors today. Along the way, we’ve established key partnerships, launched pioneering programs like the Nordic Angel Program, and celebrated impactful exits that shaped Finland’s entrepreneurial landscape. Read more about FiBAN’s past 10 years. We’ll publish an updated history page later this year.

Highlights for 2025: FiBAN’s 15th Anniversary Celebrations and Vision

1. FiBAN 15th Anniversary Gala

Mark your calendars for March 7th, 2025, as we gather at the Radisson Blue Plaza in Helsinki for our grand 15th Anniversary Gala. Get your tickets here. This event will bring together FiBAN legends, founders, and partners for a night of celebration and inspiration. Hosted by former FiBAN CEO Amel Gaily—a familiar face from the TV show Diili and the CEO of Cuckoo—the evening promises to be unforgettable. We will honor the contributions of our founders and other historical FIBAN characters and hear their insights on how angel investing has evolved over the past decade and a half. 

2. Launch of FiBAN’s New Member Portal

To enhance our members’ experience, we’re excited to announce the upcoming launch of our all-in-one member portal. This innovative platform will simplify member invoicing, centralize exclusive perks, and provide intuitive access to key resources. The portal represents a significant leap forward in how we support our angel investors, reflecting our commitment to innovation and operational excellence. If you’d like to test it among the first and give us feedback, please contact FIBAN’s Data Engineer Ivan Helin.

3. Strengthening Angel Investor Education: FiBAN Academy and Lead Investor Training

In 2024, we elevated FiBAN Academy by achieving certification status—solidifying its reputation as Finland’s premier angel investing training program. In 2025, we’re expanding this offering with the launch of Lead Investor Training, designed for experienced angels ready to lead syndicates and take on the exciting challenge of orchestrating collaborative investments. This new program supports our strategic focus on co-investing and leadership within the angel community. Find more details on our events page.

FiBAN’s 2025 Vision: Accelerating Growth and Collaboration

In line with our Strategy 2026, we’re committed to enhancing co-investment opportunities and deepening international collaboration. Here’s a glimpse into what’s to come:

Key Focus Areas for 2025

1. Member Empowerment and Growth

  • Monthly calls and regional angel meetings: Providing consistent opportunities for members to connect, share insights, do’s and dont’s, and co-investing practices.
  • Working groups and peer learning: Expanding hands-on participation through interactive working groups.

2. Enhanced Syndication & Peer-to-Peer Tools

  • Launching new templates and improved guidelines to streamline group investments and foster collaborative funding. Modernizing our deal flow with new tools, such as the member portal and Höpöhöpö.io, for more flexible, fast, and user-friendly co-investing.
  • Continuing to encourage our members to network, providing them with dozens of annual networking and meetup opportunities, and evolving FiBAN’s community channels on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Signal. Contact our team to

3. Strengthening Partnerships

  • Building stronger bridges with VCs, accelerators, and international angel networks to broaden deal flow and co-investment opportunities. 2024 showed us the way, and we established great partnerships that have already led to significant startup deals. This is the way to continue forward!
  • Continuing our role as a trusted, research-based voice in Finland’s startup ecosystem by developing data-driven insights fostering transparency, and joining forces with other institutions for more united startup data.

4. Supporting Startups with Improved Services

  • Monthly Startup Clinics: Providing regular mentoring opportunities for startups in collaboration with key accelerator programs and partners.
  • Investor Matching Services: Expanding initiatives that connect startups with relevant investors to accelerate their growth journey.

5. Driving Diversity and Policy Engagement

  • Diversity-Focused Events in a Safe Environment: Hosting more inclusive events for founders and investors, designed in collaboration with key partners and continuing to foster our Notification Channel and Safe Space Practices in our Events.
  • Ethics and Policy Influence: Continuing our active role in the startup ethics committee, offering data-driven insights and recommendations to inform policy-making and support ethical investment practices.

The Next 15 Years of FiBAN?

As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, it’s natural to ask: where will FiBAN be in 15 years? Here’s how we see the future unfolding. And remember, as a member, you can have an active role in shaping the future of FIBAN through working groups.

  • AI and stronger data-driven operations: co-investment and startup assessment possibilities driven by modern solutions. 
  • More Connected Investors and Founders: Imagine monthly startup clinics evolving into full mentorship ecosystems where angels, founders, and corporate partners collaborate and help one another. Keep an eye out for our monthly startup clinics, which will continue this Spring.
  • Policy Shaping Institution: As the role of private capital in national economic development grows, FiBAN will strengthen its role as a data drive organization for policy leaders, advising institutions, and political decision-makers with real-time investment data insights.

FiBAN will continue to thrive as a catalyst for early-stage startups, co-investing into the most prominent Finnish and New Nordic early-stage startups and an even more essential education hub for angel investors as we develop our certified angel training. 

As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, FiBAN remains dedicated to fostering an inclusive and vibrant investment community. For our members, we’d like to warmly thank you for your continued commitment and enthusiasm in startup investing impactful investments, inspiring partnerships, and shaping the future of early-stage investments and startups. See you at the gala in March!

Tiina Laisi-Puheloinen, CEO

Interested in joining FiBAN? Check out more information and jump on a call with Tiina!