From Singapore to Helsinki: Arvin’s Takeaways from Founders to Finland

Finland’s capital, Helsinki, is a city celebrated for its innovation, sustainability, and strong business community. It was in this dynamic environment that Arvin Tang, Managing Director of AKIN, took part in the prestigious Founders to Finland—a unique initiative designed to immerse select entrepreneurs in Finland’s thriving ecosystem.

Through connecting with Venture capital firms with a focus in the Nordics, participants gained invaluable insights into European markets, exploring Finland’s distinctive approach to business and innovation. In this interview, Arvin shares his motivations for joining the programme, his experience navigating the rigorous selection process, and how these lessons will shape AKIN’s strategic growth across the European Union and beyond.

Interview Feature

Q: What inspired you to participate in the Founders to Finland?

The decision to join the Founders to Finland was motivated by the opportunity to immerse AKIN in Helsinki’s dynamic startup ecosystem. I looked forward to gaining critical insights into European markets, especially in harnessing Finland's innovative business practices and commitment to sustainability. Personally, I was enthusiastic about exploring collaborations that could propel AKIN's global growth and strategic development and reconnecting with our clients based in EU.

Q: Can you describe the selection process and your experience as one of the participants?

The selection process for Founders to Finland was both humbling and enlightening. As one of the selected participants, I was intrigued by the opportunity to explore the Nordic region, which is not as commonly explored, both in my professional experience and personal travels. Through discussions with my business network, I learned that Nordic countries like Finland are known for their unique socio-cultural norms, which contribute to the success of both major corporations like Kone and IKEA and innovative startups such as Supermetrics and Supercell.

I wanted to leverage AKIN's expertise in go-to-market strategies and explore synergies with European growth companies looking to penetrate the APAC market. The Founders to Finland opportunity offered a unique platform to glean insights on possible go-to-market strategies and get connected across the e vibrant European startup ecosystem, aligning AKIN’s aspirations with the innovative spirit and sustainable values synonymous with Finland.

Q: How do you envision AKIN integrating into Helsinki’s business ecosystem?

By connecting with the startup ecosystem such as Maria 01 gave an in-depth look at Helsinki’s business ecosystem, known for its collaborative and approachable environment. Helsinki is often humorously referred to as a "big country club," where networking and collaboration are remarkably accessible—a sentiment I found to be quite true. From meeting with key figures such as the mayor, local entrepreneurs, VCs (including those focused on green and blue initiatives), and agency leaders, every interaction underscored the city's ethos of trust and community.?

This experience highlighted the city's strong culture of trust and community. By building on these relationships and insights, AKIN has aligned values and interests to integrate smoothly into this ecosystem. The goal is to leverage the connections and knowledge gained to strategically position AKIN within the EU market, seeking collaborations that support our growth and align with our commitment to innovation.

Q: Are there particular aspects of AKIN's services or approach that the programme can amplify or enhance, further distinguishing us from competitors?

I saw an opportunity to leverage AKIN's strengths in go-to-market (GTM) strategies. The goal was to explore how this could enhance our strategies through insights gained and to identify synergies that would enable us to create value with European growth companies looking to penetrate the APAC market, and vice versa. Through this initiative, it provided a platform to refine our approach, amplify our competitive edge, and solidify our position as innovators in the global marketplace.

Q: How will this initiative translate into tangible benefits for clients and enhance AKIN’s value proposition?

We got to speak to our European-based clients and explore how AKIN can value creation through our suite of consultancy and solutions. It's been enlightening to discuss how our methodologies and strategic imperatives can augment GTM efforts in EMEA and North America. Our approach has proven impactful across Southeast Asia, where local socio-cultural influences require tailored strategies beyond vernacular language adaptation. These strategies encompass growth mechanics and nuanced market strategies to address firmographic differences in the B2B sector.

Similarly, the diverse consumer behaviours across Europe—from Spain to Germany—and even the distinct City brand associations in cities like Paris and Zurich mirror the need for localised strategies. This understanding positions AKIN to deliver tailored solutions that resonate with our clients' target markets, ensuring consistent product-market fit and enhancing overall client satisfaction.

Q: How do you envision translating this advancement into benefits and opportunities for the internal team to ensure they are empowered and motivated to drive AKIN's growth and success??

We've already initiated discussions and involved team members with diverse interests, particularly in exploring GenAI and new go-to-market (GTM) opportunities between the EU and SEA regions. At AKIN, we view these efforts as more than business development—they’re collaborative opportunities for our team members to contribute to our transformative journey. We began our focus on sustainability in the Green and Blue sectors with key engagements in Helsinki, connecting with investors, startups, and corporations to drive change.?

With a presence across Southeast Asia and growing connections in Europe, AKIN is positioned to lead the charge in connecting businesses between the EU and APAC regions. Our participation in the Founders to Finland programme not only underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainability but also aligns with our broader purpose of creating meaningful impact through our work.

At the heart of this purpose is our dedication to using our expertise for more than just business success. As a recipient of the Champion of Good award from the NVPC, we are recognised for making a positive societal impact. This is reflected in collaborations with multiple organisations, where we empower local marketers through knowledge-sharing. Read more about AKIN’s corporate purpose here.

Interested in collaborating with us? We’re always looking for like-minded partners to drive impactful change. Get in touch with us at [email protected] to explore collaboration opportunities and see how we can work together to create meaningful impact.