28 Feb Tech Nordic Advocates: February News & Plans
Hello Advocates, Partners and Friends,
Welcome to the February newsletter, dedicated to our migration to Profinda – our new Global Tech Advocates collaboration platform, super interesting working group developments, new and existing partner news and forthcoming events:
Have you accepted your registration to join Profinda – our new global collaboration platform?
All Advocates have automatically been migrated to ProFinda. However, you must accept the registration sent to you in 8 February email from ProFinda to activate your email. Once registered, use ProFinda to connect and collaborate with Advocates and Partners from our global family Global Tech Advocates – the world’s only global tech leader network. See also links to TNA Partner websites. Any questions, see the question mark top right of ProFinda.
Latest from the Working Groups
Smart City/IOT Working Group
Smart City/IOT Working Group Survey
As mentioned in the January newsletter, the Smart City/IOT Working Group, chaired by Michael Ferm, Head of Global Public Lighting, of TNA partner Zumtobel Group, recently launched a survey to ask Working Group members what they would like to get out of the Smart City/IOT Working Group in 2017, to ensure that the Working Group focuses on key Advocate and Partner priorities. The response rate has been pleasingly high. Thank you to all who responded to the survey. The key findings are:
Q:1 What would you like to get out of the TNA Working Group
A1: 1) Networking 2) Discuss emerging trends and opportunity areas AND Identify new upcoming technologies (equal) 3) Find potential customers/clients 4) Find potential partners AND Participate in innovation projects (equal)
Q2:What smart city/IOT topics are you interested in discussing/working on?
A2: 1) IOT 2) Open partnerships 3) Commercialization of solutions 4) Collaboration with startups 5) Smart mobility
Q3: What Smart City/IOT themes are you interested in discussing/working on?
A3: 1) Smart City/IOT as a service 2) Innovation and pan-Nordic/Baltic collaboration 3) Emerging trends and opportunity areas AND smart city as a business model (equal) 4) Nordic/Baltic startup ecosystems.
Smarter Cities NOW: A Sustainable Urban Development Forum and UK/Nordic Collaboration
If you’re interested in the above issues, and want to join the UK/Nordic ‘Sharing Cities’ Smart City Sustainable Urban Development & Collaboration Forum, don’t miss the kick off event in London 12/13 April, hosted by Ravensbourne, in partnership with the TNA and TLA Smart City/IOT Working Groups, TNA partners Zumtobel and Bloxhub (see below), and many other partners. The aim of the forum is to bring together leading sustainable urban development thinkers and do’ers from the UK and Nordics, who share an appetite to share expertise and experience, and identify new collaboration projects and smart city solutions, to be developed through a Startup Challenge, between the 12/13 April London event and the follow-up event at Bloxhub in Copenhagen 11-12 October. Programme details and registrations here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
eHealth/Welfare Tech Working Group
The eHealth/Welfare tech working group will be at the Medico Bazaar at DTU in Copenhagen on 8 March 2017. Interested in eHealth/Welfare Tech? Come and explore the super opportunities for networking and pitching for all across the ecosystem, including startups – and chat to us at the TNA stand.
Welcome to new National Tech Hub Partner – Lift99
We are excited to be able to announce our partnership with leading Estonian startup community heart Lift99 (formerly Garage48 Hub). If you’re in Tallinn, swing past awesome Lift99 and tell Susanne Org, Lift99 Manager, that you’re a TNAer.
Welcome to new partner BLOXHUB
We are very excited to welcome new TNA partner BLOXHUB – an innovation and growth hub that contributes to sustainable urbanization globally by bridging architecture, design, construction and digitalization. With a co-working space in central Copenhagen, BLOXHUB has created an innovative environment with programmes and initiatives carefully designed to unlock the full potential of businesses, create growth and thereby, help cities flourish. The initiatives include accelerator programmes, matchmaking with partners and funds, debates, lectures, state-of-the-union-mapping, pitching-sessions and collaboration between researchers and businesses. On example is Match Co-Create – a programme that facilitates fast track ideation and conceptualization for companies, organizations etc sharing a joint interest in developing and maturing a new business idea.
Latest from other Partners
Gillamor Stephens
Says Paul Gilespie, Partner, Gillamor Stephens: “A busy start to 2017 with Mr Trump and Brexit seeming to have no effect on business – so far. Nordic companies are still looking to come to the UK with us working with companies from Sweden (hiring a CEO) and Finland (hiring a VP Sales) to open or expand their operations in the UK. The same is true for Nordic companies going straight to the US, with our Boston office working with a Swedish company to hire a VP US Sales. We have just signed up as TNA Partner for for Latitude 59 (Tallinn) and Arctic 15 (Helsinki) – both excellent Nordic events and well worth attending, but book quickly or there will be nowhere to stay! I will be speaking at Arctic 15 ‘HR and Recruitment’ stream – looking forward to it.”
Invesdor
Prominent Finnish business leader Mika Ihamuotila invests in Invesdor:
https://home.invesdor.com/en/
- 5 tips on pitching from Pitching Guru Annette Kramer https://home.invesdor.com/en/
blog/2017/2/23/5-tips-on- pitching-from-pitching-guru- annette-kramer - 5 things startups should know before entering a corporate accelerator https://home.invesdor.com/en/
blog/2017/2/17/5-things- startups-should-know- corporate-accelerators - How good are returns from equity crowdfunding? https://home.invesdor.com/en/
blog/2017/2/24/how-good-are- returns-from-equity- crowdfunding
Goodwille Ltd. would like to share the following with Advocates and Partners operating in the UK:
Salary Sacrifice
From 6 April 2017, changing legislation means that tax exemptions for most benefits will be lost if provided under a salary sacrifice or flexible benefits arrangement. The only benefits to retain their salary sacrifice tax exemption will be Pensions, Childcare Vouchers, Cycle to Work scheme bicycles and Low Carbon Emission vehicles. This means that Employers will need to look at how they offer benefits such as Private Medical Schemes where perhaps family members are added via salary sacrifice, Gym memberships, Season Ticket Loans to name a few. Arrangements entered into pre 6 April 2017 will be honoured until April 2018 or until the scheme/arrangement renewal date – whichever date is earliest.
Apprenticeships
A hot topic currently is Apprenticeships. From 6 April 2017, the way the UK government funds apprenticeships in England is changing. Some employers will be required to contribute to a new Apprenticeship Levy, and there will be changes to the funding for apprenticeship training for all employers. All employers operating in the UK, with a pay bill over £3 million each year, will be required to invest in apprenticeships, regardless of whether they hire apprentices or not. This means that for those Companies who do qualify to pay the Levy, they will be required to use the Apprenticeship Service for assessment and training of apprentices from April 2017. For those Companies who do not qualify for payment of the Levy, they will not need to use the Apprenticeship Service until 2018.
Advocates and Partners may contact Anni or Jacqui in Goodwille’s HR Team: hr.support@goodwille.com with any questions.
For details on how to become a TNA partner and key business benefits, see:
http://www.
Recent events
Oslo FinTech Fest – 9 February – Oslo – Norway
On 9 February 2017, Oslo FinTech gathered the Nordic FinTech Community at OsloFinTech Fest in Oslo. It was a super event which, amongst many other interesting elements, sparked a lively debate amongst the leaders of the leading nordic fintech hubs, Nordic Innovation, ICT Norway, TNA Founder and Chair, Jeanette Carlsson and other thought leaders on what the Nordics offer the global fintech community.
Tech Chill – 9 – 10 February – Riga – Latvia
On 9th and 10th February, Riga hosted Tech Nordic Advocates‘ partner event Tech Chill – which brought together startups, entrepreneurs, challengers and curious minds from the Baltics and beyond.
Forthcoming events
Smarter Cities NOW: A Sustainable Urban Development Forum – 12-13 April – London
Interested in smart city and sustainable urban development? Looking for partners for a projet or solution? Come meet other thinkers and do’ers from the UK and Nordics, and kick off work on collaborative work and smart solutions at the Start-up Challenge at the kick-off event at Ravensbourne, London 12-13 April with follow-up event 11-12 October at BLOXHUB, Copenhagen. For programme and tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
Arctic15 – 3-5 May – Helsinki – Finland
On 3-5 May, Helsinki hosts Arctic15 – the leading Nordic and Baltic startup event, which gathers 300+ investors, 450+ startups and 150+ corporates for high quality networking, pitching and deal making. Once again, the name of the game will be “Deal Room” – a unique matchmaking solution that makes it easy & efficient for startups to meet as many relevant investors or potential clients as possible. Come hear Paul Gillespie, Founder and Partner of TNA Partner Gillamor Stephens and TNA Founder & Chair Jeanette Carlsson speak. For access to exclusive TNA discount on tickets. Email: info@technordicadvocates.org.
Latitude59 – 25-26 May – Tallinn – Estonia
In Tallinn 25-26 May? Why not come along to TNA partner event Latitude59 the Estonian flagship startup & tech event of the world’s first digital society. For exclusive 20% discount on tickets for TNAers, email: info@technordicadvocates.org.
Money 20/20 Europe – 26-28 June – Copenhagen – Denmark
On 26-28 June, Copenhagen, once again, hosts Money 20/20 Europe – the European arm of the world’s largest payment and financial services event. As in 2016, TNA are media partners, offering Advocates €200 off the standard ticket price. For more info, email: info@
For other TNA and Partner events planned for Spring 2017, see the Event page on the TNA website
Help us grow Tech Nordic Advocates and the Nordic and Baltic Tech Sector
Help us grow further by recommending your senior tech network to: info@technordicadvocates.
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Stay tuned for more exciting news in March