Start-Logs: The End for the Very First Bootcamp

Four weeks ago, 14 teams with business ideas were offered a chance to participate in the first bootcamp organized by Aalto Venture Garage and to learn more about what are the key ingredients of successful startups and about what makes the business world tick. After the four weeks and several lectures, keynotes, networking events and group work sessions the very first bootcamp has come to an end.

During the camp, some of Finland’s most experienced entrepreneurs have taught us a lot about the life of growth entrepreneurs, the venture capital, business ideas, legal issues and the elements making up a decent business. Experienced entrepreneurs have coached us in refining our ideas and in finding the best ways to make the most out of them. This process and the contacts acquired during the camp have been of great help in developing our ideas and in planning out our next steps.

I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the coaches of the camp. You have been both instructive and inspirational. The same goes for the keynote speakers and lecturers of the camp and last, but not least, to the people behind the ventures garage and  AaltoES. Without your work there would have been no bootcamp.

We are all aware of the work load that lies ahead of us. For the campers the path ahead is paved by hard work, challenges, opportunities, disappointments and joy. For the AaltoES, ventures garage and future bootcamps there remains the challenges of finding the best new teams and ideas, developing the bootcamp concept further and making it flourish.

I hope that this bootcamp was the first of many and that the camps to follow will successfully continue the effort to offer a platform for researchers and entrepreneurs to network and unite their forces in shaping out the future of AaltoES, Aalto University, Finland and the rest of the world as well.

Thank you all and good luck!

- Jani Oksanen, Thermophotonic Heat Pump
Winner of BootCamp