William Cardwell is an experienced venture capitalist, educator, and consultant with a strong background in technology investment and entrepreneurship. His significant contributions include founding and leading the Aalto Center for Entrepreneurship from 2010 til 2014 and serving as CEO of Finland's largest technology incubator at the time, Technopolis Ventures. He currently serves as a general partner at Courage Ventures in Finland, as well as at and Open Circle Capital in Lithuania, with focus areas in software and deep tech. He is also a Professor of Practice at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches entrepreneurship, venture capital and mergers and acquisitions to executives. He has provided consultancy services in Europe, the US, and Africa, with a particular focus on startup investment and fundraising strategies, lean startup methodologies, and innovation ecosystem development.
Mark Crowell is a creative and proven thought-leader in innovation transfer and commercialisation with an extensive track record in leveraging institutional research and innovation capacities in biopharma and technology to drive translational partnerships and business development. Mark currently serves as Professor of the Practice of Innovation at Eshelman Innovation at UNC-Chapel Hill. He has led six innovation transfer and industry engagement organisations (including at Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Virginia and KAUST). Mark has also been instrumental in the creation of regional, national and international initiatives and networks, throughout the US and globally, driving innovation-based economic development. Additionally, he has managed novel innovation partnerships, including working with World Bank and other innovation catalysts throughout the US, Saudi Arabia, and Europe. Mark is a former President of AUTM, the international technology transfer professional association, and a recipient of the Bayh-Dole Award, AUTM’s highest honor, for significant contributions to academic technology transfer.
Support in building an active network worldwide
The new Advisory Board will support the CEO and the management team of Helsinki Innovation Services Ltd in building a global network with industry, investors, and other stakeholders. It will provide current knowledge, strategic thinking, feedback, and analysis to facilitate decision-making.
"It’s truly a pleasure to welcome such highly experienced and global professionals who will support our management team in its strategic goal towards world-class research commercialisation services. Our company is looking at new approaches to better serve our research community and to create increased impact from commercialisation," says Marko Hakovirta, CEO of Helsinki Innovation Services Ltd.
Further information:
Marketing and Communications, Helsinki Innovation Services Ltd, Harriet Haras, +358 40 482 4324, harriet.haras@helsinki.fi