The Jyväskylä Business Rally Investor Day celebrated its 10th anniversary on 31st July 2025 with a dynamic mix of startup pitches, investor networking, and international collaboration. Held at the scenic Sataman Viilu, overlooking Lake Jyväsjärvi, the invitation-only event once again brought together founders, angel investors, venture capitalists, and ecosystem builders from across Europe.
The day opened with greetings from Deputy Mayor of Jyväskylä, who highlighted how the Business Rally has evolved from a local experiment into a truly international platform. In his words, the event is not just about startups and capital, but about building “a bridge between Jyväskylä’s innovative spirit and Europe’s investment community.” The Deputy Mayor emphasized that Jyväskylä is strategically positioning itself as a hub for clean energy,
cybersecurity, and smart mobility solutions, while staying rooted in the region’s traditional strengths of education, sports science, and wellbeing. His remarks set a clear tone: the city wants to remain a testbed where global ideas meet local resources and expertise.
The event was co-hosted by the City of Jyväskylä’s Business Development Services and Startup Factory (Yritystehdas), in collaboration with EBAN (European Business Angels Network), FiBAN (Finnish Business Angels Network), and Cefmof (Central Finland Mobility Foundation).
Three keynote addresses shaped the intellectual backbone of the program:
Candace Johnson (President Emeritus, EBAN) drew on decades of experience in venture building and angel investing. She encouraged startups to think globally from day one, while reminding investors of the importance of patient capital in sectors like deep tech and hydrogen.
Haruka Arai (Executive Director, Cefmof) stressed the importance of mobility and sustainable transitions, positioning Central Finland as a test region for smart mobility solutions that can later scale across Europe.
Elina Koivumäki (Chair of the Board, FiBAN) delivered one of the most practical sessions of the day, offering a presentation on how to give and receive feedback effectively and linking it to leadership in early-stage companies. Drawing on her legal and boardroom background, she reminded founders that investment is not just about funding—it is also about being coachable, building resilient teams, and creating cultures where constructive feedback is a growth tool rather than a threat. Her session resonated strongly with both startups and investors, as it underscored the “human capital” dimension of growth that is often overlooked in pitch decks.
The pitching startups: eight bold visions
Eight carefully selected startups took to the stage, representing diverse sectors but united by a focus on technology-driven transformation:
1. PowerUp Energy Technologies (Estonia) – Hydrogen fuel cell generators designed for defense, industrial, and off-grid applications.
2. Blocksport (Switzerland) – A sports-tech platform enabling fan engagement, tokenization, and monetization for clubs and athletes.
3. ReCatalyst (Slovenia) – Developers of next-generation catalysts for PEM fuel cells, critical for hydrogen mobility and energy storage.
4. Coeur-Net (France) – Cybersecurity startup focused on secure networking solutions and data integrity.
5. EOD (Finland) – Finnish engineering innovation presented with an emphasis on industrial
reliability and applied research.
6. Cetrium (Finland) – Developers of hydrogen “energy containers” for safe, long-term storage and distribution of renewable energy.
7. eWatt Smart Power Systems (Finland) – Smart energy infrastructure company tackling
efficiency, load management, and local grids.
8. Sala Secure (Finland) – Security technology firm strengthening digital and physical safeguards for critical operations.
Each pitch was limited in time but followed by probing questions from the jury, which tested not only the technology readiness but also the business models, scalability, and team dynamics.
The jury and evaluation
The jury was chaired by Candace Johnson, with participation from Haruka Arai, Elina Koivumäki, and other European investment leaders like Jesper Jarlbæk. Their feedback highlighted a few consistent criteria:
A clear market entry strategy and understanding of customer pain points.
Evidence of traction or pilot projects, especially in energy and security sectors.
A credible team that demonstrates both technical skill and openness to investor guidance.
A well-defined investment “asks” that reflects realistic milestones.
The winners
At the end of the day, three startups were honored:
Blocksport (Switzerland) and PowerUp Energy Technologies (Estonia) were both awarded
tickets to the European Angel Investment Summit (EAIS) in Brussels (October 28–29, 2025). The jury praised Blocksport for standing out in its niche and PowerUp for addressing critical global challenges in reliable hydrogen energy.
Cetrium (Finland) received the Cefmof Award, which includes a two-year incubation program at Jyväskylä’s Startup Factory. This recognition reflects Cetrium’s strong fit with local ecosystem goals around carbon neutrality and sustainable energy innovation.These dual prizes capture the essence of Investor Day: global exposure through European networks and local acceleration through Jyväskylä’s startup infrastructure.
Networking and rally spirit
Networking was a central part of the Investor Day experience. Beyond the formal pitches and panels, the event offered ample opportunities for meaningful conversations during coffee breaks, lunch, and informal gatherings. These moments allowed founders, investors, and ecosystem builders to exchange ideas, explore collaboration opportunities, and build valuable connections in a relaxed setting. Many participants highlighted that these interactions were just as impactful as the stage sessions, fostering the kind of trust and dialogue that drive long-term partnerships. Beyond the formal program, Investor Day retained its unique atmosphere by blending business with rally culture
Reflections on ten years
Now in its 10th year, Jyväskylä Business Rally Investor Day has established itself as more than a pitching event. It is a platform for dialogue between startups and investors, a launchpad for scaling technologies across Europe, and a symbol of Jyväskylä’s international positioning as a city of innovation. What make it distinctive is not just the startups on stage, but the ecosystem around them from the city’s business services to its incubators, angel networks, and global partners. As one investor commented during coffee breaks, “This is a place where you actually see collaboration in action local roots, but European reach.”
The 2025 Investor Day showed that Jyväskylä’s innovation engine is far from slowing down. With hydrogen, cybersecurity, and sports-tech solutions leading the way, and with a decade of momentum behind it, the Business Rally Investor Day is set to remain a flagship for both Finland and Europe in the years to come.
Text: Saad Saqib
Photos: Richard Roos
