Announcing: The Burning Platform Expedition!

Travelling Salesman by Kristoffer

The Travelling Salesman project is inviting people everywhere to join together and help save ex-Nokians. And a chance to get into the StartupSauna programme!

The Burning Platform

We are on the road again with our mission of encouraging technology entrepreneurship and sharing stories from people we find. The twist this summer is related to the dramatic news from Nokia about mass layoffs and the closing down of several locations. But, while this is surely bad news for everyone, it is also a massive opportunity to strike out into new territories and give birth to new startups and entrepreneurs. The Travelling Salesman project will be there to help.

Mike Bradshaw and I (Kristoffer Lawson) will be hauling the famous 1.7 tonne authentic Palosauna trailer sauna (ie. the burning platform!) to every location in Finland with a Nokia office, or where one existed. We will be holding outdoor sessions with advice and stories from ourselves, and from other entrepreneurs, on the ups and downs to setting a company. We'll also be collecting ideas and pitches from budding entrepreneurs — particularly those from Nokia. The sauna will be heating up, so discussion, networking and brainstorming can continue in border-burning temperatures.

Best of all, the very best pitches or ideas from the whole tour will get directly into one of the StartupSauna warmup events to pitch — with coaching included! StartupSauna, born out of the Aalto Entrepreneurship Society, is Finland's most well known startup incubation programme, and has successfully made a name for itself throughout the whole Baltic and Nordic region.

Mike @ymb Bradshaw

Kristoffer @Setok Lawson

Everyone can take part in this great cause. We are looking for companies wanting to get involved with helping ex-Nokia folk (either in entrepreneurship, recruitment, or otherwise), and have sponsorship packages that range from startup-level to main expedition sponsor — get in touch with Kristoffer at setok@holvi.com to do that.

But as the trip is currently seriously underfunded, we are offering everyone the chance to support this project, and the chance to get Nokians into entrepreneurship. We really need your help, or the trip will end up being cancelled. So go directly to our Holvi shop and, if nothing else, buy us a donut. Every single bit helps.

The expedition starts on the 23rd of July, from Ruoholahti, and ends on the 31st of July, in Espoo. Full calendar coming up soon.

It's Heating Up for Nokians

Kristoffer "Travelling Salesman" Lawson

Find out who else has helped make the adventures possible by visiting the collaborators page

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