From University Startup to Nokia Exit: How a Founder Turned VC Is Backing the Next Wave of Innovation | Sami Niemi Partner at Spintop Ventures

From founder to VC. I recently sat down with Sami Niemi, who built and exited his startup to Nokia and is now on the other side of the table as a partner at Spintop Ventures, a Swedish VC.Sami started his company while at university and saw campus less as a classroom and more as a talent pool. He’d attend lectures, observe who asked the sharpest questions, and recruit them. A smart way to finding great people.We talked about his journey as a founder, the lessons that shaped his success, and what he now looks for in companies. Sami once took a reference call with a founder’s mum, listen to the pod to hear why.A delightfully insightful (and fun) conversation on building, backing, and spotting potential early.Claudine Ang is a former London Corporate Finance/M&A/Technology lawyer with a passion for innovation. Her podcast features candid, in-depth conversations with innovators, exploring transformative ideas and enterprises, and the individuals behind them.Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode:🎙️ Follow the podcast so you never miss a conversation.💼 Connect with me, Claudine Ang, on LinkedIn for more insights, conversations, and behind-the-scenes content from fearless innovators: https://tr.ee/uSX6ws📩 Subscribe to our socials and the newsletter for the key takeaways from every episode: https://linktr.ee/decodedlabcoIf you found this episode valuable, please share it with someone in your network who would enjoy it too.