Gaselli Fast Track for Verso

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Gaselli Fast Track for Verso Business
Acceleration to Silicon Valley
GASELLI BUSINESS ACCELERATION PROGRAM
your access node to a global network
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GASELLI BUSINESS ACCELERATION PROGRAM BACKGROUND

• FinNode USA (Finpro USA and Tekes jointly) did a
  thorough evaluation project in Fall 2008 of the
  market access challenges and in conjunction
  evaluated Silicon Valley service providers who
  could be best suitable for helping Finnish
  companies in their challenges.
• Here are some of the findings
• Market Access Problem
• Instruments and services isolated
• Technology push vs. market opportunity pull
  approach
• Lack of integrated but individually tailored
  process
• Finnish companies not spending enough time in
  market
• Poor understanding of market opportunity and
  planning
• Typical challenges for Finnish companies
• Poor planning
• Resource commitment (Financial and People) and
  Support
• Technology sales push vs. consultative marketing
  and sales
• Understand customer needs and then how product
  fit with needs
• Value proposition not clear
• Fit messages to audience
• Understanding of local business culture, market
  intelligence and ecosystems
• US has a specific culture in doing business
• Shot-gun approach
• Throw it out there and see what sticks

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GASELLI BUSINESS ACCELERATION PROGRAM BACKGROUND

• Based on these findings, we designed the Gaselli
  Business Acceleration Program.
• Gaselli Program will connect proven US service
  providers in the pre-marketing phase to the
  potential Finnish companies and their individual
  needs.
• Gaselli Program will pilot with selected Finnish
  companies.
• Gaselli Program accellerated US market entry
  process
• Selection/screening (1/09)
• Bootcamp in Finland (2/09)
• Preparation and planning in Finland (3/09)
• Sonoma Social Sauna (3/09) in conjunction
  with GDC, Web 2.0 Summit, CTIA
• PlugPlay internship (4/09-6/09) 1 month/3
  month
• FinNode/Finpro Bizdev (3/09-6/09)
• Silicon Valley Service Providers / various
  services (bizdev, pr, marketing, sales,
  operations, recruiting, legal, accounting, etc.)
  (4/09-6/09)

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GASELLI BUSINESS ACCELERATION PROGRAM FLOW
10 Companies _at_ PlugPlay 1 month during 01/09
06/09
5 Companies _at_ PlugPlay 3 months during 01/09
06/09 12/09
20 Companies
Growth Companies Pipeline
Preparation in Finland for pitching
OSKE
C 1
TEVE
company
Sonoma Social Sauna Activation/Networking
Camp In Sonoma, California. March 28-29/09
TEKES
Preparation and planning in Finland for Silicon
Valley (strategy, plan, Ecosystem, meetings,
etc.)
Plug Play Incubation
Plug Play Incubation
SP 1
VERSO
NIY
service provider
Bootcamp in Finland, Feb 24-25 / 09
Finpro
VC
TE Centers
Others
Company Specific Limited Service
Outside Services FinNode Services
Company Specific Extended Service
Outside Services FinNode Services
Pitch Biz Plan Screening with Plug Play
FinNode
Plan/Paper 1 evaluation By FinNode, Verso
Plug Play Expo 05/09 Pitching to VCs
01/09
03/09
12/09
06/09
02/09
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GASELLI BUSINESS ACCELERATION PROGRAM

• Gaselli Program accellerated US market entry
  process
• Selection/screening (1/09)
• Bootcamp in Finland (2/09)
• Preparation and planning in Finland (3/09)
• Sonoma Social Sauna (3/09) in conjunction
  with GDC, Web 2.0 Summit, CTIA
• PlugPlay internship (4/09-6/09) 1 month/3
  month
• FinNode/Finpro Bizdev (3/09-6/09)
• Silicon Valley Service Providers / various
  services (bizdev, pr, marketing, sales,
  operations, recruiting, legal, accounting, etc.)
  (4/09-6/09)
• Selection process (Jan 2009)
• FinNode together with Verso selects from Verso
  channel (but also others) 20 companies to Gaselli
  programs first phase Gaselli ICT Entrepreneur
  Bootcamp Silicon Valley
• Screening based on submission/interviews together
  with Bootcamp trainers/FinNode
• Gaselli ICT Entrepreneur Bootcamp Silicon Valley
  in Finland (Feb 24-25/09)
• 2 day bootcamp focusing on bizplan/valueprop/us
  markets/pitching
• Driven by Silicon Valley professionals with
  Nordic experience
• Hands-on non-academic

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GASELLI BUSINESS ACCELERATION PROGRAM

• Preparation and planning in Finland (3/09)
• Preparation for SV based on Bootcamp/learnings
• Working on valueprop/bizplan
• Preparing and setting up meetings
• Sonoma Social Sauna (3/09)
• Activation/networking camp in Sonoma (FAHA)
• 5 -10Finnish start-ups, 5 -10 US start-ups (from
  PlugPlay)
• Mobile/Social media/Richmedia/etc
• Silicon Valley key social media and Internet
  companies to provide platforms/bizdev support
• Mash-ups, trials, applications
• Get Fins embedded
• Freeform, some structured sessions (market
  opportunity, VCs)
• In conjunction with GDC (March 23-27/San
  Francisco), Web 2.0 Summit (March 31-April 3/San
  Francisco), CTIA Wireless(April 1-3/Las Vegas)

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GASELLI BUSINESS ACCELERATION PROGRAM

• PlugPlay internship (4/09-6/09-gt)
• 1 month/3 month internships _at_ PlugPlay
  incubation center
• Special deal/pilot through FinNode more
  services added from PlugPlay, FinNode/Finpro and
  local Silicon Valley service providers
  (customized)
• Value added services can be utilized since the
  company is in Silicon Valley the idea is to
  provide services customized to each company for
  better success
• Local presence for market assessment/business and
  to utilize the pre-work and contacts
• FinNode/Finpro Bizdev (3/09-6/09)
• These are customized (as described above) for
  each company
• 1-2 days/week
• Silicon Valley Service Providers (4/09-6/09)
• These are customized (as described above) for
  each company
• Separate pricing since needs/and services will
  vary
• FinNode has evaluated/certified Silicon Valley
  service providers to suggest based on the company
  needs
• Also based on the each companys financing
  situation
• Various services (bizdev, pr, marketing, sales,
  operations, recruiting, legal, accounting, etc.)

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Qs?
Tel [phone] pekka.parnanen_at_finpro.fi