New CEO boosts the company's venture capital and growth entrepreneurship know-how As of the beginning of March, William Cardwell, B.Sc., MBA will take over as CEO of Technopolis Ventures Oy. Cardwell is currently serving as Partner for Conor Venture Partners. Technopolis Ventures is a wholly owned subsidiary of Technopolis Group specializing in business development and technology incubation services. Cardwell has a strong background in management, venture capital and investment banking, as well as research. His posts have included work as CEO of the software company Valimo Wireless, as well as posts with the VC Eqvitec Partners and the Helsinki School of Economics. Cardwell, who is an American, has lived in Finland since 1996. Technopolis Group CEO Pertti Huuskonen says that Cardwell will significantly enhance the entire Group's growth strategy with respect to rapidly growing technology companies, in addition to adding significant value to the development of the Technopolis concept. "We're thrilled to have been able to attract a world-class professional like Will Cardwell to this job", says Huuskonen. Technopolis Ventures is Finland's largest business development and technology incubation chain. Its Chairman, Keith Silverang, says Cardwell will bring world-class know-how to the company and its customers. "Cardwell has 15 years' experience working as a VC and with start-ups. He also has direct contacts with international risk financers, corporations and other partners and customers. Will is just the right person to lead Technopolis Ventures at just the right time", says Silverang. "Will has what it takes to push Technopolis Ventures to the next level as a world-class start-up developer, and since the financing of both technology incubators and hi-tech start-ups is evolving toward an increasingly market-driven model in Finland, the timing for this move couldn't be better", says Silverang. Cardwell himself emphasizes that Technopolis Ventures' most important task is to help companies develop, grow and internationalize rapidly. "We still have work to do in optimizing our service range for this mission and our aim will be to refine our services to meet the changing needs of our customers and markets", says Cardwell. Cardwell wants in particular to underline the importance of matching growth companies with VCs and enhancing the attractiveness of clients in the eyes of risk investors. The current CEO of the Technopolis Ventures Group, Martti Elsilä, will carry on as CEO of Technopolis Ventures Oulutech, in addition to managing Technopolis Ventures' relationships with public sector financers, as well as the integration of new business units on a national basis. For more information: Technopolis Plc, Keith Silverang, +358 40 566 7785 William Cardwell, +358 40 514 1325 Technopolis Ventures Oy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Technopolis Group. The company is Finland's largest provider of business development and incubation services for technology and knowledge-based growth companies. Over 180 clients participate in the company's development programs in the Capital Area, Tampere, Oulu, Jyväskylä and Lappeenranta. Technopolis Ventures works in close cooperation with its partners to find and develop world-class business ideas and supports young growth companies from start-up to growth and internationalization. www.technopolisventures.fi In terms of the number of customer companies, Technopolis Plc is one of Europe's largest technology centers. The Technopolis Group is Finland's largest specialized provider of operating environments for high tech companies, and it offers a comprehensive service package combining modern premises and business and development services. Technopolis operates or is building technology centers in Espoo, Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta, Oulu, Tampere and Vantaa in Finland, and in St. Petersburg in Russia. www.technopolis.fi