#65 From founder to investor: Ilkka Kivimäki on lessons learned and future bets

Ilkka Kivimäki built and sold a company to SAP, was the first investor and chairman of Wolt, and now runs a 260M€ seed fund. We sat down to discuss everything from startup investing and growth to quantum computing and food innovation.

Learn more:

https://maki.vc/

https://generogrowth.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilkkak1/

(0:00) Introduction

(0:31) Building a company during the dot‑com crash and exiting to SAP

(6:35) Finland’s startup ecosystem

(13:00) Becoming an investor and Wolt’s success

(18:00) Starting Maki.vc and investing in 50+ startups

(23:20) Quantum computing

(30:25) Robotics and autonomy

(35:55) Innovations in food and material sciences

(43:30) Lessons from startups and investing