Ilkka Paananen
InvestorFounderAdvisor at Lifeline Ventures · Founder at Supercell
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
FoundedSupercell
About
CEO of Supercell, a former Lifeline Ventures portfolio company, and a games entrepreneur with over a decade of experience scaling organizations. Before Supercell, he was President at Digital Chocolate, overseeing studios in Helsinki, Barcelona, and Silicon Valley.
Founder at Supercell
Intro paths
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In turn, Ilkka can intro founders to Supercell's investors below.
Supercell's investors · 9
Co-founders at Supercell
I
Ilkka
Experience
- mo.coBoard Advisor, Chaos Energy & Growth Riskscurrent2025 — presentParallel Worlds
- SupercellCEOcurrent2011 — present
- Aalto Venture GarageCoachcurrent2010 — present
- Digital ChocolatePresident2010
- Digital ChocolatePresident of Studios2006 — 2009
- Digital ChocolateManaging Director of Europe2004 — 2006
- SumeaCEO & co-founder2000 — 2004
Education
- Teknillinen korkeakoulu-Tekniska högskolanMaster of Science, Department of Industrial Management, Majoring in International Business Strategy1998 — 2009
Skills & more
Leadership66Management33Strategy36Mobile Games99Social Games99Start-ups99Entrepreneurship99Online Gaming60Venture Capital99Mobile Devices99Mobile Applications99Modeling10
+12 more
Game DevelopmentMobile MarketingStrategic PartnershipsBusiness StrategyVideo GamesProduct MarketingBusiness DevelopmentUser ExperienceE-commerceMobile InternetMobile TechnologyiPhoneFrom Ilkka's professional profile.
Colleagues at Lifeline Ventures
Elina Holkko
Partner and CFO at Lifeline Ventures
Juha Lindfors
Managing Partner at Lifeline Ventures
Jyri Engeström
Partner at Lifeline Ventures
Kai Backman
Partner at Lifeline Ventures
Laura Hyry
Finance Manager at Lifeline Ventures
Maija Muntila
Talent Lead at Lifeline Ventures
Miika Nikinmaa
Investor at Lifeline Ventures
Mohammad Zuhair Khan
Trainee / Data Engineer at Lifeline Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Ilkka Paananen?
- CEO of Supercell, a former Lifeline Ventures portfolio company, and a games entrepreneur with over a decade of experience scaling organizations. Before Supercell, he was President at Digital Chocolate, overseeing studios in Helsinki, Barcelona, and Silicon Valley.
- Where does Ilkka Paananen work?
- Ilkka Paananen is Founder of Supercell and Advisor at Lifeline Ventures.
- What companies did Ilkka Paananen found?
- Ilkka Paananen founded Supercell.
- Where did Ilkka Paananen go to school?
- Ilkka Paananen studied at Teknillinen korkeakoulu-Tekniska högskolan (Master of Science, Department of Industrial Management, Majoring in International Business Strategy).
Founder mafias
Teknillinen korkeakoulu-Tekniska högskolan mafia6
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Lifeline Ventures mafia3
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Teknillinen korkeakoulu-Tekniska högskolan39
Ralf WahlstenChairman at OpenOceanTimo AhopeltoSerial tech entrepreneur and early-stage investor running Lifeline VenturesPetteri KoponenFounding Partner at Lifeline VenturesIlkka KivimäkiFounding Partner & Advisor at Maki.vcPirkka PalomäkiFounding Partner at Maki.vcJussi SainiemiPartner at Voima Ventures
+ 33 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Supercell14
Neil RimerInvestor at Index VenturesPetteri KoponenFounding Partner at Lifeline VenturesEric LiawInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Emily TierneyTiny Comet at Roble VenturesDavid Lau-KeeGeneral Partner, Co-Founder at London Venture PartnersPaul GadiCo-Founder & CTO at OP GAMES
+ 8 more
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