About
Meri Helleranta is a partner at Metl Ventures, where she invests in health companies across Northern Europe with a focus on the Indian market, alongside roles on the EISMEA Investment Jury and the University of Helsinki's Commercialization Advisory Board. She spent 14 years at the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank managing global health investments, including designing child health and early childhood development programs in Haiti and Nicaragua, and serving as an expert member on EU food quality and safety policy. Helleranta holds advanced degrees in clinical nutrition, public health, business administration, and a Ph.D. in cardiovascular epidemiology, with published research in peer-reviewed journals including The Lancet and Circulation.
Experience
- Metl VenturesPartnercurrent2026 — present
- European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)European Innovation Council Investment Jurycurrent2025 — present
- University of HelsinkiMember of the Commercialisation Advisory Boardcurrent2024 — present
- International Women's Forum, IWF FinlandMembercurrent2023 — present
- Alma AngelsAngel Investorcurrent2022 — present
- PortfoliaLimited Partnercurrent2020 — present
- Courage Ventures FundsPartnercurrent2021 — presentHelsinki Metropolitan Area
- EIC Scaling ClubMentor2024 — 2026Europe
- Hack Fund VLimited Partner / Advisor for Impact2019 — 2025
- EBAN - European Business Angels NetworkImpact Investment Committee Member2019 — 2024
- Finnish Business Angels Network (FiBAN)Investor2018 — 2024
- Rising Tide EuropeLimited Partner - Business Angel2018 — 2022
- NFBAN - Nordic Female Business Angel NetworkBoard Member2018 — 2019Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- Work AheadAdvisor2018 — 2019Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- Suomen Kulttuurirahasto / Finnish Cultural FoundationVuosisadan Rakentajat Business Development Coach2018
- University of HelsinkiHelsinki Challenge Business Development Coach2017 — 2018Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- Inter-American Development BankSocial Development Specialist, Managua, Nicaragua2013 — 2017
- Inter-American Development BankSocial Protection Specialist in Port-au-Prince, Haiti2010 — 2013
- Inter-American Development BankSocial Development Specialist2006 — 2010Washington DC-Baltimore Area
- The World BankConsultant2006
Education
- Henley Business SchoolMaster of Business Administration - MBA, Thesis on Artificial Intelligence and Inclusive Leadership2020 — 2023
- University of Eastern FinlandPh.D., Epidemiology and public health1999 — 2002
- University of Eastern FinlandMaster of Public Health (MPH), International Public Health2000 — 2001
- University of Eastern FinlandMaster of Health Sciences, Clinical Nutrition1995 — 2000
Skills & more
Capacity Building25Strategic Planning1Latin America3International Development19International Relations9NGOs12Program Evaluation10Stata1Policy Analysis19Social Change8Public Health1Public Policy6
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EconomicsProgram ManagementResearchStakeholder EngagementPolicyQualitative ResearchSustainabilityProject ManagementLanguages English · Finnish · French · Spanish
- Certified in Project Procurement — Inter-American Development Bank
- Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN) — University of Eastern Finland
- Certified Board Member / HHJ- Hyväksytty Hallituksen Jäsen — Tampereen kauppakamari
From Meri's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended Henley Business School33
John HortonInvestor at DN CapitalIrene ArdenstedtInvestor at Luminar VenturesCharles VasletSenior Partner, Chief Revenue Officer at Emerald Technology Ventures AgSanne van ErpInvestment manager at NoaberKieran MudryyPartner at 4BIO CapitalDavid LeftleyCo Founder & CTO at Bloc Ventures
+ 27 more
Also attended University of Eastern Finland2
Shared employers
Also worked at Metl Ventures1
Also worked at European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)23
Tanya HorowitzPartner at Butterfly VenturesFrancisco VelázquezChairman and Managing Partner at Axon Partners GroupRicardo TorgalGeneral Partner and CFO at Indico Capital PartnersJan PalasinskiInvestment Partner at Future Energy VenturesCaritta SeppäInvestment Manager at Spintop VenturesJillian ManusManaging Partner at Structure Capital
+ 17 more
Also worked at Courage Ventures Funds2
Also worked at EBAN - European Business Angels Network11
Andreas LindblomManaging Partner at ScietyIvar SiimarPartner at Trind VenturesClaire MunckManaging Partner at ScaleFundMartijn BlomAdvisor at SatganaJacek BłońskiManaging Partner at Aper VenturesNatalia CostanzoInvestor at Angels4Women
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