Timo Ahopelto
InvestorFounderFounding Partner at Lifeline Ventures · Board director at Meru Health
Helsinki, Finland
Writes $660K – $1.3M checks · typically $990K
About
Timo Ahopelto is a serial tech entrepreneur who co-founded CRF Health (crfhealth.com) with two friends straight out of school around the turn of the millennium, building it into an international company. He now runs Lifeline Ventures, an early-stage venture fund in Helsinki, Finland, alongside partners Petteri Koponen, Juha Lindfors and Kai Backman. Lifeline invests very early — often before a startup has launched its first product — across sectors from casual games to oncology biotech, and by 2013 had backed around 30 companies including Supercell and ZenRobotics through a €30 million fund. Ahopelto is also the author of the novel Sand Hill Road, a loosely autobiographical account of international startup entrepreneurship that took him 14 months to write.
Invests in
Climate TechDeep TechGamingHardwareHealthtechSaaS
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Co-founded CRF Health with two friends straight out of school around the turn of the millennium. Co-founded and runs Lifeline Ventures, an early-stage venture fund in Helsinki.
- Hobbies
- Co-organized the World's Strongest Founder/Investor Competition at the Slush conference, where strength is measured by combined bench press and dead lift.
- More
- Wrote the novel Sand Hill Road, a loosely autobiographical tale of international startup entrepreneurship, which took him 14 months to complete.
From Timo's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Meru HealthYC S18
Intro paths
Timo went through Y Combinator (Summer 2018) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
In turn, Timo can intro founders to Meru Health's investors below.
Meru Health's investors · 9
Co-founders at Meru Health
Experience
- Lifeline VenturesFounding Partnercurrent2009 — presentHelsinki, Finland
- ŌURABoard Membercurrent2015 — presentHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- NokiaBoard Membercurrent2023 — presentEspoo, Uusimaa, Finland
- CanatuChairperson of the Boardcurrent2024 — present
- TILT Biotherapeutics LtdBoard Membercurrent2014 — present
- NorsepowerBoard Membercurrent2023 — present
- NorsepowerChairperson of the Board2013 — 2023
- Digital Workforce Services PlcBoard Member2022 — 2025Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- Digital Workforce Services PlcChairperson of the Board2016 — 2022Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- Solidium OyBoard Member and Deputy Chair2017 — 2025Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVABoard Member2015 — 2024Helsinki, Finland
- VeriBoard Member2020 — 2024Helsinki, Finland
- TietoEVRYBoard Member2017 — 2023Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- SlushChairperson of the Board2013 — 2023Helsinki, Finland
- Prodeko VenturesCo-founding Board Member2015 — 2021Helsinki
- The Curious AI CompanyChairperson of the Board2015 — 2021Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- Enevo Inc.Chairperson of the Board2012 — 2020Helsinki, Finland
- TrademarkNowBoard Member2014 — 2020Helsinki, Finland
- TekesBoard Member2014 — 2020Helsinki, Finland
- Wave VenturesFounding Chairperson2016 — 2018Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- Startup FoundationBoard Member2014 — 2017Helsinki, Finland
- ZenRoboticsBoard Member2011 — 2017Helsinki, Finland
- Oncos TherapeuticsBoard Member2009 — 2014Helsinki, FInland
- BlykHead of Strategy and Business Development2006 — 2009
- CRF HealthCo-founder and Founding CEO2000 — 2006
- McKinsey & CoConsultant1999 — 2000
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Education
- Teknillinen korkeakoulu-Tekniska högskolanMSc, Industrial Management1996 — 1999
- Reserviupseerikoulu - Reservofficersskolan - Reserve Officer SchoolLieutenant, Field Engineer1995 — 1996
Skills & more
+12 more
Cross-functional Team LeadershipGo-to-market StrategyInnovation ManagementMergers & AcquisitionsMobile DevicesMobile ApplicationsMarket AnalysisProduct ManagementTelecommunicationsProduct DevelopmentInternational BusinessStrategic PartnershipsFrom Timo's professional profile.
Investments
Board seats
Investor
Airstone LabsApplifierArcDiaEnevoGrand Cru GamesMoves appNonstop GamesSupercellValkee bright light headsetZenRobotics
Sources: SEC Form D filings · the investor's own website.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Timo Ahopelto"The World's Strongest Investor/Founder Competition 2012" - US Ambassador Bruce Oreck does 3 x 130kg
timomj
Colleagues at Lifeline Ventures
Network1
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Investors connected to Timo in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Timo Ahopelto?
- Timo Ahopelto is a serial tech entrepreneur who co-founded CRF Health (crfhealth.com) with two friends straight out of school around the turn of the millennium, building it into an international company. He now runs Lifeline Ventures, an early-stage venture fund in Helsinki, Finland, alongside partners Petteri Koponen, Juha Lindfors and Kai Backman. Lifeline invests very early — often before a startup has launched its first product — across sectors from casual games to oncology biotech, and by 2013 had backed around 30 companies including Supercell and ZenRobotics through a €30 million fund. Ahopelto is also the author of the novel Sand Hill Road, a loosely autobiographical account of international startup entrepreneurship that took him 14 months to write.
- Where does Timo Ahopelto work?
- Timo Ahopelto is Founding Partner at Lifeline Ventures and Board director at Meru Health.
- What does Timo Ahopelto invest in?
- Timo Ahopelto invests in Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Gaming, Hardware, Healthtech, SaaS.
- What check size does Timo Ahopelto write?
- Timo Ahopelto typically writes checks of $660K – $1.3M.
- What boards does Timo Ahopelto sit on?
- Timo Ahopelto holds tracked board seats at Meru Health.
- What companies has Timo Ahopelto invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Airstone Labs, Applifier, ArcDia, Enevo, Grand Cru Games, Moves app, Nonstop Games, Supercell, Valkee bright light headset, ZenRobotics.
- Where did Timo Ahopelto go to school?
- Timo Ahopelto studied at Teknillinen korkeakoulu-Tekniska högskolan (MSc, Industrial Management); Reserviupseerikoulu - Reservofficersskolan - Reserve Officer School (Lieutenant, Field Engineer).
Same school
Also attended Teknillinen korkeakoulu-Tekniska högskolan39
+ 33 more
Also attended Reserviupseerikoulu - Reservofficersskolan - Reserve Officer School6
Shared employers
Also worked at Nokia166
+ 160 more
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