Where does Timo Ahopelto work?

Timo Ahopelto is Founding Partner at Lifeline Ventures and Board director at Meru Health.

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.

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).

Timo Ahopelto

Investor

Founding Partner at Lifeline Ventures · Board director at Meru Health

Helsinki, Finland

Writes $660K – $1.3M checks · typically $990K

Find your path to Timo

239 people in our graph share verified history with Timo — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Pirkka PalomäkiunlockedTimo: together at Enevo Inc. (2014–2017)

Timo: together at Enevo Inc.

Timo: together at Prodeko Ventures

×2Timo: together at Startup Foundation

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.

Contact· published on Timo's own website

timo@lifelineventures.com

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 Health YC S18

Intro paths

Meru Health went through Y Combinator (Summer 2018) — Timo sits on its board, so any YC alum in your network can reach them through the company's founders.

→

In turn, Timo can intro founders to Meru Health's investors below.

Meru Health's investors · 10

Blue Haven Initiative Bold Capital PartnersSanta Monica · since 2021 FoundersX VenturesSilicon Valley FoundryBoulder · $250K – $15M checks Industry VenturesSan Francisco · $250K – $50M checks · since 2021 IT-Farm CorporationTokyo Leksell Social VenturesStockholm · $1M checks · since 2021 Lifeline VenturesHelsinki · since 2020 Tamarisc Ventures Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2018

Co-founders at Meru Health

Kristian RantaCEO

Riku LindholmCo-founder and COO

Albert NazanderFounder/CTO

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

Skills & more

Management7Leadership9Strategy45Entrepreneur1Venture Capital63Start-ups98Business Strategy58New Business Development30Entrepreneurship99Business Development38Angel Investing2Business Modeling2

+12 more

Cross-functional Team LeadershipGo-to-market StrategyInnovation ManagementMergers & AcquisitionsMobile DevicesMobile ApplicationsMarket AnalysisProduct ManagementTelecommunicationsProduct DevelopmentInternational BusinessStrategic Partnerships

From Timo's professional profile.

Investments

Board seats

Meru Health

Investor

Airstone LabsApplifierArcDia ArcticinstAREX MarketsElea & LiliEnevo Flow AIGrand Cru GamesHumanchargerHuuvaMoves appNonstop GamesP2X SolutionsRealm Technologies OySolu Steady Energy Supercell TiltbioValkee bright light headsetVeriZenRobotics

Sources: SEC Form D filings · the investor's own website · curated public sources.

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

Elina Holkko

Partner and CFO at Lifeline Ventures

Gaetan Bouilliez

General Partner at Lifeline Ventures

Ilkka Paananen

Advisor at Lifeline Ventures

Juha Lindfors

Managing Partner at Lifeline Ventures

Jyri Engeström

Partner at Lifeline Ventures

Kumar Doraiswami

Investor at Tribeca Early Stage Partners

Laura Hyry

Finance Manager at Lifeline Ventures

Maija Muntila

Talent Lead at Lifeline Ventures

Network1

Adam Valkin

Investment Team at General Catalyst

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, Arcticinst, AREX Markets, Elea & Lili, Enevo, Flow AI, Grand Cru Games, Humancharger, Huuva, Moves app, and 10 more.
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).
What podcasts and interviews feature Timo Ahopelto?: Tracked appearances include ""The World's Strongest Investor/Founder Competition 2012" - US Ambassador Bruce Oreck does 3 x 130kg".