Will Cardwell
InvestorManaging Partner at Courage Ventures Funds · Partner at Open Circle Capital
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
About
Will Cardwell is a partner at venture capital funds Courage Ventures in Finland and Open Circle Capital in Lithuania, and serves as a Professor of Practice at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. He previously founded and directed the Aalto Center for Entrepreneurship and managed Technopolis Ventures, Finland's largest technology incubator. His background includes roles as a venture capitalist, investment banker, startup CEO, and researcher across Finnish and European technology sectors over more than 15 years.
Contact· published on Will's own website
Experience
- UNC Kenan-Flagler Business SchoolProfessor of Practicecurrent2016 — presentChapel Hill, North Carolina
- Courage Ventures FundsPartnercurrent2016 — presentHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- University of HelsinkiInnovationcurrent2026 — presentHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- Metl VenturesManaging Partnercurrent2026 — present
- Helsinki Innovation Services LtdMember, Advisory Boardcurrent2024 — presentHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- WRC Investment Holding OyOwnercurrent2017 — presentHelsinki Metropolitan Area
- Open Circle CapitalPartnercurrent2017 — presentLithuania
- HELBUS Helsinki School of BusinessLecturercurrent2017 — presentHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- HUOLETI OyExecutive Chairmancurrent2018 — presentTampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland
- Wellness FoundryBoard Membercurrent2016 — presentHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- xEduMember Board Of Directorscurrent2015 — presentHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- TreamerBoard member and advisorcurrent2016 — presentHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- Aalto University Executive Education (Aalto EE)Senior Advisor and Lecturercurrent2013 — presentFinland
- Fast MonkeysSenior Advisor2014 — 2025Espoo, Finland
- IroFitAdvisor2013 — 2025Kuopio, Finland
- Aalto UniversityMentor, Aalto Ventures Program2011 — 2025Finland
- Aalto UniversityHead, Aalto University Center for Entrepreneurship2010 — 2012Espoo, Finland
- NS Sports ManagementChairman2006 — 2025Finland
- Courage Ventures OyPartner2014 — 2018Espoo, Finland
- Leia MediaAdvisor2013 — 2016Espoo, Finland
- Aalto UniversitySenior Advisor, Global Alliances2012 — 2013Finland
- GeisterZähmer LtdMember of the Board2010 — 2013Finland
- Aalto Venture GarageAdvisory Board Member2010 — 2012Espoo, Finland
- Finnish Mobile AssociationBoard Member2009 — 2012Finland
- Technopolis VenturesMember of Board2010 — 2011Finland
- TEKELBoard Member2010
- Otaniemi MarketingBoard Member2009 — 2010
- Center for Internet ExcellenceBoard of Advisors2009 — 2010Oulu, Finland
- Technopolis Ventures Ltd.CEO2008 — 2010
- TIVIT (Strategic Center for Science, Technology and Innovation in ICT)Board Member2009 — 2010Espoo, Finland
- American Chamber of Commerce in FinlandBoard Member2005 — 2010Helsinki, Finland
- Valimo WirelessBoard Member2001 — 2010Helsinki, Finland
- Valimo WirelessCEO2005 — 2007Helsinki, Finland
- Conor Venture PartnersVenture Partner2007 — 2008Espoo, Finland
- Smartner Information Systems (Acquired by Seven Networks)Board Member2001 — 2004Helsinki Finland
- FRENDS TechnologyBoard Member2001 — 2003Vantaa, Finland
- Eqvitec PartnersPartner2000 — 2003Helsinki, Finland
- Eqvitec AdvisorsManaging Director and Co-founder1998 — 1999Helsinki, Finland
- LTT Research LtdDirector, Finance Institute1996 — 1998Helsinki, Finland
- United Guaranty CorporationRisk and Pricing Analyst1987 — 1991Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point Area
Skills & more
Management82Strategy99Negotiation8Strategic Planning9Venture Capital99Mergers and Acquisitions14Corporate Finance99Private Equity99Mobile Applications99Start-up Operations30Investments34Start-ups99
+12 more
EntrepreneurshipBusiness DevelopmentMergersBusiness PlanningMergers & AcquisitionsExecutive ManagementRecruitingAngel InvestingSellingmergers and acquisitionsBusiness StrategyPartnershipsLanguages English · Finnish
From Will's professional profile.
Colleagues at Courage Ventures Funds
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Will Cardwell?
- Will Cardwell is a partner at venture capital funds Courage Ventures in Finland and Open Circle Capital in Lithuania, and serves as a Professor of Practice at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. He previously founded and directed the Aalto Center for Entrepreneurship and managed Technopolis Ventures, Finland's largest technology incubator. His background includes roles as a venture capitalist, investment banker, startup CEO, and researcher across Finnish and European technology sectors over more than 15 years.
- Where does Will Cardwell work?
- Will Cardwell is Managing Partner at Courage Ventures Funds.
- Where did Will Cardwell go to school?
- Will Cardwell studied at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School (AllButDissertation, Financial Economics); Teknillinen korkeakoulu-Tekniska högskolan (PostGraduate Studies, Venture Capital); Helsingin kauppakorkeakoulu (MBA, Finance).
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