Deep Tech Forge – How Ideas Are Shaped into Startups
Event information
Time
Fri 27.02.2026 14:00 - 16:00
Venue location
Stage, Tellus, Linnanmaa Campus
Location
Deep Tech Forge highlights the learning process behind innovation — the insights gained, the challenges faced, and the inspiration that sparks new paths forward. You’ll hear authentic experiences from academia, industry, and student entrepreneurship in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
What to expect:
- Personal stories from research, industry, and student entrepreneurship
- Practical insights into turning ideas into projects and opportunities
- A friendly space for discussion, networking, and inspiration
- Light refreshments will be available on site to keep the conversations flowing.
A Shared Theme: Connecting People, Spaces, and Ideas
From helping people navigate complex indoor spaces, to creating communities for innovation, to matching founders with future teammates, our speakers explore how technology, places, and people come together to turn ideas into action.
Together, their stories show how innovation is shaped not only by technology, but also by environments and human connections that spark learning and inspiration.
Confirmed speakers
Jaakko Suutala
Co-Founder of IndoorAtlas | Associate Professor, University of Oulu
Jaakko Suutala is an Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Oulu and a co-founder of IndoorAtlas, a deep tech company born from academic research. IndoorAtlas develops advanced indoor positioning technology that enables smartphones and devices to understand their location inside buildings where GPS does not work. Their solutions are used globally in applications such as indoor navigation, smart buildings, asset tracking, and location-based services.
Jaakko’s work bridges scientific research and real-world application. In his talk, he will share insights from his journey of transforming research into business and innovation at the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship.
Tatsuya Kondo
Takagi Building / BIRTH Lab (Japan)
Tatsuya Kondo represents Takagi Building Co., Ltd., a Tokyo-based company that has reimagined traditional real estate through its innovation brand BIRTH. Under BIRTH, Takagi Building goes beyond traditional real estate to cultivate spaces where entrepreneurs, creatives, and organizations connect, experiment, and grow together. BIRTH Lab operates as a co-working and event hub focused on community-driven innovation, collaboration, and global exchange.
Takagi Building collaborates with ecosystem partners such as BusinessOulu — for example co-organizing side events like the Dive into Finnish Life Style from Finnish Education event in Tokyo — and has hosted Japan-qualifying rounds of the Polar Bear Pitching Tokyo startup competition, working with BusinessOulu and others to bring global startup exchange opportunities to Japan. Rather than focusing only on buildings, Takagi Building creates community-driven spaces where entrepreneurs, creatives, and organizations can connect and collaborate.
Curtis Thomas
Student & Entrepreneur
Curtis Tuomas is a student entrepreneur and active member of Oulu’s startup ecosystem. He has been studying ICT at Oulu University of Applied Sciences and is deeply involved in local startup activities,. Curtis is working on ventures such as Trusted Cofounder, a platform intended to help founders connect with teammates and talent within the startup community, and previously has been involved in projects like MailSped, an AI-powered email assistant concept.
Curtis will share his personal journey into entrepreneurship, including practical experiences from community engagement and ecosystem programs, and his perspective on building connections between founders, talent, and opportunities.
He will share his own entrepreneurial journey and introduce the support available through Business Corner and StartupOulu — the local startup ecosystem that helps new businesses start, grow, and scale while strengthening Oulu’s position as a hub for technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Learn more about StartupOulu:
Who Should Attend?
- Students and researchers curious about entrepreneurship
- Aspiring founders and innovators
- Alumni and anyone excited to explore ideas, technology, and collaboration across borders
Join us – register now:
https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/9226E6F15144B164
Please sign up by 24.2.2026 at 9:00 AM.
Note: the programme may be updated.
This event is supported by the IKAPO project, co-funded by the European Union, the ELY Centre for North Ostrobothnia, and the University of Oulu, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, the University of Oulu Graduate School (UniOGS), in collaboration with StartupOulu and the University Innovation Centre.