19.8.2020

Finnish Industry Investment – Investment in Varjo

We advised Finnish Industry Investment Tesi in their investment in the virtual/mixed reality company Varjo Technologies Oy. Varjo, the leader in industrial-grade VR/XR hardware and software, closed a round of Series C funding worth 46 million euros. Tesi, NordicNinja, and Swisscanto Invest by Zürcher Kantonalbank are among the new investors contributing to the round, in addition to follow-on investment participation from existing investors including Lifeline Ventures, Atomico, EQT Ventures and Volvo Cars Tech Fund.

Based in Helsinki, Varjo is creating the world’s most advanced VR/XR hardware and software for industrial use, merging the real and virtual worlds seamlessly together in human-eye resolution.

Finnish Industry Investment Tesi, is a state-owned investment company that wants to raise Finland to the front ranks of renewing economic growth by investing in funds and directly in companies. Tesi invests profitably and responsibly, hand-in-hand with co-investors, to create the world’s new success stories. The investments managed by Tesi total 1.3 billion euros.

Latest references

We advised the lead investor Inventure on the seed funding round of Hamina Wireless. Superhero Capital and First Fellow participated in the round as co-investors. Hamina Wireless, founded in 2021, provides tools for fast and simple wireless network design. The platform offered by the company is equipped with tools that aid in the creation of wireless networks, inclusive of Wi-Fi 6E and CBRS. It also includes automation tools for the design of switching, cabling, and IDFs/MDFs. This platform enables design engineers to construct networks that ensure optimal coverage and overlap, minimal interference, maximum capacity, and seamless roaming. Inventure is an early-stage VC investor that that been in venture with over 90 companies ranging from deep tech to consumer internet brands, including Wolt, Swappie, Stravito and Jobbatical. With its EUR 377 million of assets under management, Inventure focuses on Seed and Series A investments across Nordics and Baltics, with offices in Helsinki and Stockholm.
Case published 18.7.2025
We advised Nevel Oy in its acquisition of the business of Labio Oy. Lahti Aqua Oy and Salpakierto Oy sold their entire shareholdings in Labio to Nevel, expanding Nevel’s already significant biogas portfolio. The transaction will have no impact on Lahti Aqua’s water utility operations or Salpakierto’s municipal waste management responsibilities. Labio’s operations and customer relationships will continue as before. ‘This partnership is a natural next step for us as we continue investing in sustainable material efficiency and renewable energy solutions. By integrating Labio’s comprehensive offerings and expertise, we can provide customers with a strong platform for material circularity. We are also strengthening our market position as one of Finland’s leading material efficiency solution providers,’ says Ville Koikkalainen, Director of Industrial and Biogas Business at Nevel. Nevel is an energy infrastructure company offering advanced, climate-positive solutions for industry and real estate. It operates more than 130 energy production plants and manages over 40 district heating networks. Nevel’s annual turnover is EUR 150 million, and it employs 190 experts in Finland, Sweden and Estonia.
Case published 16.7.2025
The Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) issued a significant precedent (decision KHO:2025:23) in a case in which it found that the Finnish Motor Insurers’ Centre (Liikennevakuutuskeskus, LVK) processed patient data in accordance with the requirements concerning fairness, data minimisation, and privacy by design and by default when deciding on compensation claims. We represented LVK in this case in which the SAC upheld the Administrative Court’s decision to repeal the EUR 52,000 administrative fine imposed on LVK by the Sanctions Board of the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman. The SAC also confirmed the Administrative Court’s decision, which, as far as we know, was the first of its kind in Finland, ordering the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman to reimburse some of our client’s legal costs. The decision bears great significance for the insurance industry as a whole. The crux of the matter were LVK’s information requests under the Motor Liability Insurance Act for patient data that were essential in determining insurance or compensation claims. In certain cases, making a decision may require extensive patient data. The Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman had found that LVK had systematically made overly broad information requests infringing Articles 5 and 25 of the GDPR and that the information should have been provided in the form of separate medical opinions. The Administrative Court repealed the Data Protection Ombudsman’s decision and found that patient records from medical appointments are, as a general rule, essential in establishing causality in compensation matters. It also stated that the tasks related to the consideration of compensation matters are specifically the core tasks of the insurance company and not of the controller of patient data. Furthermore, the Administrative Court found no evidence indicating that LVK would have systematically made overly broad information requests. ‘Once again, our collaboration with C&S was seamless throughout this extensive process, and we could trust that our case was in expert hands’, says Visa Kronbäck, Chief Legal Officer of the Insurance Centre. The full decision is available on the SAC website (in Finnish):  KHO:2025:23.
Case published 18.6.2025
We advised the Ilkka Paananen Foundation on a legal review relating to the use of a chatbot system utilising generative artificial intelligence.  The AI system provides conversational support to young people experiencing mental health issues and various life crises.  Our advice covered the AI Act, which regulates advanced AI systems, as well as data protection and other relevant local legislation.
Case published 16.6.2025