Timo Felin promoted to Partner at Vendep Capital

We’re pleased to share that Timo Felin has been promoted to Partner at Vendep Capital.

Timo joined Vendep to Fund II in 2017 as our first hire and an employee. Since then, he has been deeply involved in building Vendep into what it is today: a focused early-stage B2B SaaS investor in the Nordics and Baltics, now investing from our fourth fund. Over more than eight years, Timo’s role has grown alongside the firm, from building our brand and sourcing dealflow to leading investments, exits, and fund-level responsibilities.

From the very beginning, the bar was high.

“When Timo joined, we were extremely careful with hiring. We needed someone who could add value immediately,” says Sakari Pihlava, one of the founding partners at Vendep. “Timo stood out not just because of his network, but because of his entrepreneurial mindset and values. He had the competitive spirit and the long-term attitude we were looking for.”

Growing with Vendep

When Timo joined, Vendep Capital looked very different. Fund II had just been raised, the team was small, and much of our identity as a SaaS specialist was still being shaped.

“Back in 2017, Vendep wasn’t that well known as a SaaS investor,” Timo says. “We spent a lot of time sharing what we knew with the market, building credibility and making it clear what kind of partner we wanted to be for founders.”

Those early years included building our research efforts, community initiatives, and brand in parallel with investment work. Over time, Timo took on increasing responsibility across investments, portfolio support, and fundraising. By Fund III, he was already leading deals independently and involved in exit processes.

Trust was built step by step.

“There are no shortcuts to becoming a partner. You have to be there through fundraising, investments, difficult decisions, and long-term work with companies,” Sakari says. “Timo earned that trust by consistently taking responsibility and thinking about Vendep as something he is building, not just working for.”

“Timo earned that trust by consistently taking responsibility and thinking about Vendep as something he is building, not just working for.”

Perspective shaped by change

Timo’s journey as an investor has unfolded during a period of major change in B2B SaaS and venture capital.

“In 2017, SaaS itself was still the story in B2B. Today, almost all software is SaaS, and AI has changed the pace completely,” Timo says. “The ability to respond to real customer pain and deliver value fast matters more than ever. A good plan executed today beats a perfect plan executed next week.”

“A good plan executed today beats a perfect plan executed next week.”

This perspective has shaped his work with our portfolio companies, where he is known for spending time deep in the details with founders, from product and go-to-market to team dynamics and execution speed.

“It’s not about occasional board meetings,” Timo says. “It’s ongoing work. Understanding how a business really works and helping founders discern what great looks like.”

What the promotion means

As Partner, Timo becomes a full member of the partnership, with equal responsibility in investment decisions, fundraising, and the long-term development of Vendep.

“We expect Timo to participate in fundraising and decision-making just like the rest of us,” Sakari says. “That is what partnership means here.”

For Timo, the promotion is both a milestone and a starting point.

“When I joined in 2017, becoming a partner was the long-term goal. Now it feels like the beginning of a new chapter,” Timo says. “I’m grateful for the trust from the other partners and excited to work even more closely with the team, our founders and LPs.”

“I’m grateful for the trust from the other partners and excited to work even more closely with the team, our founders and LPs.”

Looking ahead, Timo sees the current moment as a clear inflection point for venture and B2B software, where the speed of building and the ambition of founders are reshaping what’s possible.

“What excites me most is seeing how our portfolio teams turn that pace of change into durable, long-term businesses,” Timo says.

With this promotion, we reinforce our long-term approach to building Vendep from within and ensuring continuity across funds, partnerships, and relationships with founders and investors alike.

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