As the summer is coming to an end, our summer trainees, Otto Silvennoinen and Tilda Laukia, reflect on their time with the Innovestor, sharing their key learnings and experiences from the last few months.
Applying real estate economics in the real world
Otto, who recently finished his bachelor’s degree in real estate economics at Aalto University, spent his summer getting hands-on with the world of asset management. Driven by a strong interest in real estate investment, ownership, and management, Otto sought out Innovestor for the opportunity to gain practical experience in the field.
“As an Asset Management Trainee, I supported our Asset Managers in various aspects of our investment products and ownership tasks,” Otto explains. The traineeship has offered Otto a nice blend of learning and real-world application “The most rewarding aspect of this traineeship has been the practical experience gained through the diverse projects I’ve had the opportunity to work on,” he says. “It has also been amazing to take on a lot of responsibility and independently lead projects from start to finish, which has been extremely inspiring and educational,” he shares.
One of Otto’s most memorable tasks was managing his own leasing cases and participating in contract negotiations—experiences that offered him invaluable insights into the real estate industry.
“The most valuable experience has been the opportunity to work closely with a small team, where I have gained deep insights into real estate investing and developed a comprehensive understanding of the responsibilities and demands of an asset manager,” he reflects.
His time at Innovestor has also broadened his perspective on the real estate industry.
“My time at Innovestor has definitely had a positive impact on my view of the real estate industry,” Otto notes, adding that he now sees many more career opportunities in the field than he did before. For future trainees, his advice is clear: “Approach tasks and challenges with an open mind. Real estate is a complex and expansive field, and it’s not necessary or even possible to know everything. Much of the learning comes from hands-on experience and overcoming challenges.”
A First step into VC
For Tilda, who has just graduated from high school and is about to start her bachelor’s degree in economics and finance in University of Pennsylvania, her time at Innovestor marked her first real experience in the world of venture capital. Working primarily with the Technology Fund and the Life Sciences Fund, Tilda was excitedto explore the landscape of start-ups across the Nordics and Baltics.
“I have enjoyed learning many new aspects of VC and the opportunity to research many interesting start-ups in the Nordics and Baltics,” she shares.
Despite her young age, Tilda was happy to be entrusted with responsibility, allowing her to develop a strong sense of independence.
“I’ve learned to take responsibility and work quite independently, which I consider to be a rare opportunity at my age,” she notes.
“Working in venture capital has been a very pleasant experience for me, and I will look for opportunities to continue learning and working in VC during and possibly after my studies,” Tilda adds.
Both Otto and Tilda highlighted the warm and supportive atmosphere at Innovestor. “The relationships I’ve built with my colleagues and the experiences of the summer will remain cherished memories,” Otto says. Tilda adds, “Innovestor has proved to be an amazing place for my summer internship, as it is filled with extremely friendly and hardworking employees.”
We’ve been thrilled to have Otto and Tilda as part of our team this summer and are pleased that Otto will continue with us as a trainee beyond the summer. We look forward to seeing where their careers take them and are confident they have bright futures ahead in their respective fields!