Aalto University’s Viima space buzzed with innovation and collaboration as nearly 70 students from various disciplines gathered for the PORT_2025 on 1-2 March 2025. Participants from all Aalto schools, including undergraduate and master’s students, as well as doctoral candidates, came together to develop solutions addressing two critical themes: enhancing human society with AI and accelerating the environmental transition.
Guided by the motto Where Ideas Set Sail, PORT_ was more than a traditional competition – it was a launchpad for transformative ideas. With a 2,000 EUR cash prize and opportunities to represent Aalto on the global stage, participants tackled real-world challenges with mentorship from industry experts.
The event featured keynote speeches from industry leaders, including Timo Korkeamäki (Dean, Aalto University School of Business), Tarun Sharma (COO, Nokia Ventures), Monika Liikamaa (Co-CEO, Enfuce), and Ohto Pentikäinen (CEO, Doublepoint). Lauri Löyttyniemi hosted the event, providing expert moderation to the keen participants throughout the weekend. Aalto’s vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem was also on display, with 16 partners representing their services and support available to students.
Each team had four minutes to pitch their ideas, followed by a four-minute Q&A session with an experienced jury consisting of: Monika Liikamaa (Co-CEO, Enfuce), Anu Honkalinna (Head of Spinoff Asset Management, Aalto University), Chandan Chatterjee (Vice Chairman and Board Member, Finland-India Business Association), and Heli Hidén (Senior Advisor, Economic Development, City of Espoo). The evaluation criteria included technical feasibility, market potential and scalability, team dynamics and competence, and risk assessment.
Kronos impressed the jury with their ultra-fast, photorealistic 3D reconstruction method using Gaussian splatting. Their live demo showcased video frames converted into smooth 3D models, earning them a spot to represent Aalto University in the Global Student Startup Competition in Seoul, South Korea, taking place in May 2025.
Team members: Juho-Matti Kilpeläinen, Otto Bäckman, Elias Simojoki, Eemil Ylä-Nikkilä, Robin Runne.
‘We had a great time tackling a problem and building our solution at PORT_, and we’re excited to represent Aalto in Seoul. Refining the little details late into the night was fun, and we’re looking forward to developing it further now, perhaps with a little more sleep,’ said Eemil Ylä-Nikkilä from team Kronos.
Mosaïc introduced an innovative infrared-blocking day curtain, providing accessible cooling solutions. Their success secured them a place at the Innova Europe Student Challenge in Berlin, Germany, later this autumn.
Team members: Vu Trang, Katerina Tchilinguirov, Meishan Lin, Kwan William, Radovan Lamac.
‘We owe it all to the PORT_2025 team and mentors for creating a space in which fast failure could flourish, helping us rapidly validate ideas through different disciplines and worldviews. PORT_ is truly a testament to the power of radical optimism and interdisciplinary teamwork,’ said Katerina Tchilinguirov from team Mosaïc.
Selected through a peer-review process using the Junction platform, LingoFlix won the 2,000 EUR cash prize for their AI-powered language learning tool. Their solution helps immigrants integrate into Finnish society through movie-based Finnish language learning with AI-powered subtitles.
Team members: Trang Nguyen, Châu Anh Hoàng, Duc Anh Nguyen, Rayeed Niaz Khan, Thanh Thao Nguyen.
For demonstrating true entrepreneurial spirit when her teammates dropped out at the last minute, Viivi-Olivia Vahteristo successfully presented her solution, YourMOM, which helps those living with roommates manage house chores more efficiently and enjoyably. Impressed by her determination and mindset, Monika Liikamaa (Co-CEO, Enfuce) personally offered her 20 hours of mentoring and support for her future endeavours.
Beyond the lucrative prizes, the event provided a platform for learning, networking, and real-world problem-solving. Participants highlighted mentorship, teamwork, and hands-on prototyping as key takeaways. When asked what aspects of the event they found most valuable, one attendee shared, ‘’Serious mentors and visitors! Felt like the real deal!’’, while another noted, ‘’The pitches and listening to other people’s ideas! It was a great learning experience!’’
With PORT_2025 successfully setting sail, the momentum does not end here. All participants are encouraged to continue refining their ideas with ongoing mentorship and support. The goal remains clear: to transform bold concepts into real-world innovations that shape the future.
’Organising something for the first time is always difficult, but this one was made easier by the overwhelmingly positive support from the entire Aalto entrepreneurial ecosystem, who dedicated their weekend to creating something unique. From the 16 mentors to the 4 jury members, to the ecosystem partners, our colleagues and volunteers, and, of course, all our student participants, everyone played a crucial role in making PORT_ such a success. The vision behind PORT is to ensure that these ideas and individuals continue to develop and receive support from the vibrant ecosystem to hopefully bring their concepts to fruition. So, in some ways, the most exciting things may still be yet to come’’ says Apurva Ganoo (Lecturer, Entrepreneurship, Aalto University School of Business).
The competition was organised by Aalto University’s Entrepreneurship Unit (ENTU), Aalto Design Factory, Aaltoes, and Junction, with generous sponsorship from Good Guys Kombucha, Fat Lizard, and Oddly Good, ensuring participants had the energy to push their ideas forward.
A special thanks also goes out to all our ecosystem partners: Kiuas, Slush, City of Espoo, MIMIR, Sampo Accelerator, Startup Sauna, Strive for Startups, Aalto University Startup Center, Silta, Ignite by Aaltoes, Aalto University Innovation Services, Aaltoes, Junction, Aalto Design Factory, and Maria 01.
