Underrated places, impactful startups and ice hockey history

Congratulations to Spinnova! TIME Magazine has named the startup’s textile fibre the Best Sustainable Fashion Innovation of 2022. The fibre (of the same name) uses 99 per cent less water than cotton production and is made without harmful chemicals. It has already been used by big fashion brands such as Adidas and Marimekko. 

Riikka Sallinen has made history by becoming the first European woman enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Athletic called Sallinen to talk about her incredible journey and a career that spanned three decades. “When I first got the (call), it was unreal,” Sallinen told the website. “It’s the greatest honour a hockey player can get from their career.” 

If you are looking for jaw-dropping restaurant experiences, look no further. Fodors has listed 14 restaurants with the most dramatic views and picked Hotel Punkaharju among them. As one of the oldest hotels in Finland, the place has fairytale charm and offers “a rooftop dining experience, with sweeping views of Finland’s dense forests and Lake Saimaa”. 

Algorithmiq has big plans. The Helsinki-based quantum computing startup “hopes its technology will revolutionise the way we develop new drugs to combat disease”, writes Forbes. The magazine talked with CEO and co-founder Sabrina Maniscalco about quantum advantage and Algorithmiq’s new partnership with IBM. 

It’s that time of the year again when tech conference Slush takes over Helsinki. It’s a student-organised event with many of its alumni now making a splash in Finnish tech startups and investment firms. Sifted has highlighted 21 of them, starting from Wolt founder Miki Kuusi. 

Ever heard of Nellim or Lake Inari? If not, make a note of the names as CNN Travel has named the duo, located in Finnish Lapland, among the most underrated places in Europe: “The area around Nellim and Lake Inari is remote and wild, perfect for kayaking, camping and swimming. The fall colours here are some of the most stunning in the world.” 

Riina Laaksonen founded postnatal wellness programme Nordic Fit Mama to help women to recover from diastasis recti. The digital service has now launched in the UK, and Laaksonen was invited to share her story with Women’s Health. 

Electric vehicle charging company Kempower has signed a significant deal in Australia. According to The Driven, Kempower will deliver over 50 ultra-rapid chargers to the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia. Furthermore, Kempower is eyeing the US market, with plans to kick off sales there in late 2023, writes BNN Bloomberg.

PocketGamer visited Supercell’s headquarters in Helsinki and met with Frank Keienburg, game lead for Brawl Stars. He shared his views on the future of mobile games and Finland’s influence on Supercell’s company culture. 

Children of Bodom are one the best-known Finnish metal bands. Now the band are expanding beyond music and fulfilling their dream of opening a bar-and-sauna complex in their home town of Espoo. BraveWords has the details on the venue launch.