NEXT

Ulla Engestrom is the founder and CEO of ThingLink, the provider of in-image interactive tools, which enable anyone to transform static images into a navigational surface for exploring rich, relevant content from other websites and social platforms.

Since its launch in 2009, Ulla has been responsible for the company’s strategic vision and business development, fundraising, key recruitments and account management. Under her direction, Thinglink has gained more than 3000 publishers, with companies such as Atlantic Records using the platform as a promotional tool for its artists.

In addition to Thinglink, Ulla is co-founder of alternative online travel agency, Nopsa Travels; a shareholder in the Finnish cross-media brand Koto Living and a board member of Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk Foundation, which maintains a collection of several thousand objects and works of art by designers Tapio Wirkkala and Rut Bryk. At Nopsa Travel Ulla co-created the service concept, managed product development and raised seed funding. Previously, Ulla was the CEO of Social Objects Oy, a Helsinki-based social media incubator, where she managed development projects and consulted design companies in building their social media strategy.

As well as being a serial entrepreneur, Ulla has studied for a PHD at the University of Helsinki where the idea of Thinglink was first conceived. She has spent time living in Spain, the UK and US, but as a Helsinki-native now lives and works there at the company's headquarters.