Annu Nieminen

Founder & CEO

The Upright Project

Artificial Intelligence

Climate Tech

Growth & Investment

About Me

Annu Nieminen is the Founder & CEO of The Upright Project, a Helsinki-based data company behind the leading model for quantifying the true impacts that companies have on their surrounding world. Upright hosts the world’s largest open-access database on company impact, freely sharing science-based data on 10,000+ companies and 50,000+ funds. Its proprietary data model leverages large language model technologies to analyse 300+ million scientific publications and identify causal links between products and their impacts, resulting in clear net impact profiles for companies and funds. Named an Innovator Under 35 by MIT Technology Review and Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 at the Nordic Women in Tech Awards, Nieminen is an engineer by training. Before founding Upright, she worked at McKinsey & Company and served as CEO of the Finnish scale-up initiative Kasvuryhmä.

Hear My Insights

The Deliberate Algorithm: Choosing AI's Ethical Path

History has taught us that technological advancement doesn't always guarantee positive change. Balancing profit with purpose – and cultivating a conscientious approach to development and deployment – is crucial. This session confronts the ethical choices shaping AI's trajectory. How can we ensure AI serves humanity's best interests? How can we identify and prioritize applications that address pressing challenges, not theoretical possibilities? And where do we draw the line on AI’s capabilities? Three experts weigh in.

Navigating Growth in a Shifting Investment Landscape

From the post-pandemic highs to a global cooldown driven by rising interest rates and cautious investors, the startup funding landscape has been a rollercoaster. While past strategies may no longer hold value, a few key trends are emerging, reshaping the investment environment: a heightened focus on capital efficiency, earlier profitability, and sustainable scalability. What will 2025 hold for startup fundraising? Are there distinct regional trends shaping the European market? What best practices are emerging to secure early-stage and seed funding in this new reality? While some sectors—particularly AI—continue to dominate investment flows, how can startups outside this space differentiate themselves and attract capital in an increasingly selective market? As investors refine their strategies and founders adapt, what new models will define the next wave of startup fundraising?