Tuomas Pahlman Named FiBA's Business Angel of the Year

Tuomas Pahlman has been named FiBA’s Business Angel of the Year after a Tampere-based exit, Tamperelainen reports. The Finnish Business Angels Network praised his angel investing as straightforward, honest and growth-oriented, prioritising entrepreneurs over flashy slides.

Framery Group won FiBA’s Exit of the Year for bringing privately used phone booths into indoor workplaces; the award highlighted a five-factor recipe for success: problem, solution, product, market and team working in harmony. Framery founders Ilkka Kaikuvuo, Samu Hällfors and Vesa‑Matti Marjamäki, together with angel investors Kim Väisänen, Olli Pasanen and Mikko Kuitunen, were credited with delivering the major exit. In 2024 Framery reported revenue of €152.4 million, a net profit of €368,000, and employment of about 400 people. Framery Group Oyj was listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange on 2 December 2025.

FiBA also named Riikka Rajaviita of Human Runway as this year’s newcomer and Jari Puras of Startup Lions as the regional angel of the year. FiBA describes itself as Europe’s largest network of business angels, and the awards gala took place in Helsinki on 13 March to highlight Finnish angel investors and success stories.