NOMOVOK: Vision, Persistence, and the Power of Ideas. History of the Winner of Deloitte Fastest Grown Company 2007

When the Right Pieces Align

Innovation is like assembling a complex machine—the right screws, nuts, and holes must find each other to create something extraordinary. This is how Nomovok was born—out of curiosity, vision, and a relentless drive to challenge the status quo.

What started as an idea soon transformed into one of Finland’s most innovative technology companies, earning the prestigious title of Deloitte’s Fastest Growing Company in 2007.

A Fortuitous Encounter

The journey began in 1996 at Helsinki University, where I delivered a seminar on cross-cultural communication psychology. Among the attendees was Linus Torvalds, the mastermind behind Linux. After my talk, we engaged in a deep conversation about the growing dominance of Windows and the risks of a closed software ecosystem.

That discussion sparked an idea—an open, collaborative, and adaptive approach to software development.

The Birth of Nomovok Ltd.

By 1999, that idea had taken shape as Nomovok, an Open Source company built to redefine how technology could be developed and utilized. In 2001, my thoughts turned back to Linus and his concerns. My team invited him to Finland, and we embarked on a bold experiment—hacking a Nokia 1610 to understand its software structure and assess its modifiability for future models. The results? It was impossible.

I visited Nokia’s phone factory in Salo in 2002 and learned how their production process worked. It took 17 months to set up production lines, 10 months to develop the software, and nearly three years for a phone to reach distributors. The pace was too slow, the risk too high. "This must change," I spoke with them.

Embracing Fear, Driving Innovation

New technology, like anything unfamiliar, can cause fear—fear of losing comfort, stability, and familiarity. But history has shown that every great breakthrough comes from embracing the unknown. If we resist change, we stay stagnant. If we embrace it, we evolve. Nomovok was created not just to keep up with innovation but to drive it forward.

Revolutionizing Mobile Technology

Nomovok became a key player in mobile technology, pioneering open-source solutions and becoming a major subcontractor for Nokia’s N-series (Nokia N770, Nokia N800, Nokia N810, Nokia N900 etc). They were Nokia’s legendary Linux-Meego devices, N-series. Nomovok pioneered disruptive software architecture, starting with the Nokia N770, then the N800 (the one in the screenshot), and many other Linux-based devices that followed—years ahead of the iPhone or any touchscreen phone we see today.

We demonstrated that adaptability, efficiency, and open collaboration were the keys to survival in an industry moving at lightning speed.

In 2007, Deloitte recognized this impact, naming Nomovok the Fastest Growing Company in Finland. It was a proud moment, proof that we had defied limits and turned an idea into an industry-shifting force.

Beyond Profit: A Mission for Innovation

I served Nomovok in the name of disruptive technology, not personal gain. When the tax bureau audited us for three days, they found nothing out of place. Their lead investigator later admitted, "One of our biggest concerns was why the founder of this company never took a salary. At this stage, most CEOs are buying cars and boats."

I simply responded, "Let this be your historic record. I am not building innovation for money—I am thinking beyond."

Why Nomovok Led the Linux-Maemo Revolution

On January 23, 2025, I had the opportunity to ask Mr. Anssi Vanjoki in person why Nomovok was chosen as the #1 software distributor on Linux-Maemo technology over hundreds of other competitors. His response was telling: "Because you sent super talents to Nokia, telling about the disruptive technology. We thought, 'if the boys are right.'"

Two days earlier, on January 21, 2025, Aalto University released a public report on why Nokia ultimately failed. The picture is from this report on page 13.

See the whole report here: https://repo.aalto.fi/uncategorized/IO_926740c7-5165-439a-a020-5205aeb4d4d5/

The conclusion was clear—Nokia did not want to switch to new technology, despite being warned for years about the rise of touchscreen phones. Apple’s introduction of the 3GS iPhone was a wake-up call they ignored. The rest is history.

Legacy and the Road Ahead

Nomovok’s story is not just about technology; it is about vision, persistence, and the power of ideas. What started as loose screws and nuts came together to build one of Finland’s most innovative tech companies.

Nomovok proved that the impossible is only the beginning of something extraordinary.

After 16 years away from the spotlight, my return to the tech world with AiBEN has reignited conversations—almost as if I had never left. The whispers, the intrigue, the curiosity, the trust, the vision… it’s all there. People remember.

They remember that I was once part of Nokia’s ambitious vision, a strategy with the power to reshape the industry—one that, for reasons beyond me, never got the longer road it deserved. But here I am again, not just stepping back in, but charging forward, ready to build what was once only imagined.

Many people have asked me, "Why don’t you write a book about this great story? How could you speak with such confidence about the future, with no fear?" The truth is, this is more than just my story. It is a piece of a much larger puzzle, one of the hundreds of notes written in the empire of innovation—a movement I was fortunate enough to witness and be a part of.