Pekka Ylitalo
About Pekka Ylitalo
Pekka Ylitalo is a medical doctor (MD, PhD) and private healthcare entrepreneur based in Helsinki. His LinkedIn profile lists him as CEO of Dimerent Oy and Medical Director at Lääkärikeskus Minerva Oy, and shows an education at the University of Helsinki.
He has been a member of the Finnish Business Angels Network (FiBAN) since 2020 and joined its board in 2024. FiBAN's 2026 board page lists him as a board member. He invests through his syndicate, Founders' Edge.
FiBAN says the Founders' Edge syndicate has built a 16-company portfolio across technology and healthcare. Ylitalo posted on LinkedIn that Founders' Edge added five startups to its portfolio in 2023.
He often invests alongside the same Finnish angels, including Ali Omar and Henry Nilert. They appear together in the Retailgrid, Plain Complex and GoalProfit rounds. CB Insights lists four investments for him, the latest being Retailgrid in May 2026.
In May 2026 Retailgrid raised a €358,000 pre-seed round. Ylitalo, Ali Omar and Henry Nilert led it, and Innovestor Angel CoFund took part. Retailgrid is a Helsinki company building an AI-powered workbook for retail pricing, forecasting and assortment planning. It targets mid-market retailers and FMCG companies.
Plain Complex, which FiBAN described as a Finnish artificial intelligence company, raised €150,000 from Finnish angels. Ylitalo (named as Dimerent) was one of them, with Ali Omar, Reima Linnanvirta and Henry Nilert.
Ylitalo invests in early-stage companies in Finland and the Nordics, mainly at pre-seed and seed. His portfolio spans technology and healthcare, and he draws on his medical background in healthcare deals.
Third-party profiles describe Founders' Edge as a Helsinki angel network that invests in pre-seed rounds for Finland-based startups, with initial investments of €100K to €250K. Ylitalo has not published a personal check size that we could find.
- Retailgrid: AI-powered workbook for retail pricing, forecasting and assortment planning. Co-led the €358K pre-seed in May 2026.
- Plain Complex: Finnish AI company. Took part in its €150K angel round alongside Ali Omar, Reima Linnanvirta and Henry Nilert.
- GoalProfit: low-code retail optimization platform. Named among the business angels leading its $655K pre-seed.
- ConfidentialMind and Exolyt: listed as portfolio companies on Investorlist. Dates not confirmed.
- Vuorox: Finnish health services software company. Ylitalo is listed among the investors in its round.
- tech.eu/2026/05/19/retailgrid-targets-retail-spreadsheets-with-eur358k
- retailgrid.io/blog/retailgrid-closes-eur358k-pre-seed
- cbinsights.com/investor/pekka-ylitalo
- fiban.org/news/fiban-board-2026
- fiban.org/news/finnish-artificial-intelligence-company-plain-complex-r
- investorlist.com/investor/pekka-ylitalo
- arcticstartup.com/goalprofit-raised-655k-pre-seed
- nordic9.com/news/plain-complex-secured-150k-from-angel-investors-from-
Investing activity
Pekka Ylitalo appears in 1 AI deal tracked by the Lounge deals desk, and led 1 of them. The rounds are mostly Pre-seed, with a median round size of $403K. The most recent is Retailgrid (Pre-seed, €358K, May 2026).
Pekka Ylitalo most often invests alongside Ali Omar, Henry Nilert and Innovestor Angel CoFund, and the companies they back on Lounge are mostly in AI.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Pekka Ylitalo
Who is Pekka Ylitalo?
He is a Finnish medical doctor, healthcare entrepreneur and angel investor based in Helsinki. He is a FiBAN board member and invests through the Founders' Edge syndicate.
Has Pekka Ylitalo invested in AI startups?
Yes. He co-led the €358K pre-seed round of Retailgrid, an AI retail planning platform, in May 2026. He also took part in the €150K round of Plain Complex, a Finnish AI company.
What stage does Pekka Ylitalo invest in?
Public profiles show pre-seed and seed rounds in Finland and the Nordics, usually alongside other angels and angel co-funds.
What check size does Pekka Ylitalo write?
He has not stated a personal check size publicly. Third-party profiles say Founders' Edge makes initial investments of €100K to €250K.
What is Founders' Edge?
Founders' Edge is a Helsinki-based angel syndicate that Ylitalo co-founded. FiBAN says it has a 16-company portfolio across technology and healthcare. Its website is foundersedge.vc.
How can founders reach Pekka Ylitalo?
His public LinkedIn profile lists Founders' Edge, and he is a FiBAN member and board member. A warm introduction through the Finnish angel network or his co-investors is the likeliest route.
Is Pekka Ylitalo an angel investor?
Yes. Pekka Ylitalo invests personally as an angel.
What AI companies has Pekka Ylitalo invested in?
Pekka Ylitalo's AI investments include Retailgrid. The 1 round on Lounge are listed on this page with amounts, dates and co-investors.
What stage does Pekka Ylitalo invest at?
In the rounds tracked on Lounge, Pekka Ylitalo has invested at Pre-seed, with a median round of $403K. Pekka Ylitalo led 1 of those rounds.
Who does Pekka Ylitalo co-invest with?
Pekka Ylitalo's most frequent co-investors on Lounge are Ali Omar (1 deal), Henry Nilert (1 deal) and Innovestor Angel CoFund (1 deal).