London – GrowthPoint Technology Partners LLC today announced that it has opened an office in London, United Kingdom. GrowthPoint is a technology investment bank with a global footprint, offering advisory services to innovative technology companies.
Markus Salolainen has joined GrowthPoint Technology Partners UK Limited as a Managing Director to lead our European operation and the London office. This appointment underlines our continuing strategy to provide local offices in key financial and technology centers around the world.
Markus joins GrowthPoint from Arma Partners where he was Senior Managing Director focusing on mobility and communications companies globally. A Nordic specialist, he also advised Virginia-based Deltek, a leading enterprise software and information solutions company, in its acquisition of Maconomy of Denmark. Previously Markus was a general partner at Nokia Growth Partners and a principal at BlueRun Ventures. During his venture capital career Markus was an active board member and often acted as an in-house M&A and fundraising lead. Select investments included Bitboys (acquired by ATI), Coding Technologies (acquired by Dolby), Sasken (IPO in India), Summit Microelectronics (acquired by Qualcomm), Enpocket (acquired by Nokia), and Cerebra (acquired by webMethods).
Prior to his venture capital career, Markus was an investment banker with UBS and HSBC, where he focused on technology & telecom transactions. He was involved in significant telecom project financings, M&A transactions, IPOs and spectrum license auctions during the 1990s. Markus holds a Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Markus commented, “The majority of acquisitive global technology companies are headquartered at GrowthPoint’s door-step in Silicon Valley and the team has completed hundreds of transactions with them. We are believers in cluster theory – that there is a positive feedback loop between smart entrepreneurs, creativity, world-class investors, and the whole ecosystem almost self-perpetuating itself – and in terms of Europe we see this happening around cities such as London, Berlin and Stockholm. Beyond providing simple access, we are a team of technology, media and IP experts providing impartial advisory services and delivering seamless deal execution. This combination delivers the best possible strategic outcome to our clients”.
John Cromwell, co-founder and Managing Director of GrowthPoint commented, “We have always viewed technology as a global business and Europe in particular has proven to be a very important market for us given the breadth of innovation and entrepreneurship we see in the major technology centers. Historically, a significant portion of our clients have had European origins. With Markus and our new office in London, our ability to serve European clients is further improved. Having people on the ground with the same passion for technology and know how to make the right combinations come together is what matters. Markus also brings an impressive track record and a depth of experience that gives our clients the confidence that they are getting proven senior leadership on their M&A or capital raising objectives.”
GrowthPoint Technology Partners UK Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority with its registered offices at Berkeley Square House, 2nd Floor, Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6BD.
Location of the London office.
About GrowthPoint Technology Partners
GrowthPoint is headquartered in Palo Alto, California and provides merger and acquisition advisory services to technology companies located around the world.
GrowthPoint is a registered broker dealer with FINRA.