In Ilmiö's Partner Spotlight blog series, we get to know our partners who are building a better working life with us. This time, we're talking with Bruvo's CEO, Harri Julmala, about the company's story, expert-driven culture, and how data and AI can create sustainable business solutions.
Bruvo's story stems from a passion for data and artificial intelligence, and the courage to do things in a new way.
"I had been thinking for a long time that I should take a bold step and start building something of my own. Behind me were years in large consulting firms, and I had become increasingly immersed in data and AI solutions. When the right group of top professionals came together and the timing felt right, it was time to seize the opportunity," recalls Bruvo's CEO Harri Julmala.
Bruvo was born through the collaboration of passionate experts. The founding team includes Harri Julmala, along with Heini Ilmarinen, a top data platform expert and one of Finland's two Microsoft Data Platform MVPs, Tommi Jalkanen, a versatile data architect, and Kassius Kohvakka, a pioneer in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Together, they bring a unique combination of deep expertise in data and AI domains to Bruvo.
Bruvo's mission is encapsulated in the idea of "Driven by Curiosity, Empowering Tomorrow" – a company driven by curiosity, building a better tomorrow. This is reflected in Bruvo's everyday operations through continuous learning and development.
Bruvo's logo also carries a deeper meaning. The dragonfly symbolises change, light, and adaptability. It represents playfulness, curiosity, and natural elegance. The dragonfly reminds us to maintain the ability to see things from a new perspective – just as data and AI help clients discover new opportunities. The infinity symbol found in the logo represents continuity, endless possibilities, and balance, which are essential elements in continuous learning and development.
"We want to be a splash of colour in the data and AI field: a bold player who looks at opportunities and potential. We don't want to focus on crises but rather speak positively about the future" emphasises Julmala.
For Bruvo, sustainability is more than just a word – it's the foundation of their operations, manifested on two levels: generating business benefits and technical implementation.
"With data and artificial intelligence, we can achieve enormous sustainability benefits in areas like logistics and supply chains by optimising routes and operations. On the other hand, we want to build technical solutions sustainably from the ground up" explains Julmala.
According to Bruvo's vision, sustainable utilisation of data and AI can create both competitive advantage and societal benefits. The company is developing new ideas on how data management could be implemented even more sustainably.
Bruvo is a young company that enjoys the support of the broader Kluuvi Group. This enables determined growth, recruitment of the best talent, and access to larger projects right from the start.
"We have an expert-driven culture where knowledge is shared, new projects are enthusiastically embraced, and new technologies are boldly tested. With our current team size, it's easy to maintain this kind of culture" describes Julmala.
Bruvo's culture is built around trust and self-direction. Instead of hierarchies, operations are based on each individual's expertise and ability to take responsibility. The atmosphere is open and conversational – ideas are given space, and failures are learned from together. Knowledge sharing is part of Bruvo's DNA, both within the team and towards clients.
At Bruvo, work is done flexibly in a hybrid model, without forgetting the importance of face-to-face interactions and client preferences. In Helsinki, the company's office is located on the cozy Vilhonkatu street, and in Tampere, the office nicknamed "grandma's house" is near the railway station. These homely spaces create a framework for genuine encounters.
"We're building a sustainable hybrid culture – you don't always need to be in the office, but shared moments are important to us. We regularly organise meetings between different cities, parties, breakfasts, and other shared moments" continues Julmala.
Bruvo's team also works closely with other experts from the Kluuvi Group business family. Thanks to shared office spaces, events, and projects, professional communities form seamlessly across company boundaries.
Bruvo emphasises high-quality data as the foundation for all artificial intelligence. Although the company masters a wide range of technologies, its special expertise is directed toward more traditional machine learning solutions.
"Language models and AI agents are good for increasing the efficiency of individual employees, but when it comes to business forecasting, optimisation, and concrete business benefits, more traditional machine learning models are key," states Julmala.
Thanks to their software development and data background, Bruvo knows how to build scalable solutions. "Companies are popping up in the industry like mushrooms after rain, but real expertise is shown in the ability to scale from proof of concept level to production" adds Julmala.
Bruvo mainly seeks data, AI, and machine learning specialists who have a passion for helping clients utilise data and build data culture.
"In addition to technical skills, we value the ability to guide change and understand the client's business. Curiosity is an important trait for us – a continuous desire to learn new things and develop" summarises Julmala.
Working at Bruvo offers a great opportunity to jump in and help build a new kind of corporate culture where data and AI are at the center. "The Bruvo Way" is still taking shape, so every team member gets to influence what kind of workplace Bruvo becomes.
Read more about Bruvo on their website.
Partner Spotlight is Ilmiö's blog series where we highlight our partners who are building a better working life with us.
