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 Helborg's founder and CEO Juho Koskivuo about the company's story, expert culture, and how data analytics can create genuine business value.
Helborg's story began with a desire to approach data analytics from a different angle.
"We tried to find an approach that would differ from the conventional way. Often, companies start with technology and data first, and only afterwards consider the business benefits. We wanted to flip this around – business first, where data and Power BI are tools for achieving goals," explains Helborg's founder and CEO Juho Koskivuo.
Juho has extensive experience in data analytics across various industries. When his work environment was changing, he began thinking about doing something else, somewhere else, or setting out on his own path. "About a year earlier, Kodan had been founded, where many old acquaintances had gone. I ended up bouncing ideas with them. These discussions led to the idea of starting my own company. We've been part of the same group with Kodan from the beginning, and our collaboration has expanded since then," recalls Koskivuo.
Helborg was born from the need to create a consultancy where passionate data professionals could express themselves and work with a business-driven approach. Although the founder had plans to grow the company from the start, the initial period was spent researching the market and refining the operating model.
"The first recruitments are really important. People need to get along and share the same goals. Joonas Korkealaakso, an old colleague from previous workplaces, was the first to join. Our visions aligned well – we both wanted to build more than just a two-person company," says Koskivuo.
Currently, Helborg is a four-person company that's part of the broader Kluuvi Group family. The goal is to continue safe and organic growth in a controlled manner in the near future.
"Our business has changed significantly over the past year. The company family has grown around us and supports our operations in a positive way. Particularly our collaboration with Bruvo has been fruitful and opened up opportunities we didn't initially anticipate," continues Koskivuo.
Helborg's experts work both on project-based assignments and as temporary in-house specialists. The roles of lead developer and analytics advisor have been particularly central in client projects.
"Data is data regardless of the industry. Our strength is that we can effectively handle data from practically any field. We've worked most in media, construction, and industry, but our expertise scales to all sectors," notes Koskivuo.
Helborg's company culture is built around a hybrid model where everyone can influence their way of working.
"I'm mainly at the office and occasionally visit clients. Some team members work mostly remotely. We have three options: remote work, a hybrid model, or working at the client's premises. Clients no longer demand on-site presence as much as before, though it still has its justified place," describes Koskivuo.
Helborg's team works in Kluuvi Group's shared offices in the Helsinki metropolitan area and Tampere. Experts from other Kluuvi family companies also meet in these spaces daily, bringing community to everyday work and opportunities to exchange ideas. Work can also be done remotely or at the client's location – the most important thing is that the job gets done.
A key principle in Helborg's operations is giving responsibility and freedom to each team member.
"At a personal level, everyone gets as much responsibility and freedom as they're willing to take. We don't aim to maximise billing rates alone but want people to participate in the company's internal development, sales, and growing their own expertise. Anyone who wants can get involved in everything," emphasises Koskivuo.
Helborg's special expertise is in utilising Power BI, which is no coincidence as it's the most widely used data analytics tool in the market.
"We haven't deliberately focused solely on Power BI work, but have gone with the market. Power BI has continuously strengthened its position, and it doesn't really have notable competitors at the moment," explains Koskivuo.
Another significant trend is the democratisation of data analytics.
"Analytics, which was previously mainly for large companies, is now flowing to smaller and medium-sized businesses too. They've realised that data-driven leadership doesn't require massive and expensive projects. Technology is now affordable, and practical tools enable analytics even with smaller resources," continues Koskivuo.
In a typical Helborg project, data from different sources that haven't previously "talked to each other" is combined.
"We develop use cases where data is used to create concrete business benefits. Often, it's about harnessing underutilised data to support business. When we approach matters from a business needs perspective from the start, the results genuinely support decision-making," describes Koskivuo.
Artificial intelligence is also a hot topic in the data analytics field, but from Helborg's perspective, we're still in the early application phase.
"Clients ask a lot about how AI could help their business. Power BI has introduced various Copilot features, but their usefulness is still limited. Users of AI tools still need to understand what they're doing. When a solution built with AI assistance encounters its first challenge, someone unfamiliar with the subject won't be able to solve the problem. AIs are good at writing rational code but don't understand context. At least not yet," states Koskivuo.
In its growth phase, Helborg is looking particularly for business-oriented experts to join the team.
"Besides Power BI, we're also interested in expertise with other analytics tools. Data processing is an important part of the work, although its significance varies depending on the client. We're looking for business-oriented professionals who are competent but also relaxed. People who fit in with our team and do things properly," says Koskivuo.
Personal development is a central part of Helborg's culture.
"We ensure everyone has time for development. A 100% billing rate isn't our goal in all situations. Professionals help each other, and together we grow both as individuals and as a company," summarises Koskivuo.Read more about Helborg on their website.
Partner Spotlight is Ilmiö's blog series where we highlight our partners who are building a better working life with us.
