Dipl.-Ing. Aki Backman

Managing 10M€ VC funded high tech startup. • Created and launched a revolutionary travel companion, HumanCharger® product, and brand. >90,000 Units sold globally to >50 different countries. InterBrand Breakthrough brand award 2017 (60M$ valuation). • Refocused marketing efforts to digital and affiliate sales with traceable results and the ability to scale profitably with improving marketing ROI >300%.

• Lead a young revolutionary medical device startup to design a new world-class ultraportable bright light headset – Valkee2 in nine months’ schedule and on time. • The Red Dot Design Award winner 2014 – Valkee2 • Revamped production and suppliers to global scale (Japan, China & Europe). • Managed EN-ISO13485 and CE MDD Class IIa regulatory certifications.

Invented the proprietary technology that led to the flagship product’s portability and minimum size requirements. Exited successfully 2012. • Earned ISO 13485 and CE MDD Class II certifications in Europe and FDA registration in the USA. • Raised over 3 M€ in venture funding together with the CEO that notably included a 1 M€ Tekes grant.

• Enhanced total profitability after implementing a price increase reflecting current market conditions. Eliminated unnecessary discounting practices that negatively impacted the company’s bottom line. • Introduced, priced, and launched several new products to the international marketplace to showcase Philips’ most prominent innovations. Encouraged greater communication between sales teams by presenting in product development forums and information sessions to maintain a consistent pitch.

• Consolidated GE’s Medical Systems and Instrumentarium’s Datex-Ohmeda product lines onto a common marketing platform. Efforts eliminated duplicative costs and increased total operating margins. • Merged Danica Biomedical’s product portfolio into GE’s sales distribution and marketing channels that achieved valuable economies of scale following its acquisition.

USA Exchange Program: Thunderbird School of Global Management (Glendale, AZ) USA Global Access Program: The Anderson School at UCLA (Los Angeles, CA)

Major: Applied Electronics. Minor: Computer Architecture & Signal Processing.