Trail Openers is an expert in the sustainability of digital services helping companies and organizations create digital solutions that are sustainable and responsible. Trail Openers is now two years old and it is time to tell the tale of the company's origin and ambitious goals.
Since I was a little boy, I have admired my father and his dedicated work in the IT industry. Inspired by his example, I chose my educational path and career in the IT field. One of my earliest memories is playing the Space Invaders game at his workplace. I had a particular sense of pride when we walked through the gates (yes, there were gates to employees' spaces back then). My father and I are both enthusiastic about Excel, and investigating and comparing things are still common interests for us (along with friendly teasing from the rest of the family).
The values I grew up with at home have provided a solid foundation for values-based entrepreneurship. When I became a father 16 years ago, many value-based choices became more apparent than ever before. What kind of world do I want to leave for my children? And what actions can I tell them I make choices for every day? Even though I didn't articulate it at the time, over the past decade, sustainability has been a central theme in all my decisions. In my daily life, I drive an electric car and prefer the train whenever possible. I strongly oppose food waste, even sometimes using food that may be slightly past its prime. I give a lot of thought to the lifespan of my purchases. Many of my colleagues know that my laptop is on "extended time," but this too is a conscious choice and holds significance for me.
I have been an avid trail runner for several years, and ideas always flow during trail runs. The idea for Trail Openers was born during a trail run in the Sipoonkorpi National Park. It would be fun to say that the idea struck like lightning, but it was more like it evolved over dozens, if not hundreds of kilometers, of rugged trails and rain-slicked hills. Running in the forest puts the mind in a completely different state than anywhere else. And indeed, the company's name is not just a coincidence.
I had toyed with the idea of starting a company throughout my career, but it had previously been too intimidating and dubious. Running in the forest turned my thoughts into actions. I wanted my work to be meaningful and ideally contribute to making the world a better place in a broader sense. I did groundwork by researching the topic (yes, I even used Excel for that) and examining what companies in Finland and around the world were doing about it, and it wasn’t much.
I bounced my ideas off my extensive network, receiving really good feedback and refining ideas for further development. Although starting my own business was nerve-wracking, the fact that many acquaintances said I would undoubtedly succeed as an entrepreneur boosted my confidence. A few former colleagues also expressed interest in joining the company, which, of course, encouraged me to pursue the goal. My parents warned me about the risks, but they, too, found the idea of the company good. Many friends encouraged me to give it a try and saw the service the company offered as necessary. Although doubts about my own skills occasionally surface, the years have shown that even with unconventional choices, courage pays off. Of course, mistakes happen, but they are learning opportunities, and we move forward.
From the beginning, working towards a larger cause has felt great. Our small and tight-knit three-person community (myself, Jiri, and Wille) has proven to be very effective. I've received feedback on both good and bad ideas. A particularly memorable comment was from a website design meeting: "Ville, that idea is simply terrible." Our work environment has clearly been safe from the start, and feedback has been able to flow openly, naturally, always with mutual respect.
In the early stages of the company, having a few clients already lined up before the official establishment provided a sense of security. It was invaluable to feel trust in our work before it officially existed. In the first operational year, we also used subcontracting in project deliveries to serve a broader customer base and efficiently move our work in the direction of the chosen strategy.
A clear milestone in our company's journey has been joining an ecosystem with five other companies. It has brought new opportunities, colleagues, and customers, as well as a winning, open, and fair operating model. It feels like we are truly in the right company.
Articulating and concretizing the vision of sustainability in digital services has not been easy. I see the overall picture as a clear path in my mind, but verbalizing the path and spreading the expertise has sometimes been a bit challenging. The energy for the work has remained surprisingly high throughout the company's journey.
Once Trail Openers was established, we collectively set a goal to contribute 10 million euros in taxes to Finland directly and indirectly. That too is a sustainable goal. We want to be the leading player in our field in Finland and Europe. Some may consider it overly optimistic, but that's the agreement we've made together.
A key aspect of the company's operation has been a shared value system from the beginning. New people have joined the operation largely because we care, we are fair, open, and appreciate each other as we are. And very soon, we will actually be a team of seven.
The author is Ville Nordberg, the founder and CEO of Trail Openers, a determined and enthusiastic trail runner, the owner of an impressive apple tree, and a proud father of two teenagers.
