Xmasjkl - The Finnish Game Industry Seminar

12/01/2026

See the Magic with your eyes with 2025 Official Aftermovie

On November 14th 2025 we gathered at Ilokivi Venue in Jyväskylän kaupunki - City of Jyväskylä for a day full of insightful talks, networking, and great conversations. It was a chance to connect, learn, and share ideas with others in the gaming industry. A huge thank you to everyone who participated, and to our incredible speakers for sharing their time and expertise:

SPEAKERS:

Katharina Schmidt, Senior Business Development Manager, Rovio Entertainment, Part of SEGA Topic: Leading International Gaming Partnerships

Jussi Ultima, CEO | Co Founder, Zaibatsu Interactive Topic of : No dev like co-dev

Grace Lind, CEO, Green Heart Kilifi Creative Topic: From Billboards to Battle Buses: How Brands Win in UGC Worlds

Jesse Lempiäinen, CEO | Co Founder, Geeklab Topic: Misleading Mobile Game Ads: Why They Work

Namya Joshi, Minecraft Student Ambassador, Microsoft Topic: How Game Based learning changed my life

Sami "Haxu" Hakala, Deputy Managing & Development Director, Housemarque Topic: Leading in a Creative Industry

We also want to express our gratitude to our sponsors for making possible:

Fingersoft

IGDA Finland

Finnish Game Developer Studios Association

Special thanks to Joonas Nieminen for capturing the energy and essence of the event in this aftermovie. Watch the highlights and relive the best moments of the day!

Link to video:

2025 Official Aftermovie

https://youtu.be/82UVfaq9dvg?si=GAAWBTTwDYo9dgE8

See You at end of the year 2026!

2025 Official Aftermovie On November 14th 2025 we gathered at Ilokivi Venue in Jyväskylä for a day full of insightful talks, networking, and great c...

12/01/2026

Feast your eyes with 2025 Day Zero - After Movie from event 2025

On November Thu 13th 2025 , as a part of the annual event, we hosted an open doors day with speakers and student game pitch sessions with professional jury to decide the best pitch at the Digi & Game Center in Jyväskylän kaupunki - City of Jyväskylä, Central .

Guest Speaker: Kari Korhonen Senior Adviser Business Finland Topic of the talk was Business Finland for game companies

Here you can get a glimpse of the day's highlights: lots of interesting talks, networking and game demos.

All video clips and the full aftermovie were created by Joonas Nieminen (https://joonasnieminen.fi/)



Video link: 2025 Day Zero - After Movie
https://youtu.be/ani35RvSEwc

See You again end of the year 2026!

On November Thu 13th 2025 , as a part of the annual event, we hosted an open doors day with speakers and student game pitch sessions with profession...

24/11/2025

Feast Your eyes with - The Finnish Game Industry Seminar, Day Zero and VIP Dinner pictures from Central Finland, Jyväskylän kaupunki - City of Jyväskylä game industry scene event by Joonas Nieminen joonasnieminen.fi

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wymrEvDQkFMHkdZMxCqYi4HvZy3y9Wnb?usp=drive_link

WEB versions

Hope we see You too join us in the Next Year!
- https://www.xmasjkl.com

Here is a bit of the pictures, but from the link you can see them all!

07/11/2025

- The Finnish Game Industry Business Seminar is the most relaxed business seminar in the Finnish game industry.

Join the Fun & come listen awesome lineup of speakers!

Slots 35 min + QA 10 min

Katharina Schmidt, Senior Business Development Manager, Rovio, Part of Sega
Topic: Leading International Gaming Partnerships

Jussi Ultima, CEO | Co Founder, Zaibatsu Interactive
Topic of : No dev like co-dev

Grace Lind, CEO, Green Heart Creative
Topic: From Billboards to Battle Buses: How Brands Win in UGC Worlds

Jesse Lempiäinen, CEO | Co Founder, Geeklab
Topic: Misleading Mobile Game Ads: Why They Work

Namya Joshi, Minecraft Student Ambassador, Microsoft
Topic: How Game Based learning changed my life

Sami Hakala, Deputy Managing & Development Director, Housemarque
Topic: Leading in a Creative Industry

Get Tickets while you still can!!!
www.xmasjkl.com

07/11/2025

During Day Zero we are Awesome to have MONEY💰 talk too!

Kari Korhonen
Senior Adviser
Business Finland

Topic of the talk
Business Finland for game companies

Bio

25 years of experience of public R&D&I corporate funding in digital media and game industry projects. Developer and manager of first national innovation funding program, Skene - Games Refueled, for the gaming industry from 2012 to 2015. Currently serves as a Senior Adviser and Key Account Manager for Business Finland's ICT Games & Immersive and Creative industry area

Company Web URL
https://www.businessfinland.com/

04/11/2025

Uyea what a listing of Speakers!
Deep Dive to topics with 35min + QAs

Get Your Tickets!
https://www.xmasjkl.com/

Sami Hakala, Deputy Managing & Development Director, Housemarque
Topic: Leading in a Creative Industry


Grace Lind, CEO, Green Heart Creative
Topic: From Billboards to Battle Buses: How Brands Win in UGC Worlds

Jesse Lempiäinen, CEO | Co Founder, Geeklab
Topic: Misleading Mobile Game Ads: Why They Work

Katharina Schmidt, Senior Business Development Manager, Rovio, Part of Sega
Topic: Leading International Gaming Partnerships

Jussi Ultima, CEO | Co Founder, Zaibatsu Interactive
Topic of : No dev like co-dev

Namya Joshi, Minecraft Student Ambassador, Microsoft
Topic: How Game Based learning changed my life

Day Zero 13th & 14th Nov turns 10 yrs at 2025! BUY Earlybird – TICKETS TO 2025 Ilokivi, Keskussairaalantie 2, 40100 Jyväskylä Get your tickets Be quick – Tickets are limited! Go get a deal Get a Demostand deal Check out the deals Demostand deals Event starting in Day...

03/11/2025

We are extremely happy to have Namya Joshi this year as our speaker!

💥 Boom!

Introducing one of our keynote speakers for - The Game Industry Business Seminar 14th Nov 2025 by Expa Game Business Cooperative (Peliosuuskunta Expa)

Namya Joshi
Minecraft Student Ambassador, Microsoft
Microsoft

Topic: “How Game Based learning changed my life”
"Namya is a student at JAMK University of Applied Sciences. Inspired by her own motto , Namya spent the last six years designing and delivering free of cost coding workshops for more than 20,000 teachers, young people, especially girls, in India and all over the world, as well as empowering other young people to run their own coding clubs. She raises awareness about the social issues using game-based learning with STEM to provide solutions for the problems humanity faces. She has been honoured with many prestigious awards and serves in numerous reputable organisations as a board member and advisory member."
More details & Get your ticket here:
https://www.xmasjkl.com

- Remember also Day Zero at Digi & Game Center 13th Nov 2025! (for FREE!)




[ ps. use discount code: NEWSTARTX to claim -15% OFF if you act fast! ]

30/10/2025

🎃👻 Booooo-oooo, hahahah!

Introducing one of our keynote speakers for - The Game Industry Business Seminar 14th Nov 2025 by Expa Game Business Cooperative (Peliosuuskunta Expa)

Jussi Ultima
CEO | Co Founder
Zaibatsu Interactive

Topic: “No dev like co-dev”

Destined to be in the industry Jussi developed his first text-adventure games in elementary school and built his first team in high school. 11 years ago he co-founded Zaibatsu Interactive – the leading mobile co-development studio in Finland. He’s worked on multiple blockbuster IPs latest being Squishmallows Match – a match-3 puzzle co-developed with East Side Games with the beloved brand by Jazwares.

More details & Get your ticket here:
https://www.xmasjkl.com

- Remember also Day Zero at Digi & Game Center 13th Nov 2025! (for FREE!)

̈skylä


[ ps. use discount code: NEWSTARTX to claim -15% OFF if you act fast! ]

29/10/2025

💥 Boom!
Introducing one of our keynote speakers for - The Game Industry Business Seminar 14th Nov 2025

Katharina Schmidt
Senior Business Development Manager
Rovio, Part of Sega

Topic: “Leading International Gaming Partnerships”

Katharina Schmidt is a seasoned Business Development professional at Rovio, with a focus on strategic partnerships and geographical expansion of the Angry Birds portfolio. She has a strong track record of combining creative thinking with data-driven evaluation to build impactful partnerships and is actively coaching games industry professionals on contract negotiations.

More details & Get your ticket here:
https://www.xmasjkl.com

- Remember also Day Zero at Digi & Game Center 13th Nov 2025! (for FREE!)

21/10/2025

Who is making this Legendary ?
https://www.xmasjkl.com/