Ilkka Lavas

Biography

Ilkka Lavas is serial entrepreneur, speaker and digital marketing visionary. He is best known for his companies such as advertising network Improve Media, TableOnline booking service and legendary City Magazine Finland. Lavas started his career as an entrepreneur 20 years ago when he was only 17 years old. Since starting his first company he has grown his business empire and now he is CEO of group that employs over 100 people.

Ilkka Lavas, MBA, B.Sc. has been rewarded for leadership and entrepreneurship. His team was rewarded third fastest growing company in Deloitte Fast500-competition.

Ilkka Lavas is passionate about growth companies and entrepreneurship.
Challenges are just new possibilities and you can always learn from them. Ilkka Lavas is positive, diligent and a determined visionary, who's innovative process models have helped customers to grow and succeed year in, year out. Lavas has written two books in Finnish and "Unstoppable entrepreneurship" in English.

About City Magazine, Improve Media, TableOnline, EatAndTheCity

Ilkka O. Lavas bought 30 years old legendary City Magazine Finland 4 years ago. It was almost in bankruptcy. Print revenue was declining and digital revenue was not in focus. Digital revenue was only 100k€ and print was 2M€. Lavas changed the course of the company by saying goodbye to print and turning the focus 100% to digital business. To achieve sustainable digital growth, the company started using Agile and Lean Startup Methods and now, 4 years later, City Magazine Finland has 3 M€ in digital revenue. City Magazine Finland is the fastest growing media company in Finland and it is growing internationally. The company is growing by acquisitions and also by innovating new services.