Presenting Kuopio Health members: Remenue Oy
Remenue helps medical companies reach international markets
When Santtu Remes returned to Finland from Singapore in 2023, he had already been contemplating entrepreneurship for some time. At the beginning of 2024, after several years at Bittium, the time finally felt right.
“I had been thinking for years that I’d like to experience the joys of entrepreneurship. When I came back, I decided that the time had come,” says Remes.
However, the roots of Remenue Oy go back to 2019, when Santtu founded the company together with his father Arto Remes and his sister Jenni Varjus. Initially, it was a small family business that remained dormant for a few years until Santtu, now CEO, decided to take it forward. The team also includes Aki Tiihonen, who is responsible for operations, quality systems, and product approvals.
Experience and networks as the foundation of entrepreneurship
Remenue’s operations are strongly built around the fields of medicine and health technology. Santtu himself has travelled a long way from studying engineering to working in cardiology.
“Back in my studies, I swore I would never work in the medical field because it just seemed too complicated. But when Aki Tiihonen convinced me to join Mega Electronics, that’s where it all began. I started selling heart rate variability measuring devices, became interested in the heart’s electrical activity, and eventually found myself working in cardiology,” Remes recalls.
“The Remenue team consists of experienced professionals with diverse expertise and an understanding of how the medical market works. I come from a sales and marketing background; Arto brings strong business leadership, international experience, and networks; and Aki contributes technical and operational know-how. Together, we can support companies in a wide range of ways.”
In the foreground are Remenue’s CEO, Santtu Remes, and Arto Remes, who is responsible for corporate restructuring and investments.
Practical and hands-on consulting
Remenue’s goal is to stand out through its way of working.
“Consulting often comes with preconceived notions. People think consultants just produce reports or market studies. We do things differently. We work as part of the client’s team and get things done on a practical level. We don’t just write reports, we actually move things forward and open markets for our clients,” Remes explains.
The company has collaborated with several health technology firms in Finland and Sweden.
“We’ve worked with companies like Screentec Oy and Cerenion Oy, and in Sweden with ACE Health for more than a year and a half. The fact that the cooperation continues says a lot about satisfaction. In Kuopio, our clients have included Marginum Oy and Bone Index Finland Oy. Clients may need support in areas such as product approvals, new customer or market entries, or investor searches. The length of a project largely depends on the client’s needs.”
Remes describes Remenue’s approach as honest and straightforward.
“We want to be transparent about where we can truly help. We can accurately assess where our expertise fits and where it doesn’t. We understand the dynamics of the industry and what we can deliver in each situation. And if a client reaches out for advice after a project, we’ll help because we feel responsible for the relationships we’ve built.”
As an entrepreneur, even the small things matter
The entrepreneurial journey has been full of lessons. Perhaps the biggest realization has been that the first steps are rarely easy. Running a business involves many small but important things like managing cash flow and resources, and the fact that not everything runs on investor funding. Understanding the importance of sales and marketing has also proven crucial.
Remes emphasizes that success requires persistence and a customer-centric mindset.
“Many focus on investors and funding rounds, but in the long run, sustainable growth comes from customers, when they’re genuinely interested and willing to buy. While attracting investors is important, it’s just as vital to get customers and partners excited about your solution.”
Eyes on international markets
Remenue has already started expanding abroad, and Santtu says that his previous international experience and contacts are invaluable.
“You can’t build these kinds of relationships overnight, trust takes time. Personal meetings and staying in touch are essential. Especially in Asia, relationships and trust are everything. A contract alone isn’t enough. You need to know the people and build a real connection. It takes time, but it’s rewarding. In Europe, things often move faster, but uncertainty and economic challenges can slow cooperation,” Remes explains.
In Portugal, the company is currently developing a service business together with a local partner. A previous market research project there was successful, and the goal now is to expand Remenue’s own service operations related to Holter analysis and similar solutions.
“Having our own business operations also supports our growth. It opens new opportunities for us and our clients. We hope to help Finnish companies bring their products to the world and create growth through that.”
Looking ahead, Remenue aims for long-term partnerships in consulting. The goal is to find companies that can benefit most from Remenue’s expertise, to become part of their team and help them internationalize. In addition to the operations in Portugal, the company hopes to establish several long-term partnerships in the coming years.
As a member of Kuopio Health
“Being part of Kuopio Health is a natural extension of our networking efforts. We want to be part of a community of like-minded professionals, helping others and, in turn, being helped. It also gives us visibility and insight into what other companies are doing in the region and where the field is heading.”
“We genuinely want to help and do things in an entrepreneurial, hands-on way. Not just talk or reporting, but real action. Don’t hesitate to contact us. Let’s discuss what we can achieve together,” Remes concludes.