Howspace

About Howspace

Helsinki-based Howspace operates as an AI-powered digital platform focused on collaborative learning and organizational development. The company's roots trace back to 1999 under the name Humap, founded by Olli-Pekka Juoperi, Ilkka Mäkitalo, and Vesa Purokuru. Howspace itself was established as a spin-off in 2008 by Mäkitalo and Juoperi. CEO Ilkka Mäkitalo brings over two decades of experience in change management consultancy and a passion for participative leadership, which is reflected in the platform's core philosophy.

Howspace targets enterprise companies, consulting and learning service providers, associations, and public sector organizations. Its business model is software-as-a-service (SaaS), generating revenue through tiered subscription plans based on the number of users and workspaces. The platform is designed to manage and facilitate social learning programs and large-scale development processes, moving beyond simple video conferencing to create structured, facilitated digital environments. Clients utilize Howspace for a variety of functions including change management, strategic planning, and employee training, with notable users like The United Nations and Hitachi Energy.

The platform's core offering is a customizable digital workspace where users can engage in both real-time and asynchronous collaboration. Key features include drag-and-drop widgets for creating polls, chats, and assignments; integrated video conferencing; and advanced facilitator tools. A significant differentiator is its use of proprietary AI to analyze large volumes of text-based dialogue in real-time, summarizing conversations and identifying key themes to provide actionable insights. This AI functionality also supports multilingual translations and transcriptions, enhancing accessibility for global teams. The platform allows for extensive integrations with other tools like Google Suite and Microsoft Teams and provides analytics to measure engagement and learning impact. Having secured a total of $16.4M in funding, with a notable $14.6M Series A round in May 2021, the company is focused on expanding its footprint in Europe and North America.