Tarun Sharma

Tarun Sharma is an Executive in Residence at Aalto University's Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, focusing on corporate venturing and entrepreneurship. Previously, he served as Partner and COO of Nokia Ventures. He holds an MBA from Aalto University (formerly Helsinki School of Economics) and has extensive experience in tech innovation, venture building, and cross-border collaboration. His career includes roles at IBM, Microsoft, and various startups, alongside mentoring early-stage ventures and advising on entrepreneurship programs.

Sharma emphasizes the importance of combining technological prowess with business acumen, strategy, and finance to maximize venture potential. He co-teaches a corporate venturing course with Professor Markku Maula and supports initiatives like entrepreneurship education, research commercialization, and fostering links between corporates and startups. He advocates for Finland's talent policies and promotes international bridges, particularly with India. His philosophy centers on resilience, learning from failure, and fostering optimism in innovation ecosystems.