Customer: Willo
Website: https://willo.tech/
Wifi replaced ethernet cables. Bluetooth replaced audio cables. Now, Willo is coming for the last one: the power cable. But building wireless power technology that has never existed before, requires a different kind of team. That meant hiring a researcher who didn't exist in Finland. Here's how they found them, and how Elva made it possible to actually bring them here.
The challenge
Wireless power research is a new novel field. When Willo needed to hire a PhD-level expert specialising in a specific frequency range within power electronics, their search led them to one conclusion: the person they needed wasn't in Finland, or anywhere in Europe.
This wasn't Willo's first attempt at international hiring. A previous effort: poaching a critical candidate from one of the world's largest companies, had collapsed at the end of the visa process. Too many steps and complications, and not enough speed. The candidate walked.
"We lost them because we couldn't move the process fast enough, because there were so many steps, meetings, documents, and it just didn’t work. I wish Elva had existed back then."
Marko Voutilainen, Co-founder & President, Willo
Why Elva
After the failed visa process, Marko set out to find a better solution. He looked at every option on the market and found one that stood apart: Elva's full-service, full-stack relocation model. Once a candidate agrees to join the company, everything else from the visa applications, the paperwork, the move itself and the onboarding on arrival- transfers to Elva.
"Saving my time is the single biggest benefit. I don't need to sit in meetings, I don't need to oversee every step or research different passport types and visa programmes"
Marko Voutilainen, Co-founder & President, Willo
The Move
Willo's new researcher had never really lived or worked abroad before. The move from Japan to Finland was a major undertaking. A new country, a new culture and an entirely new life. Elva guided them through every stage: setting up meetings with authorities, navigating bureaucracy, and remaining a consistent point of contact throughout.
From Marko's side, the value came in three forms: time saved, a smoother experience for the person relocating, and full visibility throughout. No black boxes or wondering what stage things were at.
"Founders are competing in a global talent race. The best people build the best companies. Hunting them is your job. The rest. Let Elva handle it."
Marko Voutilainen, Co-founder & President, Willo
What's next
Willo's hiring plans follow one rule: find the world's best, regardless of location. Most upcoming roles will be filled from abroad. Not necessarily as a strategy, but simply because the research talent they need exists in the world's top labs, which aren't in Finland. With Elva in place, that ambition is now executable.
And as Marko puts it: Finland is a fantastic place to live. Safe, stable, and consistently ranked among the happiest countries on earth. The barrier was never the destination. It was the process of getting here. That barrier, Elva removes.