Risto Lähdesmäki
Exited Founder | Design Leader | Investor | AI
- Role
- Partner at Boardman
- Location
- San Francisco, CA, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Risto Lähdesmäki
Empowering the Future with Intelligent Design and AII’ve spent the last two decades proving that intelligent design and leadership are the ultimate multipliers for growth. From founding a small Finnish UX/CX design agency, Idean, in to scaling it to a global powerhouse with 800+ talents across 20+ cities, my journey has been one of relentless innovation, resilience, and collaboration. The landmark 2017 acquisition by Capgemini was just the beginning of my mission to create impact at scale.From Creative Leadership to AI-Driven FuturesPost-Idean, I’ve embraced a dual role as an angel investor and startup advisor, supporting over 70 VC-backed ventures and participating as an LP in 10+ funds. While I remain passionate about design-led leadership and its unmatched potential to drive shareholder value, my current fascination lies at the intersection of AI and design—leveraging emerging technologies to transform how we connect, collaborate, and create.Championing Responsible Innovation and Collective GoodI believe in building technology that amplifies human decency, collective well-being, and genuine connections. My latest projects explore AI’s role in shaping authentic social interactions and revolutionizing design workflows. At their core, these ventures reflect a commitment to responsible innovation—ensuring technology serves as a force for good.Mentor, Learner, LeaderAs a mentor and advisor, I collaborate with founders and CEOs, sharing firsthand lessons from building and scaling successful ventures. From culture-building and branding to AI integration and leadership, I’ve been fortunate to learn as much as I give. My ethos: every great leader is also a lifelong learner.Want to Dive Deeper?I’m always open to connecting with like-minded individuals passionate about design, AI, culture, innovation, and technology.
Experience
Partner
Jan 2008 — Present
Skills
- Service Design
- Mobile Applications
- Web Applications
- Mobile Design
- Web Development
- Usability
- Concept Design
- Web Design
- Graphic Design
- User Experience Design
- User-Centered Design
- User Experience
- Art Direction
- User Interface Design
- Information Architecture
- Employee Relations
- Visual Design
- Experience Design
- Usability Testing
- Human Computer Interaction
- Graphical Design
- Design Thinking
- Interaction Design
- Design Strategy
- Workshop Facilitation
- Advertising
- Mobile Devices
- User Interface
- Concept Development
- Strategy
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