Allan Martinson
Encyclopedia
Allan Martinson is an Estonian Venture Capitalist.
Martinson was the founder and CEO of Baltic News Service, quickly after its launch in 1990 the news service became the dominant real-time news organization in the region. In 1994 BNS teamed up with and received investments from Dow Jones and Swedish Bonnier media group. In 2001, BNS was sold to Finnish Alma Media.
In 1998, Martinson became the CEO of MicroLink, the leading PC maker in the Baltics, and built it into the largest system integration and IT services group in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. As a result of over 15 mergers and acquisitions of IT companies and ISPs in the Baltic region (including the two largest Latvian IT companies Fortech and VAR) MicroLink achieved annual sales of 60 m EUR and had almost 600 employees. In 2005, MicroLink's IT service operations were sold in trade sale transaction to three Baltic incumbent telecoms.
MicroLink was also a parent of two highly successful startups.
In 1999, it launched Delfi, the leading Baltic new media enterprise, which was subsequently sold to Norwegian Findexa in January 2004. Delfi still maintains the leading position on Baltic new media market and collects over half of the internet advertising revenue in the region.
MicroLink was also parent of SAF Tehnika – the fastest-growing developer of microwave radiolinks for the global mobile telecom sector. SAF Tehnika carried out a successful IPO in May 2004, became the only listed Baltic technology stock and reached valuation of 70 m EUR.
In 2004, Martinson teamed up with the leading Baltic investment bank Trigon Capital and launched a VC management company Martinson Trigon Venture Partners. Its first fund, a 20 m USD MartinsonTrigon was raised in 2005 and has made five investments insofar (the Russian software engineering company http://www.class='greylink1' onMouseover='ShowPop("61201",this,"noimage.gif", event)' onMouseout='HidePop("61201")' href="/topics/Reksoft">Reksoft
.com Reksoft], IT services company Microlink Lietuva, Baltic MTV franchise TVCorp, technology company InvisibleCRM and pan-European social networking operator Rate Solutions http://ratesolutions.eu/).
Martinson chairs the supervisory boards TVCorp and MicroLink Lietuva. He is also a member of the boards of InvisibleCRM, Rate Solutions, Tallinn Stock Exchange (OMX Tallinn), Finnish company Apaja Online Entertainment, pan-CEE online recruiter CV Keskus and location-based solutions provider company Regio.
In the past, he has been a member of the boards of MicroLink, Baltic News Service, Oskando (a telematics company), SAF Tehnika, Delfi, GNT (IT distributor), Akropol (a security company), Ekspress Grupp (the largest Estonian media group), Hill&Knowlton Baltics (PR agency), Columbus IT Partner Estonia (ERP integrator), Estonian ICT association ITL, Look@World Foundation and the Estonian Academy of Arts.
He advises the Prime Minister of Estonia in Science and Development Council.
Martinson was nominated for the Businessman of the Year in 2000 and got the Best Decision Award in 2004 for successfully executing the strategy of MicroLink.
Martinson is the member of Rotary International (Tallinn Old Town Rotary Club). He is also chairman of Gustav Adolf Foundation - a non-profit organization to support Gustav Adolf Gümnaasium
in Tallinn. He is the member of French Order of Honour.
Martinson was the founder and CEO of Baltic News Service, quickly after its launch in 1990 the news service became the dominant real-time news organization in the region. In 1994 BNS teamed up with and received investments from Dow Jones and Swedish Bonnier media group. In 2001, BNS was sold to Finnish Alma Media.
In 1998, Martinson became the CEO of MicroLink, the leading PC maker in the Baltics, and built it into the largest system integration and IT services group in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. As a result of over 15 mergers and acquisitions of IT companies and ISPs in the Baltic region (including the two largest Latvian IT companies Fortech and VAR) MicroLink achieved annual sales of 60 m EUR and had almost 600 employees. In 2005, MicroLink's IT service operations were sold in trade sale transaction to three Baltic incumbent telecoms.
MicroLink was also a parent of two highly successful startups.
In 1999, it launched Delfi, the leading Baltic new media enterprise, which was subsequently sold to Norwegian Findexa in January 2004. Delfi still maintains the leading position on Baltic new media market and collects over half of the internet advertising revenue in the region.
MicroLink was also parent of SAF Tehnika – the fastest-growing developer of microwave radiolinks for the global mobile telecom sector. SAF Tehnika carried out a successful IPO in May 2004, became the only listed Baltic technology stock and reached valuation of 70 m EUR.
In 2004, Martinson teamed up with the leading Baltic investment bank Trigon Capital and launched a VC management company Martinson Trigon Venture Partners. Its first fund, a 20 m USD MartinsonTrigon was raised in 2005 and has made five investments insofar (the Russian software engineering company http://www.
Reksoft
Reksoft is an offshore software engineering company specialising in software development and system integration services, specifically software product engineering, enterprise application services and dedicated centres. Reksoft has passed certification audit ISO 9001:2008, and is assessed to comply...
.com Reksoft], IT services company Microlink Lietuva, Baltic MTV franchise TVCorp, technology company InvisibleCRM and pan-European social networking operator Rate Solutions http://ratesolutions.eu/).
Martinson chairs the supervisory boards TVCorp and MicroLink Lietuva. He is also a member of the boards of InvisibleCRM, Rate Solutions, Tallinn Stock Exchange (OMX Tallinn), Finnish company Apaja Online Entertainment, pan-CEE online recruiter CV Keskus and location-based solutions provider company Regio.
In the past, he has been a member of the boards of MicroLink, Baltic News Service, Oskando (a telematics company), SAF Tehnika, Delfi, GNT (IT distributor), Akropol (a security company), Ekspress Grupp (the largest Estonian media group), Hill&Knowlton Baltics (PR agency), Columbus IT Partner Estonia (ERP integrator), Estonian ICT association ITL, Look@World Foundation and the Estonian Academy of Arts.
He advises the Prime Minister of Estonia in Science and Development Council.
Martinson was nominated for the Businessman of the Year in 2000 and got the Best Decision Award in 2004 for successfully executing the strategy of MicroLink.
Martinson is the member of Rotary International (Tallinn Old Town Rotary Club). He is also chairman of Gustav Adolf Foundation - a non-profit organization to support Gustav Adolf Gümnaasium
Gustav Adolf Grammar School
The Gustav Adolf Lyceum or Gustav Adolf Gymnasium , in Tallinn, Estonia, was established in 1631 by the Swedish king Gustav II Adolf and is one of the oldest extant secondary schools in Europe. Throughout centuries the school has survived as an educational institution regardless of the upheavals in...
in Tallinn. He is the member of French Order of Honour.
External links
- Martinson Trigon Venture Partners
- Reksoft
- InvisibleCRM
- Microlink Lietuva
- TVCorp / MTV Baltic
- Rate Solutions