Insights

In this interview, Vesa Valonen, Chief Business Officer at QHeat, shares how demand generation and systematic marketing have become key enablers of the company’s shift from local drilling projects to an international, licensing-driven deep tech business.

SemiQon partnered with Brighten to build a strong foundation for growth through clear positioning, thought leadership and demand generation.

QHeat, a pioneer in deep geothermal energy, partnered with Brighten to accelerate international growth by strengthening positioning, generating demand, and developing scalable commercial marketing.

Relationships matter. In many B2B industries, growth begins with trust built through shared history, reputation, and personal connection. But what happens after the first meeting? When decisions stretch across organisations and buying teams, trust needs to travel further. That is where marketing comes in, carrying trust forward when you are not in the room.

Marketing leaders are under pressure to deliver results fast. Leads matter, deals are prioritised, and anything that cannot be tied to immediate sales is easily overlooked. In this environment, brand awareness is often treated as optional. But for B2B companies focused on long-term growth, that assumption is risky. Brand awareness is not a nice-to-have. It is one of the foundations of sustainable growth.

Social media has fundamentally changed, and the old playbook no longer works. With platforms shifting towards algorithm-driven content, short-form videos dominating and new metrics emerging, businesses must rethink their approach. If you want to future-proof your social media strategy, now is the time to adapt.

Startups are often seen as chaotic, especially when it comes to marketing and communications. But with a clear brand foundation and the right focus, they don’t have to be. Brand activation is what turns strategy into action and sets the tone for growth from day one.

With SemiQon's groundbreaking advancements in quantum computing, CEO Himadri Majumdar sheds light on the pivotal role of strategic marketing in steering startups towards success, along with his top 3 key learnings for fellow startup CEOs in their early ventures.