VALO Hotel & Work

Company profile

Reimagining hospitality through dual use and sustainability

VALO Hotel & Work was born from a simple yet powerful idea: buildings should serve multiple purposes. Founded in Helsinki, the company merges hotel and office use into one integrated space. This dual-use concept turns a traditional hotel room into a fully functional workspace during the day—boosting space efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and offering a seamless customer experience.

The first facility, VALO Hotel & Work Helsinki, opened in 2020 and quickly gained recognition. It won the World Travel Award for Finland’s best hotel in 2023 and 2024, and received several sustainability accreditations including the Green Key, BREEAM In-Use, and Sustainable Travel Finland certifications.

VALO currently employs 75 people and combines premium accommodation, flexible workspaces, meeting rooms, wellness services, and Nordic dining under one roof. Its own digital platform, the VALO App, allows users to book and access spaces on demand, paying only for what they use.

The company’s vision is to scale internationally through local partnerships and franchising. Rather than building new hotels, VALO aims to license its concept to operators worldwide—turning vacant or underutilized buildings into profitable, sustainable spaces for work and travel.

Developments since the last funding round with Invesdor

Find out more about what has happened since the last funding round.

Company Info 

Products and services

VALO Hotel & Work offers three core services: hotel accommodation, flexible workspaces, and meeting & event spaces—all under one roof. What makes VALO unique is that these services share the same physical space, transformed seamlessly based on time of day or user needs.

This dual-use concept tackles three major challenges in the real estate and hospitality sectors:

• Underutilized building space

• Lack of flexible, integrated work-hospitality solutions

• High environmental impact of traditional, single-purpose buildings

Each VALO room can be used as a comfortable hotel room by night and a private office by day. Guests and members access all services through the VALO App, which enables on-demand bookings with pay-per-use flexibility—making the experience more convenient and cost-efficient.

Compared to traditional providers, VALO offers:

• Higher space efficiency and utilization

• Reduced environmental footprint through energy efficiency and dual use

• Premium Nordic design and digital user experience

• Proven sustainability credentials (e.g., Green Key, BREEAM)

With the global rise of hybrid work, VALO’s scalable model is well-positioned for growth. The concept is designed for franchising and licensing—opening the door to international expansion without the capital burden of building new facilities.

Business model

Multiple revenue streams

VALO combines two major markets—hospitality and flexible workspaces—within one integrated model. Revenue comes from:

• Hotel stays

• Workspace subscriptions and day passes

• Meeting and event space bookings

• Additional services like restaurant dining, wellness facilities and parking

Higher utilisation, higher profitability

Thanks to its dual-use concept, the same room can serve two customers in one day—a workspace during the day and a hotel room at night. This leads to higher space efficiency and greater revenue per square meter than traditional hotel or office providers.

Diverse customer base

VALO serves both corporate clients and individual users. Companies such as PwC, EY, and FiBAN use VALO for meetings, office space, and accommodation. Individual guests book through the VALO App or common hotel platforms.

Scalable growth through franchising

The Helsinki location is operated by VALO Operator Oy, a fully owned subsidiary of VALO Group Oy. Future growth will be driven by local franchise or joint venture partners operating under the VALO brand. This asset-light expansion model allows rapid scaling without major real estate investments.

Market

Demand for both hotel stays and flexible workspaces is changing fast. People want more flexibility, and companies are rethinking how they use space. VALO’s concept fits right into this shift—offering a smarter way to serve both markets at once.

Two sectors, one concept

VALO operates at the intersection of hospitality and flexible workspaces. Both sectors are undergoing major shifts, driven by changing work habits and growing pressure to make better use of buildings. VALO’s model responds to these trends with a space-efficient, tech-enabled, and user-friendly solution.

Riding the wave of hybrid work

More people work remotely or in hybrid setups. Companies are downsizing their office footprints, while employees look for flexible and inspiring places to work. At the same time, travelers increasingly expect hotels to offer more than just a bed. These shifts are creating strong, ongoing demand for multi-functional spaces that serve both work and rest.

How VALO stands out

Most hotels try to add a bit of coworking. Most workspace providers only operate during office hours. VALO is different. It combines both functions in a way that’s seamless, efficient, and built for scale. With its dual-use concept, digital access model, and proven sustainability performance, VALO offers a clear competitive edge in a market full of one-dimensional offerings.

Strong market fit, low barriers for customers

Because the concept meets current needs and doesn’t require new construction, VALO can enter new cities faster and with fewer resources than traditional players. The customer value is clear: better use of space, more flexibility, and lower cost per use.

Management

Distribution of company shares

VALO Group Oy’s ownership is anchored by its founding team and a core group of long-term investors with deep expertise in real estate, construction, and sustainable business development. This structure has played a crucial role in turning VALO’s vision into an award-winning and scalable concept.

Strategic ownership that supports growth

The company’s largest shareholder, Creo Capital is owned by investors including Janne Riihimäki, one of VALO’s original founders and a legal and real estate expert with nearly 30 years of experience. Together, Creo Capital and Riihimäki personally hold close to 40% of the company. His influence has been instrumental in shaping VALO’s business model, legal structure, and long-term growth strategy.

Another key shareholder is Hannu Holma, VALO’s CEO and co-founder, who holds nearly 6% of the company. With a strong background in construction and green building concepts, Holma’s leadership ensures that VALO remains focused on innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability.

Other early-stage investors—including family members, aligned private investors, and the 2022 Invesdor crowd—bring a wide base of support. Their belief in the concept helped VALO validate its model early and build momentum for future expansion.

Benefits of the ownership structure

• Strong founder presence ensures commitment, continuity, and a long-term view.

• Strategic investors provide both capital and operational expertise.

• Broad investor base, including Invesdor participants, creates a strong community of ambassadors and backers for future growth.

This well-balanced ownership model gives VALO both the strategic focus and the flexibility it needs to expand internationally through licensing and franchising.

Company structure

VALO Group Oy is the parent company and strategic driver of the VALO concept. It holds 100% ownership of VALO Operator Oy, which runs the operational business of the Helsinki hotel and workspace facility.

Each future facility is planned to be set up as a local operating company, likely in the form of a joint venture or franchise under the VALO brand. This structure allows VALO to scale efficiently by partnering with local operators, without heavy capital investment in real estate.

Legal entity for investment

Investors are lending to VALO Group Oy, the holding company, which will transfer the funds to VALO Operator Oy as working capital for the Helsinki operation. All current and future facilities will fall under the umbrella of VALO Group.

Ownership and profit flow

• VALO Group Oy owns 100% of VALO Operator Oy

• Future revenues from new locations will be generated through franchise or partnership agreements

• Investors benefit from the growth of the entire VALO concept, not just the Helsinki facility

Developments at VALO Group since the last funding round in 2022

VALO Group has made determined progress towards profitable growth. The strategy has focused on the following four areas:

1. Business figures getting stronger

• Work business is growing: 90 ongoing contracts (3/2025), with an average of 69.8 rooms/day occupied on weekdays. NPS 79.
• Hotel occupancy 53.6%, average rate €81 (vs €74 LY), excellent customer satisfaction (GRI 87.4%).
• Several savings and development projects have been implemented to improve profitability - especially in restaurant, reception and work environment services.
• Due to high fixed costs, results are improving rapidly as turnover increases.

 2. Technological development

• VALO Platform technology enables efficient dual-use operations and a fully digital customer journey.
• Operational data and customer flows are increasingly controlled - supporting sales, capacity management and customer experience.
• The technology is also being developed as a platform for an international franchising and licensing model.
   

3. International growth launched

• International Growth Team established to prepare for international expansion based on partnership models.
• ​​​​​​​Initial target markets are cities in Europe and Asia with high labour and tourism flows.

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4. Strategy change: from Finnish destinations to international growth

• The original objective of opening several VALO sites in Finland has been postponed due to the challenges of launching domestic real estate projects in the current financial environment.
• The strategy has therefore been updated: the focus is now on a leaner and more scalable international partner model, with VALO acting as a technology and concept partner for local operators.
   

Back to the beginning

Use of funds

The funds raised in this round will be used to provide working capital for VALO Operator Oy, the company operating VALO Hotel & Work Helsinki. This capital ensures stable daily operations, supports service quality, and strengthens the business as demand continues to grow.

Immediate operational use

• Cover operational costs at the Helsinki facility

• Maintain high service standards and staffing

• Manage liquidity during a period of continued revenue growth

Enabling international expansion

Raising this capital will also free up previously secured funds. VALO currently holds a €4 million loan from Creo Capital, its majority shareholder. Once new working capital is secured via this bond, those existing funds—previously allocated to Helsinki operations—can be redirected toward international business development of the VALO concept. This includes:

• Negotiations and market research in Europe and Asia

• Setting up new franchise and JV partnerships

• Preparing scalable operational models and licensing structures

Actual and planned figures

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Invesdor does not conduct a separate review of information received after the start of the financing phase.