We are at the biggest biohacking summit in Helsinki, Finland.
Biohacking is a part of the transhumanist movement, the evolution of the human kind through technology and new product from our beloved planet earth. We all want to improve our bodies, avoid sickness, avoid elderness, enhance our body and mental aptitude. That’s the reason why biohacking is related to transhumanist people.
A really interesting point was surprising us – no one knows in this congress about transhumanism, and when we were talking about the purpose of the movement, ‘that they were becoming “post human” and that the human kind will improve itself with nature and not against it’, they were really excited about it.
There were no “Do-it-yourself biology” companies/association which is a growing biotechnological social movement in which individuals, communities, and small organizations study biology and life science using the same methods as traditional research institutions. We were sad about it, because, we wanted to discuss with some DIY biohackers.
Speaker list:
Ben Greenfield (USA)
BenGreenFieldFitness.com, Human Performance Author & Consultant, Top 100 Most Influential People in Health & Fitness
Ben Greenfield is an ex-bodybuilder, Ironman triathlete, Spartan racer, coach, speaker and author of the New York Times Bestseller “Beyond Training: Mastering Endurance, Health and Life”. In 2008, Ben was voted as NSCA’s Personal Trainer of the year and in 2013 and 2014 was named by Greatist as one of the top 100 Most Influential People In Health And Fitness. Ben blogs and podcasts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com, and resides in Spokane, WA with his wife and twin boys.
Bob Troia (USA)
Entrepreneur, Citizen Scientist, Biohacker @ Quantified Bob
Bob Troia is a technology entrepreneur and citizen scientist who has been at the forefront of digital innovation and emerging technologies for two decades. A leading voice of the Quantified Self and biohacking movements, “Quantified Bob” documents his personal efforts at the intersection of data-driven citizen science, health and wellness, human performance, longevity, and self-optimization at QuantifiedBob.com.
Thomas Blomseth Christiansen (DNK)
Self-tracker, technologist, co-founder @ TOTTI Labs & Flowrunner
Thomas Blomseth Christiansen is recognized as one of the most experienced and influential self-trackers in the global Quantified Self community—both as a technologist and someone seeking to discover things about himself. Most widely known for tracking his every sneeze for the past seven years he has effectively cured himself of his allergies through long-running experiments with his lifestyle. In the process he has collected a unique dataset of over 100K observations made by paying attention to his subjective experience and daily living. He is working on next-generation technology for self-tracking and human augmentation as co-founder of TOTTI Labs and Flowrunner.
Alexander Fedintsev (RUS)
Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology @ Russian Academy of Sciences
Anti-ageing researcher, author of the biological age estimation method based on markers of arterial health, co-author of the book “Potential Geroprotectors”. Machine learning enthusiast, bioinformatician and professional software engineer. Searching for the true cause of aging.
Olli Posti (FIN)
Health Influencer, Personal Shopper & Supermarket Survivalist
After eating his way out of multiple sclerosis, Olli Posti has been in the front lines now for a decade promoting joyful & healthy eating, nutrient dense foods, personal development and supermarket survivalism. Olli’s work has been widely covered in the Finnish media. With his unique style and vision, Olli Posti has inspired thousands of Finns to enjoy healthier life. Recently he was chosen as The Finnish Health Influencer 2016 by a public vote. Currently Olli produces and hosts the Supermarket Survival guide, an action-packed online course for making intelligent food choices at supermarkets and health food stores.
Tomi Kokko (FIN)
Lifestyle Transformation Expert, Founder @ Lean in Five Weeks Challenge
Tomi Kokko has over 10 years experience in fitness and nutrition, and has transformed 7000 lives in Finland through his online coaching program called Lean in Five Weeks Challenge. His vision is to transform million people’s lives and enable them to chase their dreams.
Christopher Dancy (USA)
Worlds Most Connected Man, Mindful Cyborg
Chris Dancy is touted as “the Most Connected Man on Earth,” and the world is watching those connections carefully. For 25 years, Dancy has served in leadership within the technology and healthcare industries, specializing in the intersection of the two. Chris entered the public dialog concerning digital health as the media started to focus on wearable technology. He earned his moniker by utilizing up to 700 sensors, devices, applications, and services to track, analyze, and optimize his life–from his calorie intake to his spiritual well-being. This quantification enables him to see the connections of otherwise invisible data, resulting in dramatic upgrades to his health, productivity, and quality of life.
Joseph Cohen (USA)
Founder @ SelfHacked and @ SelfDecode
At the age of 25, Joe was sick, broke, and unemployable. Since ‘biohacking’ himself from sickness Joe has become an entrepreneur, investor and writer, founding SelfHacked and SelfDecode. SelfHacked is a leader in biohacking content, with 1 million views a month. SelfDecode is a popular biohacking software that combines data from genetics, blood tests and symptoms to render personalized health recommendations.
Kasper van der Meulen (NLD)
Bestselling Author, Science Teacher, Human Performance Expert
Kasper van der Meulen is an author and lifestyle adventurer. He went from being overweight, burnt out and unhappy, to developing superhuman focus, fitness and personal freedom. He put himself through numerous experiments and challenges. He optimized his lifestyle, conquered the cold, ran ultramarathons on his bare feet, tested countless diets, read a ton of scientific literature and explored as many esoteric practices he could find. With over ten thousand hours of experience in teaching science, self-mastery and innovation, he decided to demystify and methodize these principles in a fun and bitesized manner. As a final test of his focus, he wrote his book within 30 days, so that he would have to practice everything he preaches.
His book “MindLift – Mental Fitness for the Modern Mind” became an Amazon best seller. Kasper now travels the world on a mission to teach others to be the healthiest, happiest and strongest version of themselves through transformative experiences and down-to-earth scientific understanding. He is the teacher-teacher of the Wim Hof Academy, he runs experiential retreats in extreme nature and he trains elite performers and professional athletes. All while keeping a playful and creative approach to self-optimisation.
Yarrow Willard (CAN)
Master & Clinical Herbalist, Director @ Wild Rose College of Natural Healing, Formulator @ Harmonic Arts Botanical Dispensary
Yarrow Willard is a second generation Clinical/Master Herbalist who spends much of his time sharing knowledge and experience around reclaiming wellness, and deepening connections with the natural world. Professionally, Yarrow is the creator of the Harmonic Arts Botanical Dispensary, and director of Wild Rose College of Natural Healing. He is an influential innovator in the Canadian Health Food Industry, who has developed and brought to market a number of successful health products. Yarrow continually delivering rich and original content via articles, interviews, social media and the over 100 Youtube videos on plant medicine he has created. As a speaker, teacher, entrepreneur and modern day reality hacker, he is highly engaging, dynamic and insightful. Yarrows message stems from the infusion of modern and old world knowledge, sprinkled with his own magic.
Liviu Babitz (GBR)
Human with artificial sensory organ. CEO and Co-founder @ Cyborg Nest
Liviu is the CEO and co-founder of Cyborg Nest, a company aiming to help people expand their perception of reality by adding artificial senses to their life. Cyborg Nest launched the North Sense, a miniature piece of technology connecting the owner to the earth’s magnetic field. In a world dominated by artificial intelligence created to make our phones, cars and homes smarter, we decided to make people smarter instead. In his previous role, Liviu was the COO of Videre est Credere, managing undercover networks of people capturing human rights violations in the most remote places on the planet.
Veli-Jussi Jalkanen (FIN)
Health Inventor, Chair @ Salli Systems
Mr. Veli-Jussi Jalkanen is a health inventor, CAM and sitting health specialist. He has logically spread out sitting optimization to comprehend the whole physical working environment and started to think ergonomics as optimization of micro and macro circulation of the lymph and blood. Salli Concept includes awareness, furniture, their optimal use, sitting friendly clothing and body activity in numerous ways including PDNF, hormones and the electromagnetic body.
Stanislav Skakun (RUS)
Biohacker, PhD, CMA, PMP
Stanislav runs a personal biohacking experiment since 2014, measuring 560 biomarkers on monthly basis and managing dozens of personalized interventions simultaneously. With thousands of datapoints to date, this is probably one of the most well documented biohacking longitude case-study available worldwide.
Teemu Arina (FIN)
Curator @ Biohacker Summit, Author @ Biohacker’s Handbook
Teemu Arina has a professional career of over 15 years as a technology entrepreneur, author and speaker. He is one of the forefront thinkers on the intersection of the human and the machine, social media, digital work and online learning. He is a Leonardo Award laureate under the patronage of European Parliament for “Humanity in Digitization”. Mr. Arina is the founder of three award winning technology companies, co-founder of Quantified Self & Biohacking Finland and co-author of the Biohacker’s Handbook for optimizing health and wellbeing with technological and biological tools. Mr. Arina is a popular keynote speaker who has presented internationally in countries such as USA, UK, Japan, Hongkong, Russia, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Jaakko Halmetoja (FIN)
Nutrition Specialist, Independent Wellness Entrepreneur, Author @ Biohacker’s Handbook
Jaakko Halmetoja is a nutrition expert, author and professional speaker. Jaakko has managed multiple special caféterias in Tampere and works as a product developer for food growth companies. Halmetoja has been popularizing health benefits and unique uses of e.g. chaga mushroom, chocolate, wild foods, various berries and medicinal herbs. Halmetoja maintains a non-profit website loydalahde.com, a database for finding local springs around Finland and hosts weekly talk show – InspiRadio Podcast. He has also written a book on chaga mushroom as well as co-authored the Biohacker’s Handbook. Halmetoja is a popular lecturer with over 500 public lectures and performances.
MD Olli Sovijärvi (FIN)
Licensed General Practitioner, Helsinki Antioxidant Clinic, Author @ Biohacker’s Handbook
Olli Sovijärvi is a Licensed General Practitioner at Helsinki Antioxidant Clinic and co-author of the Biohacker’s Handbook. He is one of the pioneers in holistic medicine in Finland and the only Finnish medical doctor with a psychologic-philosophical Integral Theory degree from John F. Kennedy University. Sovijärvi graduated 2006 as a licensed physician from University of Helsinki. He has pioneered health podcasts in Finland with Helsinki Paleo Podcast and Biohacker’s Podcast. Sovijärvi has also consulted many natural health brands and organizations.
Harri Helajärvi (FIN)
MD, PhD
Harri Helajärvi has been studying the impact of physical activity, inactivity and other lifestyle & risks factors on health. His thesis focused on sedentary behaviour and health risks associated with it. Harri works in the field of Sports and Exercise Medicine. He hopes that with knowledge and enthusiasm he could motivate especially those who are not into physical activity to improve their health & wellbeing.
Elin Sandberg (SWE)
Medical Doctor, Yoga Teacher, Researcher
Standing with one foot in the world of yoga, and one foot in the traditional western medicine, Elin has an unique approach to health and well-being. Elin teaches yoga suitable for everyone – bringing yoga away from the yoga mat and into the everyday life – where the actual power of yoga and well-being lies. After finishing her medicine studies at the university, she now runs her own business as a yoga teacher, teaching mostly therapeutic yoga. She is also working on her PhD project, a yoga and dance intervention for girls with recurrent abdominal pain.
Sam Engström (FIN)
CEO & Founder @ Timespace
Sam founded his first company when he was eighteen years old and that company is now the Finnish market leader in construction site cameras. His latest endeavour Timespace is helping people focus by combining aspects of mindfulness to practical productivity.
Marko Mäkinen (FIN)
Self-optimization enthusiast and a nutritional entrepreneur
Marko Mäkinen is the managing director of Rohtos Labs Ltd., a Finnish manufacturer of nutritional supplements designed for personal optimization. Mr. Mäkinen is a nutrition and self-optimization enthusiast.
Hannu Kinnunen (FIN)
Chief Scientific Officer @ Oura Health
Hannu Kinnunen is the brains behind the science that makes ŌURA the most advanced wearable vital signs monitor in the world. With a long career at heart rate monitor maker Polar, Hannu was responsible for the physiological algorithms, many of which are still used in Polar products today. Hannu is credited in dozens of patents and scientific articles on the field of heart rate based signal processing, biosignal detection, and the analysis of activity, training, recovery and sleep.
Nelli Lähteenmäki (FIN)
CEO & Co-Founder @ Fifth Corner Inc.
Nelli Lähteenmäki is a serial entrepreneur passionate about building impactful and scalable businesses. She is the CEO & Co-Founder of Fifth Corner Inc., the creator of YOU-app. YOU is a scalable, science-based platform for sustainable behavior change, serving health care ecostystem, companies & consumers. Developed in collaboration with psychologists & neuroscientists, YOU-app condenses top knowledge into concrete micro-actions and empowers people to make positive change happen — one small action at a time. Nelli is an engineer by background, an avid road cyclist and a lead singer of a rock band. She is the co-author of the Book of YOU (published by Penguin Books in 2015).
Nils Kämpe (FIN)
CEO @ BEMER Nordic, health and wellness enthusiast
Nils Kämpe has gained extensive experience in international ITC business in companies like IBM and Nokia. He then turned become an entrepreneur in high tech health industry promoting the importance of microcirculation for your health. Built up a successful importation distribution business of BEMER Physical Vascular Therapy devices in the Nordic countries. He passionate about utilizing technology to boost health and wellbeing.
Vanessa Spina (CAN)
Author and Expert @ the Ketogenic Diet
Vanessa Spina is an author and expert on the Ketogenic Diet. She is also the founder of Ketogenic Girl, which provides effective ketogenic meal plans and coaching for weight loss and healing. Vanessa has coached over 2,300 people to date in her program based on the therapeutic approach to keto and teaching how to biohack your body by testing your blood for ketosis at home on her 28 Day Ketogenic Girl challenge program. She is a passionate health and biohacking advocate for preventative and optimal health for all and believes in the power of food not only to satisfy and delight us, but also to heal our bodies.
Miikka Kurunlahti (FIN)
CEO & Founder @ Weela
Miikka Kurunlahti is the CEO at Welapro Ltd. He has created and given the face for Weela – Mobile Gym, which is intelligent and small fitness equipment is the part of future. His passion is to provide fitness training near everyone without need to going gym. The Weela is his dream and lifework and the solution how to solve the challenge of movement.
Piia Kalliokoski (FIN)
Service Manager, digital services @ United Medix Laboratories Ltd
Piia Kalliokoski has worked in the laboratory field for many years in different positions. The most exciting issues for her are effective innovations in health tech and the health promotion sector. She currently works with development of remote sampling concept at United Medix Laboratories which is the biggest central laboratory in Finland.
Inka Immonen (FIN)
Yoga & Meditation Teacher, Biohacker
Start your day by cultivating your inner propensity of kindness, compassion and good will with guided Loving-kindness Meditation – an easy tool that research has shown to have tremendous amount of health benefits varying from improved mental resilience and physical health to increased social connectedness and emotional intelligence.
Mikko Orasuo (FIN)
YouTuber, Engineer of Wellbeing technology
Mr. Orasuo has been involved with Biohacker Summit since 2014. He started as a volunteer in the cloakroom and ended up as the the event manager in just one year. Hanging out with wellness experts and innovative startup people made it’s mark, and he decided to spread his own wings in 2017. Now he’s in the process of selling all of his possessions and travelling to Europe with an RV to surf and learn languages. He documents this on his YouTube channel “Mikko’s Adventure” with two new videos every week
Claiming to harness real scientific phenomena to hand the biological reins to the people, biohackers often end up using unsubstantiated over-interpretations of science.
13-14 October 2017 – Suvilahti Power Plant, Helsinki, Finland – http://biohackersummit.com/
We are truly grateful to the Biohacker Summit Team who invited us.