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Sampo co-founded Sulake in 2000 with friend and colleague Aapo Kyrola and to this day continues to drive the companys creative strategy. A member of the extended management team, he has been active in creating a unique product and the company behind it. He is instrumental in the evolution of Habbo, one of the Worlds most successful virtual worlds and social networking sites for teens, overseeing e.g. the introduction of new functionality, games and initiatives such as Habbowood and the Traxmachine. Sampo is passionate about creating online services that are based on user participation and creativity and is a keen advocate of open-ended play. Initial concepts such as Mobiles Disco, a browser based graphical chat environment and Lumisota (Snow War), an award winning online game, followed this successful blueprint. Both became online hits in Finland within months. Whilst Sampo aims to encourage creativity with each project, his own talent sees him spearheading Sulakes research and development teams. He is particularly interested in exploring alternative platforms to the PC and is heavily involved in testing new ideas, concepts and user interfaces for Habbo. Sampo began his career as a graphic designer and animator, working with pioneering new media companies To the Point (1994-1998) and Satama Interactive (1998 1999) before joining Taivas where Sulake was founded. Sampos interests in creativity and design envelop his personal life too. He has a keen interest in design and urban culture Hel-looks.com is a street fashion photography website he runs with his partner.

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