LIVET PÅ HANKEN
From Hanken to the games industry Text: Cryptic Cargo Bild: Cryptic Cargo
3.5 years ago, Max Sandberg and Laura Aaltonen met at a beer tasting in Casa. Now they have a company together aiming to disrupt the escape room industry. But what do they do and how did they end up there? After a cozy Christmas dinner and a few drinks in 2016,
her master’s thesis in marketing. Studies at Hanken actually
a discussion arose around a new kind of business model
played a big role in creating the initial idea for Cryptic Car-
for the escape room industry, like it had done many times
go. During her marketing studies, Laura read a lot about
before during the fall. But this time something clicked; sud-
digitalization and customer-oriented innovation within
denly all puzzle pieces fell into place. This time the idea was
services and business models. Simultaneously, the casual
too good not to be carried out. In September the following
escape room hobby led to ever more discussions at home
year Max and Laura officially founded Cryptic Cargo. The
about how the industry could be innovated with regards to
journey had begun.
customer orientation. Soon the idea was born, and it was evident that it had to be done before someone else could
Cryptic Cargo aims to disrupt the escape room industry: The company provides the first truly portable escape room experiences in Finland. The games combine a ready-toplay escape room, packed in an easily movable suitcase, and a mobile app that complements the experience with interactive clues, tasks and an immersive soundscape, as well as helps players by providing hints. The games are not only completely portable, but they can also be operated without a game master. The players are also given the chance to decide how they want to enjoy their experience through altering the game settings, such as altering the maximum game time, and the game can be played several times during the one-day booking. Both founders have a background at Hanken. Max studied a minor in entrepreneurship to complement his computer science studies, and Laura is currently writing
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come up with it. When asked what it’s like being an entrepreneur, Laura smiles: “It’s a lot of work, like everyone says, but you can also take it easier sometimes, which is great. The environment for entrepreneurship is fantastic in Helsinki and
