Reputation and Trust Analytics – Our Story

A multidisciplinary foundation provides a solid basis

Reputation and Trust Analytics was founded in 1997 on the initiative of three students at the Helsinki University of Technology (HUT) – in the spirit of Aalto University, even before Aalto existed. Encouraged by TKK Rector Paavo Urosen, our founders Harri Leinikka, Petja Partanen, and Ari Nykänen combined expertise in technical and commercial sciences with the arts in an exceptional way. This multidisciplinary foundation has carried us to this day.

The first tangible product was T-Lehti. Founded in 1997, T-Lehti was a great success, and the founders’ first project exceeded expectations—so much so that Kauppalehti reported on it in 1999.

“Our first clients were Nokia, VTT, and TKK. These were organizations whose trust we really had to earn.”

Our first task was to build bridges: to connect universities, the business community, and students. Our first clients were Nokia, VTT, and TKK—organizations whose trust we really had to earn. Even back then, our tools were compelling content and rigorously conducted research.

Over nearly 30 years in business, we have conducted more than 3,700 Reputation&Trust for our clients in 40 different countries. Our database has grown with every assignment, every respondent, and every industry. It is our competitive advantage—one that cannot be bought or copied.

We continue to be delighted to serve our original clients, as well as all of the country’s universities, startups that have grown to become the best in the world, Finland’s most respected family-owned businesses, international publicly traded companies, and numerous industry associations and public sector organizations. In 2020, we were ranked among Finland’s 100 most successful companies in Kauppalehti’s assessment.

Information is our core expertise

Despite our small size, we have systematically invested in product development and analytics throughout the decades. Even in the midst of global crises. Our Head of Development, Riku Ruokolahti, has been involved in this work for three decades. We listen, analyze, and combine basic academic research with best practices and our own long-term observations.

Our research is not about measuring for the sake of measuring. Its purpose is to verify the business impacts of reputation and to steer organizational management toward a more sustainable direction for stakeholders and society.

Our team includes PhDs, engineers, data analysts, economists, researchers, award-winning journalists, and executives with MBAs, a historian nominated for the Tieto-Finlandia award, and highly experienced senior executives. This combination is no accident: it is a conscious choice.

Along the way, we have been supported by our co-owners, the Economic Information Agency TAT (2009–2015) and Sanoma Media Finland, which acquired our original media business in 2018. Since then, we have been able to focus fully on our research activities. Our sister company, Third Rock Finland, has established itself as a driver of responsible business practices.

Internationalization is built on data

The backbone of our growth is Reputation&Trust and our ever-expanding database, which enables more advanced analytics and the measurement of impact. In 2023, the Swedish investment firm Neqst became a minority shareholder to accelerate our international expansion, and in the spring of 2024, we opened our own office in Stockholm.

We monitor our clients’ reputation across an ever-wider range of stakeholder groups and in an increasing number of countries. Thanks to our first-class, continuously evolving tools and our certified consulting team, we can measure, build, and grow our clients’ most valuable intangible assets—trust and reputation—both in Finland and around the world.

We are an entrepreneur-driven growth company. And a great consulting firm is always just getting started.