Ilkka Vertanen
Sales Leader in CPaaS | Founder of GTM Club
My name is Ilkka Vertanen.
It's a pleasure to meet you!
With a robust background in B2B technology sales, I am dedicated to helping businesses achieve their growth targets. Welcome to my corner of the internet!
Briefly About Me.
More than 15 years ago, I had an idea: I should set up an online store. I did just that, starting my journey to digital commerce. Since then, my interest in e-commerce has evolved into a passion for developing B2B technology sales.
At university, I learned a thing or two about marketing, but I wanted to learn to sell. So, I leveraged my experience with e-commerce and got a sales position at a live chat company with a more sales-focused approach to live chat (compared to a traditional customer service approach). I learned two things there. Businesses like to invest in sales. As a result, I spent years turning live chat operations into lean, mean sales machines in Finland and abroad. Secondly and most importantly, I learned that I love sales. This set me on the path I am today.
I learned that I love sales. This set me on the path I am today.
My next role was the head of sales at a chatbot company, GetJenny. In my previous role, I sold companies a live chat and then, at GetJenny, I sold them a way to automate live chat. Pretty clever, right? Starting as the first salesperson in the company and growing the sales team to 7 people is where I learned to lead and develop technology sales. We grew the company to 20 employees before exiting. LeadDesk acquired GetJenny in 2021. I stayed on board for nearly a year and participated in integrating sales teams and the sales stack. Being a part of a start-up from almost the beginning to a successful exit is quite a ride!
Being a part of a start-up from almost the beginning to a successful exit is quite a ride!
Now, I lead LINK Mobility's business in Finland and the Baltics. In 2024, we generated approximately 15 million euros in revenue and are on a growth trajectory for 2025 and 2026. My team helps over 900 customers communicate with their audiences through various channels, including SMS, WhatsApp, and email. My role involves a holistic approach to managing our business unit, with a focus on strategic growth initiatives that expand our customer base and market share. In 2024, we successfully executed a go-to-market for SMS SenderID Protection and will soon achieve the same with RCS.
I focus on leading strategic growth initiatives to expand our customer base and market share.
My first years of entrepreneurship gave me an edge in e-commerce. I ran the aforementioned online store for some years as a side hustle. Since then, my entrepreneurial spirit has given birth to a sales consultancy and booking agency, as well as my latest venture, GTM Club (more on that below). I have learned that I enjoy advising and consulting B2B sales. GTM Club is my current channel for doing it on scale, but I hope to dive into the nitty-gritty as a board member of a growing technology company.
Scroll down to learn more about what I'm working on.
GTM Club
GTM Club helps you achieve sales-led success.
GTM Club is not here to flood you with sales hacks. We focus on long-term success. Every blog and every issue of the GTM Club Newsletter is written for GTM operators in B2B tech companies, founders, heads of sales, and other leaders navigating under-resourced teams, shifting priorities, and constant revenue pressure.
There are no oversimplified frameworks or magical email subject lines here. What you will find is practical, honest guidance drawn from experience. Gain traction, build systems, and choose long-term clarity over short-term noise.
As the founder and author of GTM Club, I aim to share what I have learned about increasing sales and creating winning sales-led GTM strategies.
Join the GTM Club by subscribing to our GTM Club Newsletter.
GTM Club welcomes everyone, from seasoned professionals to newcomers in the GTM field. Regardless of your role and title, our doors are open to you.
LINK Mobility
As a Sales and Marketing Director at LINK Mobility, I help you meet the expectations of modern customers. I'm leading our GTM efforts in Finland and the Baltics.
So what do we do then? We help you connect with your customers. They want service and information through SMS, RCS, and WhatsApp. Our mobile messaging services enable you to meet your customers in their preferred channels.
LINK Mobility's Finnish website, pop in to see what we are up to!
LINK Mobility is a CPaaS provider headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. We are Europe's leading provider of mobile communications services, specialising in mobile messaging. LINK’s 55,000 customers worldwide sent 20 billion messages in 2024. We continue to experience strong organic growth, driven by high recurring revenue. Group revenue was seven billion NOK in 2024.
Personal Blog & Newsletter
This is my blog, where I delve into my experiences across various sales roles and other interests. Here, you'll find insights and content that don't quite fit with GTM Club or LINK Mobility but are hopefully equally intriguing.
Contact Details
Ilkka Vertanen
Find my LinkedIn profile here. It's the best way to connect with me.
I'm also active on Threads as @ilkka.rocks. I'm giving the new social channel a chance, so feel free to initiate a discussion there!