What is BASED?

BASED is not just our name—it's our way of doing.

We offer grounded, data-based solutions and services that help you navigate the complexities of markets and business with confidence and precision.

The origin of BASED

"We created BASED because most things in business and tech are a mess—full of jargon and distractions from what really matters. We knew there was a better way. BASED is here to solve real problems with clear, practical, data-based tools. Hence the name."

— BASED Founders: Sam Laakso & Teemu Makkonen

Our ethos

At BASED, we build tools which we find useful and for those who find them useful. We believe in building solid products, action over jargon, data over opinion, and facts over stories. We build our products for ourselves, and by doing so, we get the best quality. Since we use our own products, we always have skin in the game.

Our services

We provide data-based research and consultancy for a range of topics.

Research

At BASED Research, we provide weekly data-based risk management reports which include proprietary BASED Trend Signals, weekly Buy/Sell Zones, updates on all the relevant data points in the gold market, and key remarks by BASED.

Consultancy

At BASED Consultancy, we combine cutting-edge technology with deep market knowledge to deliver solid business solutions. Our team of experts leverages a robust, data-based approach to tackle unique challenges, optimizing operational efficiencies and enhancing decision-making. Whether you're navigating market volatility, seeking to improve your technological capabilities, or aiming to optimize growth, BASED Consultancy provides the insights and expertise necessary to give you an edge on your market.

Our expertise

Financial markets & business

All businesses are exposed to risks from the financial markets—whether they know it or not. With global markets comes global risks from currency exchange rates, interest rates, and commodity prices. At BASED, our expertise in finance includes eg. financial instruments, hedging strategies, trading platforms, commodities, foreign exchange, and derivatives.

At BASED, we have extensive experience in business development, operational efficiency, leadership, project management, and key partnership management. We've built 50+ million euro businesses from scratch so we know what it takes to innovate, build, and scale businesses.

Technology & artificial intelligence

Our developers have decades of experience building software and hardware solutions to companies of all sizes and for a wide range of industries. From building financial exchange platforms to testing and enhancing cybersecurity defenses, our team of developers is seasoned and world class.

The developers at BASED are not just up to date with AI, but have experience in training and building AI models and implementing secure closed loop AI models to inhouse IT-systems.

Together with our business development expertise we are capable of solving any software problem—big or small. We specialize in process automation and building reliable internal tools for businesses. The code by our coders has been bought by Fortune 500 companies so it truly meets the world's highest standards.

Precious metals

The team at BASED has extensive knowledge and experience in the precious metals markets. Our comprehensive expertise covers every aspect of the precious metals industry, from mining and refining to storage, transportation, trading, and financing. Our CEO, Sam Laakso, is the go to expert for Precious Metals in the Nordics and has consulted companies on the topic all over the world.

Key personnel

Sam Laakso, CEO & Co-Founder

Sam Laakso is a seasoned financial markets expert, specializing in financial instruments, trading platforms, and precious metals. Known for his extensive 199-page thesis titled "The Future of Gold from 2019 to 2039," Sam frequently lends his voice to public discussions when gold is in the news. During his tenure at Voima Gold Ltd, Sam headed several departments and served as the Chief Operating Officer, playing a pivotal role in scaling the company from €1.6 million to over €50 million in revenue in just four years. He also built Finland's largest precious metals recycling business, Voima Miners, which processed over €50 million worth of precious metals during his tenure and continues to be the market leader in trading volumes.

With expertise spanning trading, risk management, product development, and strategy implementation, Sam is known for driving business growth and operational excellence. His ability to lead high-impact projects—such as launching new digital products, developing risk management solutions, and creating innovative business units—has made him known and well-connected figure in the gold and financial markets industries. Sam's insights are valued by industry professionals, researchers, and journalists alike.

Teemu Makkonen, CTO & Co-Founder

Teemu Makkonen is an accomplished technology and cybersecurity specialist with expertise in building and securing scalable IT infrastructures. As Head of IT at Voima Gold Ltd, Teemu was pivotal in designing and managing the company's entire IT framework, covering cybersecurity, infrastructure, and technology strategy. He took Voima's IT capabilities from scratch to an advanced system that supported rapid growth.

As co-founder of Necuno Solutions Oy, Teemu developed ultra-secure mobile devices tailored to sectors with the highest security demands. His past experience in penetration testing and security consulting has provided him with the ability to safeguard complex IT systems. Teemu's technical skillset spans backend, DevOps, frontend, and large-scale architectures, making him key for BASED's robust, secure, and innovative technology foundation.

Sign in