Product readiness: 1. Idea

Jätkäsaari Mobility Lab

Jätkäsaari Mobility Lab offers ways to pilot solutions in real-life city context in Helsinki, Finland. Their sweet spot is solutions that are ready to be tested, but they’re happy to discuss also with idea stage projects to see about future collaboration potential. The solutions should be related to safe and sustainable smart mobility.

They have 1-2 agile piloting calls per year, but also ongoing applications, so feel free to contact them any time.

The most recent call is open until 18.8.2020 with a maximum cost of one agile pilot being €15 000.

Redstone

Redstone has six funds and 50 CVC partners. Their funds and sectors are listed in https://www.redstone.vc/sector-funds/. They are especially interested in industry 4.0, fintech, proptech, mobility, bio materials & agrotech.

Finnish Business Angels Network (FIBAN)

One of the largest business angel networks in the world with 650 members.

Ticket range of most angels is €5-100k, median ticket size is €20k. Syndicates may invest up to €1M. Median syndicate size is €200k.

 

Kiuas

Kiuas is a completely free and possibly the most well-known student-led accelerator in Finland. It’s completely free. In addition to the program itself, participating startups will get a toolbox of startup goodies, including free cloud platform credits etc.

Application period for the summer 2020 program is until Wed 20.5.2020. Autumn batch will likely be held in October-November, with application period in September.

The program is usually held onsite in Espoo, Finland, but the summer 2020 program is held as a remote, virtual one. The program is focused for helping startups integrate with their alumni and mentor community in Finland, so any non-Finnish startups that apply should be ready to move to Finland.

Their spring and autumn batches are three-week pre-acceleration programs called Kiuas Start, for which idea stage startups are welcome. The main program in the summer requires the team to have a working solution already. The nine-week main program focuses on developing product-market fit, customer relationships, team and culture building for growth, and preparing for funding rounds.

Turku Science Park BusinessUp

Acceleration program in Turku, Finland, that has been running already for four years. Participating startups can be of any type and do not need to have any working prototype or proof-of-concept yet, but should be ready to start turning their idea into reality.

They offer a mentoring program for 10 weeks. The program is completely free of charge.

Their autumn 2020 applications are open 1.6.-1.9.2020. You can ask more from johanna.puhtila@turkubusinessregion.com.

Boost Turku Startup Journey

Startup Journey by Boost Turku is a free early-stage acceleration program: no charges, no equity taken. Next batch is digital. Earlier ones have been onsite in Turku, Finland, and upcoming ones may be physical with digital participation possibly an option. Most selected teams will be from Turku region in Finland as the organization’s mission is to support the local ecosystem.

They select teams (not solo founders) that have done at least some work already on the idea, e.g. competitor identification and evaluation. Teams have to be able to clearly state their solution that has some competitive advantage.

The goal of the program is to help you develop your concept and get you towards first revenue.

Their community page with mentors etc. can be found at facebook.com/BoostStartupJourney.

Startup Wise Guys

They have three main programs: B2B (SaaS), Cyber Security, Fintech, and a pre-accelerator for idea stage companies. The applications are ongoing, but the programs are done in batches.

Strong focus on B2B. B2B2C is possible if it’s B2B focused. B2G is possible in especially strong cases. They invest in software and marketplaces. Hardware is ok, as long as the main value in the software side.

Main acceleration programs take companies from proof-of-concept stage onwards. Idea stage companies can apply into the pre-acceleration program.

Initial ticket almost always solo, follow-on is a co-investment with possibility to lead.

 

Commercialization Reactor

Accelerator with ongoing applications. Programs start in batches. Currently everything online, but they plan to resume physical participation programs later.

Requirements: Deep tech. Significant understanding behind tech. Team of founders have to include at least one scientist and one entrepreneur. Have to be from EEA or UK or Switzerland or willing to move to Latvia. Have to establish a company in Latvia for the acceleration program.

Sustainable Ventures

Annual acceleration fund and program for sustainable ventures.

Companies have to be UK tax registered. Investment tickets and mentioned sizes here are in British pounds.

Turing Studio

Fundraising, branding, design and business development consulting. Helping clients with development projects around the globe.

Does not organize clinical trials, but they do user research and interviews and help with all business areas.