Helsinki invites scale-up founders, venture capitalists, and limited partner investors to join two flagship programs – supporting business expansion to Northern Europe
Venture Nordics programme in Helsinki in May 2024. Photo: Maija Astikainen, Helsinki Partners
Helsinki Partners organizes two flagship programs, Founders to Finland and Venture Nordics, inviting international entrepreneurs and investors to unravel the potential of Helsinki. Participants will have a chance to immerse themselves in this hidden Nordic gem, one of the world's most vibrant startup ecosystems. They will also get a free ticket to Slush 2024, the world’s biggest gathering for startups and venture capitalists.
The New Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Iceland) have grown into a disproportionate source of innovation and gained fame as a unicorn factory only second to Silicon Valley.
Helsinki is the epicenter of the New Nordics region: the city’s exceptional support for innovation, commitment to green transition, and dedication to quality of life attract top talent and significant investments. Helsinki is rapidly emerging as a leading destination for scale-up founders and venture capitalists, offering unparalleled opportunities for growth, innovation, and investment. It is also the capital of Finland, the happiest country in the World for the 7th time in a row.
“We believe that amidst all the global challenges, solutions lie within cities. Helsinki is a rapidly expanding metropolis in the heart of the Nordics, and it’s an ideal testing ground for shaping the future. We are committed to innovation and sustainability, and we’re proud to be the catalyst for pioneering solutions with global impact,” explains Clarisse Berggårdh, CEO at Helsinki Partners.
Despite all this, Helsinki still holds a lot of untapped potential in terms of ROI, top talent, and impact for scale-ups. The Founders to Finland and Venture Nordics programs are arranged to offer international entrepreneurs and investors to experience the Nordic magic for themselves.
Both programs include carefully curated activities, a free ticket to SLUSH, as well as access to exclusive side events and valuable meetings with startup and investor ecosystem influencers.
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Founders to Finland is a six-day program (18-23 November 2024) designed for international founders who have recently completed Series B or C funding. Participants gain valuable connections and insights into the Nordic market and attend Slush 2024 with free tickets. Helsinki’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and quality of life makes it ideal for scale-ups. Testimonials from the three previous editions of the program highlight the impact this initiative has had on fostering investment in Finnish startups.
"Helsinki has a very diverse pool of talents, and the Finnish people have a very strong sense of commitment and dedication to their work. For us, it is very important that people are independent and complete their work tasks responsibly. Everyone's in this together and they understand the entrepreneur culture," states Crystal Koh, Founder of Chanceupon and Xanne Leo, COO of Chanceupon, participants of the Founders to Finland program.
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Venture Nordics is the leading program for international VC funds and LPs aiming to expand their investments in Europe and the Nordics. Coinciding with Slush 2024, the seven-day program (15-21 November 2024) offers an in-depth look at Helsinki’s high-performing funds and dynamic startup ecosystem. Finnish funds consistently outperform the European average, and Helsinki’s strategic location enhances market access. This is the second edition of the program. The first edition had 9 participants managing a total AUM of around 12 billion euros.
"Budgets are blossoming in terms of developing deep tech and deep science here in Helsinki. A lot of companies are making their way to the climate change space, and quantum computing. The Finnish tech landscape encompasses many cutting-edge areas that you can learn from, invest in, and implement into your own business and market,” says Rahul Ranjani, Partner at Manerama Capital and alumnus of the Venture Nordics Spring 2024 program.
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Slush is the biggest gathering for startups and venture capitalists in the world, with 5,500 startup founders and operators, and 3,300 investors attending from around the world. The event pushes the limits on creativity and technology, offering attendees a unique opportunity to meet and network with other like-minded people both through the official program, as well as the more than 300 side events organized by partners and the wider startup community.
Founders and investors interested in the programs are encouraged to submit an application for the chance to explore Helsinki's startup and venture ecosystems and experience the Slush 2024 gathering first-hand.
For more information please contact:
Founders to Finland
Xin Wang
xin.wang@helsinkipartners.com
+358 40 139 2503
Venture Nordics
Tian Yu
tian.yu@helsinkipartners.com
+358 45 225 6818
About Helsinki Partners
Helsinki Partners is a city marketing, investment and talent attraction company owned by the City of Helsinki. Their mission is to promote the city’s sustainable growth; attract international investment, businesses, talent and visitors, and to conduct international sales and marketing, as well as build Helsinki’s brand globally.
For more information, please visit https://www.helsinkipartners.com/
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