Short summary on the Finnish Startup Community

Finnish Startup Community is a community of more than 180 Finnish growth companies and startups from different stages, all the way from early-stage startups to the ten biggest Finnish growth companies. It brings entrepreneurs together to learn from each other and drive important issues for startups forward in Finland. The community was founded in the autumn of 2021 to advance the interests of Finland as a whole.

The community activity is built around events and member communications. It organizes internal membership events for the members of the Finnish community on a weekly basis. The topics of the events always vary according to the wishes of its members, from current affairs to more specific topics related to building and growing startups. The members of the community also engage in active discussion on internal channels on a daily basis. The community also maintains communication with the community through a monthly membership newsletter, in which it updates the progress of the community advocacy work, discusses current topics, and shares all upcoming events.

The community accepts ambitious and international-minded startups, growth companies and investors as its members. All membership fees are based on the stage and size of the company.

Finnish Startup Community's main focus areas and goals

The community believes that startups will become a new pillar for the economy and society. In relation to that, it is regarded that by the year 2030, the value of exports created by startups has increased from the current 2 billion to 10 billion euros. This is the most conservative estimate, and even it would bring the startup industry to the same ballpark as the forest and metal industries.

Stemming from the mentioned, the community has two main focus areas. First, it wants to have a positive impact on Finnish society by making sure Finland becomes the best environment in the world to build and cultivate startups. Second, the community aims to reinforce the cooperation between startups. The community members have helped each other out, found new ideas, and improved their companies’ course of action.

The top goal of the community is to make Finland the best place in the world for the best talent – and that Finland is more attractive than Silicon Valley to start and grow a startup company. In this way, the Finnish startup sector can grow into a new central pillar to support the Finnish economy, bringing it jobs and tax revenue. The community believes that by 2030, Finnish startups and growth companies will become the country's new economic backbone - alongside the forest and metal industries - also in exports and relation to GDP, making it one of Finland's most important economic sectors.

The community is in constant contact with Finnish and European decision-makers in order to promote the growth environment of Finnish startups, and it shares current information about the development of the Finnish startup field with those who are interested in it.

In the Finnish Startup Community, it is believed that technology and entrepreneurship are at the heart of the next industrial revolution and sustainable development. About half of the world's largest companies have been established relatively recently.

The community is backed by a strong team and board

The Finnish Startup Community is a registered association whose work is funded by membership fees. The community has a CEO and four team members who aim to build public debate around startups, create and analyze new startup data, and organize events relevant to the community members. In addition, the community uses external experts, e.g. promoting legislative projects.

Source: Finnish Startup Community, 2023