Crossing the Finnish Line: Finland’s Startup & VC Ecosystem

Matt Olivo and I recently had the pleasure of traveling to Finland to catch up with a number of our friends and partners in the land of saunas, licorice, blondes and hockey.
There are all kinds of things to be fired up about when it comes to the Finnish startup ecosystem and venture capital scene.
As one of the most highly educated, but equally stoic and introverted countries in the world, Finland punches well above its weight in producing highly talented engineers and cutting-edge innovation, but founders, companies and well, the whole country really, struggles to promote itself, which keeps most of the best Finnish ideas from ever reaching the US or any other market that has more than 5.5 million potential customers.
But rather than simply taking my word for it, why not hear from those who are right there in the Finnish trenches? I had the opportunity to chat with a number of influential (and hard to pronounce) Finns. View the videos below to get a real sense of what’s happening up north.
What’s Special About Finland’s Startup Scene?
For my first interview, I had the pleasure to chat with (and butcher the last name of) Pia Erkinheimo and learn about Finland’s healthy startup ecosystem and why it’s one of the best places to do business.
What’s Happening within Finland’s Venture Capital World?
I next caught up with Marko Kyyrönen of EDUIMPACT Venture Capital to discuss current trends happening in the Finnish Venture scene.
What Are the Benefits of Doing Business in Finland?
Lastly, I had the opportunity to receive windburn on my face while I talked to Tuomo Isokivijärvi of StepOne Tech. While fighting the wind, I discovered some of the benefits of doing business in Finland. Hint: it’s more than just the saunas ;)
For now, that’s wrap from Finland. However, you’ll certainly be hearing more about how we’re involved in the Finnish VC and startup scene. What other regions excite you from a business standpoint?
Hei hei!

