Business Finland attracts foreign entrepreneurs to Finland with a new Startup Kit | Business world’s baby pack brings together vital services and contacts
The new program supports the access of foreign experts to the Finnish market. Business Finland’s Startup Kit helps entrepreneurs in Finland to survive in the business startup process, so the entrepreneurs have time for business development and integration into the new country. Similar programs are also available in Canada, New Zealand and France.
Business Finland aims to facilitate the access of international top experts to the Finnish business market by launching a new Startup Kit in Slush. Startup Kit complements Startup Permit which was published in April. Startup Permit is a residence permit for teams from outside the EU, but the new service can also be used by entrepreneurs from within the EU.
Marjo Ilmari, Executive Director from Business Finland compares the service to a kind of business ‘baby pack’.
“It takes courage to pursue your career as a startup entrepreneur. Even more courage is required if you establish your startup venture outside your home country. The package is like a starter kit for new parents, containing all the necessary maternity services and equipment for a newborn. We wanted to bring the same idea to the Finnish business world as well.”
Finland Startup Kit provides all the information about the process and services that different public and private stakeholders can offer to make settling down to Finland easier. The Startup Kit brings together partners who can help the entrepreneurs for example in finding board members and providers of banking, insurance, IP protection, health and accommodation services. Startups are also guided by business mentors to help new entrepreneurs start up in Finland. The entrepreneur gets the services provided by the partners when they register the company in Finland.
“By the end of November, more than 100 non-EU companies from over 20 countries have applied for the Startup Permit. It’s a sign that international experts are interested in Finland,” Ilmari says.
“An international competition for talented entrepreneurs is fierce and, for example, Canada, New Zealand and France offer similar programs. However, Finland has one of the best startup environment in the world* and it has a reputation as a startup-friendly venue with strong technological know-how. It is important to support the development and innovation of our business by opening it up to international companies as well.”
The now-released Startup Kit will be constantly developed to match entrepreneurs’ feedback and partners’ services. Currently, the partners are OP, Leitzinger, Forenom, Terveystalo, Elisa, Whim, Boardio and Digitase, and the service package is continuously seeking new partners from companies and organizations operating in Finland.
Business Finland also offers startup companies Tempo funding, which foreign entrepreneurs can apply for after starting their business in Finland.
Business Finland:
Business Finland is the Finnish innovation funding, trade, investment, and travel promotion organization, headquartered in Helsinki. Business Finland is fully owned by the Finnish Government employing some 600 experts in 40 offices globally and in 20 regional offices around Finland. Business Finland is part of the Team Finland network.
Author Mikko Ilves is the Chairman of the Board of Digibalance Group, the accountant partner of Business Finland Startup Kit. More blog updates: www.autoaccount.info/blog/