START Helsinki

At the start of October, START Helsinki had the pleasure of participating in Aalto Thesis Day, held at the Aalto Computer Science Building. The event brought together major industry players like ABB and Neste, cutting-edge startups showcasing their work, and insightful lectures organized by the EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology —all in a lively, collaborative atmosphere. So, what exactly is Thesis Day, and why was START there? Aalto University is dedicated to helping students take meaningful steps toward their professional futures by creating opportunities for academia and industry to connect. Thesis Day is one of those opportunities: a space where companies, startups, and organizations can share their insights and experiences with students. For students, it’s a chance to see how their studies apply in the real world, explore different career options, and gain inspiration for making a real impact. It’s also a place where they can get the support they need to navigate the transition into the job market with confidence. Thanks to Ingrid Schembri, Project Manager at EIT Services at Aalto University, START Helsinki was able to take part in the event. This gave us a unique opportunity to meet talented final-year students and spark conversations about entrepreneurship—not just as a career choice, but as an exciting path for driving innovation and tackling meaningful challenges, even in fields like deep tech and hard science. We’re incredibly grateful for the chance to share our mission and show how entrepreneurship can lead to growth, new opportunities, and impactful work of all sizes. The energy and ambition of the Aalto student community left us feeling inspired, and we’re excited to see what we can build together moving forward. A huge thank you to Ingrid and Aalto University for having us—it was an experience to remember!

🇫🇮 Tomorrow is the big day! 🚀 Female Founder Pitching Day 2024 is here – Finland's largest pitching event for female and non-binary entrepreneurs! Introducing our lineup of amazing speakers: ✨ Paula Miettinen, Director of Business Services, Helsingin kaupunki – Helsingfors stad – City of Helsinki ✨ Jeanette Carlsson, Founder & CEO, Tech Nordic Advocates  ✨ Riikka Loisamo, CEO, The Shortcut  ✨ Hanna Nyholm, Founder, Shevestments ✨ Annika Nevaste, Director, Google Cloud Nordic Region ✨ Tero Jormanainen, Partner at Roschier ✨ Nasima Razmyar, Member of the Eduskunta | Riksdagen | Parliament of Finland, Chair of the Startup Group in the Parliament of Finland and City Councilor in Helsinki And again a heartfelt thank you to our fantastic panel and jury: ✨ Moderator - Janiina Lammi, Venture Partner at BSV Ventures, Senior Advisor, Venture Capital at Helsinki Partners ✨ Peter Vesterbacka, Co-founder of Slush and the FinEst Bay Area ✨ Caritta Seppä, Investment Manager at Spintop Ventures, Co-Founder at Tespack Ltd ✨ Petri Rajahalme, Founding Partner at FOV Ventures ✨ Hilla Klemetti, VC at Greencode Ventures The stage will be hosted by the amazing Vivian Maar and Angeliki Papagiannopoulou. We would also like to express our gratitude to START Helsinki for their incredible volunteer support at tomorrow’s event - Ella Kennedy, Hoai Mai, and Peggy Mikander, as well as to Ani Didishvili from Tech Nordic Advocates. 🔗 The Female Founder Pitching Day 2024 is a collaboration between The Shortcut, Tech Nordic Advocates, and Shevestments. This event is proudly sponsored by Google and Roschier. See you there! #FFPD2024 #roschierattorneys #pitchevent #techevent #finnishtech #nordicmade #femalefounders #diversityintech #inclusion #startuplife

Fuse 2024 has officially wrapped and what an unforgettable week! ⭐ From engaging networking opportunities and the energy of Slush to inspiring company tours and live pitching competitions, the 2024 FUSE event truly had it all. Against the (finally) snowy backdrop of Helsinki in mid November, we were honored to host STARTies from chapters including START Munich, START Stuttgart, START Berlin, START Nuremberg , START Lima and START Global. Together, we made the most of this incredible week filled with opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. Thank you to all the STARTies who traveled to be part of this special week. We hope your time in Helsinki was as rewarding as it was memorable, and we’re already looking forward to welcoming you back soon! 🤗 Massive shoutout to our partners and collaborators: Lifeline Ventures, Arca Shook Digital, Futurice, and Hanken Business Lab. Your contributions - from thought-provoking talks to engaging demonstrations, and inspiring company visits captured the very essence of entrepreneurship and left us energized for what’s to come. Thank you to everyone involved in making FUSE a reality! Here’s to creating more wonderful memories - See you all again soon! 💙 -The START Helsinki Team #FUSE #STARTHelsinki

What an incredible evening at START Helsinki's the Road to START Summit! 🎉 On November 19, as an official Slush Community Side event, we witnessed the passion, innovation, and determination of some of the brightest startups in the industry. From captivating pitches and insightful feedback from our expert panel to an audience filled with students, founders, and CEOs, the energy in the room was electric. It was inspiring to see so many entrepreneurs ready to take their ideas to the next level and compete for a chance to present at the prestigious START Summit in Switzerland! A huge thank you to our amazing judges for their insights and contributions Minna Melanie Mustapää, 🚀 Efi Ben Artzy, Franziska Harzheim, and Tuomas Muurikainen. Your hard work and dedication truly shine through! 🌟 Let’s not forget our amazing partners who played a big role in making RTSS happen Accountor Group baby vc Fillout Notion 🚀 Thank you to our startups for their wonderful pitches Cornea Sense, thinnan, Hei Dingo, Datu, and IMEN. And of course, congratulations to our winner the Paahtu team Bahez Karim who will have the chance to win 10,000 CHF at the START Summit in Switzerland! 🏆 Swipe through to see some highlights from the event! 📸👇 #STARTHelsinki #RoadtoSTARTSummit

Meet our third RTSS judge: Tuomas Muurikainen! 🤩 Tuomas is known for guiding early-stage startups on their path to growth and success. With a strong background in venture capital, he’s passionate about helping founders overcome challenges and scale their ventures effectively. We’re looking forward to hearing his practical insights at RTSS and seeing the impact he’ll have on our participants. Only a few days left – catch Tuomas Muurikainen sharing his insights at RTSS! 🔥

👩💻Our next RTSS judge spotlight: Minna Melanie Mustapää! As an expert in venture development and a champion for early-stage startups, Minna brings a wealth of knowledge to our judging panel. Currently focused on helping entrepreneurs shape innovative ideas into successful ventures, Minna’s approach combines strategic insight with real-world experience. Her sharp analytical skills and deep understanding of startup dynamics will provide valuable perspectives to our participants, helping them unlock new possibilities. We’re excited to have her on board at RTSS! Join us on November 19th to hear Minna’s insights at RTSS! #STARTHelsinki #RoadtoSTARTSummit

With just one week to go until RTSS, it’s time to introduce you to our incredible panel of judges! We’re excited to welcome 🚀 Efi Ben Artzy to the Road to START Summit (RTSS) live-pitching competition. Efi brings a wealth of experience in business strategy and a deep commitment to sustainable growth within the startup world. Known for his innovative approach, Efi has helped early-stage ventures scale and succeed through his strategic insights and mentorship. With his sharp eye for potential and extensive industry knowledge, Efi will provide invaluable feedback to the startups pitching on stage, helping them refine their visions and reach new heights. See you soon at RTSS! 🎉 #STARTHelsinki #RoadtoSTARTSummit

📣 Last Call for Startups: Pitch at Road to START Summit! With Slush less than two weeks away and RTSS nearly full, this is the final chance for startups ready to pitch! If you’re looking to showcase your business, gain expert feedback, and connect with top investors, apply now for START Helsinki’s Road to START Summit (RTSS) on November 19, 2024. This is your opportunity to compete for a spot at the START Summit in Switzerland and a prize of 10,000 CHF. Don’t miss out on elevating your startup on one of the most anticipated stages of Slush Week! 💥 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/daK4NThs #STARTHelsinki #RoadtoSTARTSummit #Slush2024

START Helsinki wrapped up an amazing evening at Meet 'n' Mix in collaboration with Antler, wednesday., Xes Helsinki, and Tech Nordic Advocates. It was inspiring to bring together founders, students, creatives, and innovators all under one roof. The energy in the room was electric, with so many fresh ideas and connections being made. We had the pleasure of hearing pitches from both established CEOs and students, each showcasing their unique vision and adding to the vibrant startup ecosystem here in Helsinki. We saw the birth of incredible new ventures, with founders like: - Tiffany Wang from VeryU, - Angeli Kumari-Ilieva from imen (image engine), - Maria Panttila from Vauhtisammakko/RunFrog, - Anna Ptukha from Mind’s Eye, - Aada MacGregor from AI Scholar, - Bahez Karim from Paahtu, - Zoa Le (Bảo Ân) from NatureWave, - Jim Solatie from Sisufy, - Anri Kivimäki from Alvidiotech, and - Kevin Jacob from thinnan sharing their innovative visions. A huge thanks to everyone who joined us, to our partners for making this event possible, and to our amazing jury—Mona Saurén, Investment Analyst & ESG at Maki.vc; Daniel Uusitalo, Analyst at Helen Ventures; Margarethe Böhme, Venture Scout at node.vc; and Peik Berg, Investment Intern at Kvanted—for their invaluable insights and support. Here’s to more collaboration, growth, and opportunities for all! 🥂 #MeetNMix #StartHelsinki

We know it’s November, but we’re not quite ready to let spooky season go! 🎃👻 Our Startup Horror Stories series wraps up with Ohto Pentikäinen, Co-founder and CEO of Doublepoint. ⚙️✨In this final episode, Ohto opens up about the challenges and unexpected twists of building a tech company in a fast-moving world. It’s been an incredible journey hearing from entrepreneurs who’ve embraced the bumps along the way. Watch the full story on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/d7Vkp2Q9 Big thanks to Ohto and all our amazing guests. #StartHelsinki #StartupHorrorStories #DoublePoint