Today we are excited to announce our 29th location - Helsinki, Finland! The first ever Finland Founder Institute is just around the corner, as the part-time, 4-month program is slated to start on October 16th. The program is open to existing and prospective technology founders of all kinds - with or without an idea, young or old, and with a full-time job or unemployed.
If you or someone you know could benefit from expert training and feedback to launch a technology startup in Finland, click here to apply.
The Founder Institute is an early-stage startup accelerator and global launch network that, in just three years of operation, has helped launch over 565 companies across 29 cities and five continents. Through our part-time four month program, existing and prospective founders can launch their dream company with expert training, feedback, and support from experienced startup CEOs - while not being required to quit their day job. Our unique Graduate Liquidity Pool also enables graduates and mentors to share in the equity upside of each class, creating strong teamwork-based startup ecosystems where great companies can flourish. We call it "Globalizing Silicon Valley."
Helsinki - our first scandinavian chapter - is primed for a program like the Founder Institute. First, Finland has a large population of highly-trained technology professionals, and the Founder Institute will offer Finns an unparalled opportunity to utilize those skills entrepreneurially through training from experienced founders, and by immersion in the startup world. Second, the Finnish government is extremely pro-active in supporting the bubbling local ecosystem through a plethora of non-dilutive financing and R&D grants. And finally, when you consider the bi/tri-lingual poluation, it is easy to see that Finland is becoming a more and more attractive home for technology startups to serve both European and Global marketplaces.
Leading the Founder Institute's efforts in Finland are two leaders of the local startup scene; Toni Peramaki (Founder & Organizer at Startup Journey Accelerator program at Boost Turku), and Petri Lehmuskoski (Co-Founder at Gorillaventures and Partner at Investop).
Expected Mentors for the program include;
- Aape Pohjavirta, Founder of Inclusion.fi
- Adeo Ressi, Founder of the Founder Institute
- Chris Thur, Co-Founder & CEO of Ovelin
- Jan Erik Nyrovarra, President of Homerun Venture Partners
- Janne Aaltonen, CEO of Moosedog Oy
- Juha Ruohonen, CEO of FAM Sports
- Juha Huttunen, CEO of Grafetee
- Mika Marjalaakso, CEO of Oak Ventures
- Mikko Alasaarela, Founder of Dealmachine
- Sami Inkinen, Co-Founder of Trulia
- Tuomas Wuoti, CEO of Walkbase
- Ville Miettinen, CEO of Microtask
- And many more to be announced.
