What business leaders and investors learn at Helsinki business programs
Some of the most consequential business opportunities in Helsinki emerge through first-hand experience of the city’s ecosystem.
Concrete, on-the-ground learnings quickly accumulate during Helsinki business programs.
For Megumi Umeda, the General Manager of the Japanese e-commerce and logistics company Askul Corporation, one particularly revealing moment occurred during a company visit to the gaming powerhouse Supercell as part of the annual 90 Day Finn Program.
While Supercell is widely recognised as one of Finland’s most successful companies, its name also reflects a core principle of how the Helsinki-headquartered business operates.
“Their organisational structure was very interesting. Each team had significant authority, and business was run bottom-up,” Megumi says.
“In Japan, top-down management is common, but at Supercell, each small team – called a ‘cell’ – had authority to decide and act, reporting results afterward,” she says.
“90 Day Finn made the introductions for us – or even lent us the credibility to go approach companies – within a three-week period, getting meetings that even in the US would take me months of trying to figure out how to get into those rooms.”
Parker Wells, CEO at Element 16 Technologies & 90 Day Finn 2025
Helsinki business programs help companies expand to Helsinki
First-hand learnings like Megumi’s are commonplace at the 90 Day Finn Program, where global business leaders explore practical pathways to expand to Helsinki. Some also look beyond the local market, discovering how to expand their business internationally using Finland as a springboard to Europe.
Whatever the focus, the process is deliberately low-friction, prioritising relevance and efficiency over ceremony.
“90 Day Finn made the introductions for us – or even lent us the credibility to go approach companies – within a three-week period, getting meetings that even in the US would take me months of trying to figure out how to get into those rooms,” says Parker Wells, CEO of US-based thermal energy storage developers Element 16 Technologies.
Originally from the UK, investor Colin Brown set out to gain a broad view of Finnish startups during his 90 Day Finn stint. Exposure to the interests of other participants in the program further broadened his horizons.
“From biotech to wastewater management to fintech,” he says, “we managed to see a whole range of other companies.”
That exposure proved decisive. Colin stayed on in Finland, later joining the Helsinki-based Sparkmind Capital as a General Partner and launching a new fund in 2025.
Time on the ground helps investors assess whether to invest in Helsinki
The real business outcomes of other 90 Day Finn participants have helped spur the development of additional Helsinki business programs, including 90 Hour Helsinki, a highly tailored, invitation-only format designed for leaders already considering Finland as a business proposition and focused on next-step decision-making.
For investors, there is Venture Nordics, a unique experience focused on creating long-term connections in an efficient way, packed into a seven-day program.
“Finland has been somewhat overlooked in recent years, partly because it’s a relatively small market on a global scale. But that perception changes very quickly once you’re on the ground,” observes Venture Nordics participant Jeremy Scheibböck, from the US-based Potrero Capital.
“You immediately see the tremendous innovation potential within the economy. For investors seeking high returns, these are opportunities you simply can’t ignore.”
For Anjani Bansal, Equity and Debt Investment Director at Opportunity International Australia, the program’s strength lies in how quickly it aligns market insight with cultural understanding.
“For foreign investors like us, understanding both the ecosystem and the culture is crucial,” he says. “Bringing those two together so effectively in such a short time is quite remarkable.”
“It’s not just about learning – you come out of the program ready to act and implement ideas.”
“Finland has been somewhat overlooked in recent years, partly because it’s a relatively small market on a global scale. But that perception changes very quickly once you’re on the ground.”
Jeremy Scheibböck, Partner at Potrero Capital and Venture Nordics participant 2024
Finland’s R&D ecosystem informs decisions to invest in Helsinki
R&D has long been a mainstay of Finland’s strengths, underpinning many of its globally competitive companies. Indeed, Venture Nordics underlines how Finland’s comparatively strong R&D ecosystem supports the creation of new companies and the development of innovative ideas.
“I’ve been incredibly impressed by the quality of the research I’ve seen here, and I’m really excited about the possibility of working more in Finland going forward,” says Felicity Meyer from Montreal-based BoxOne Ventures.
“What I see here is a strong collaborative spirit between investors, universities and startups. I’d love to bring more of that collaboration back to North America,” she continues.
“Transparency is another key strength,” adds Anjani. “Regulations are clear, people are open, and it feels like the government is actively trying to make engagement easier.”
Whatever the focus – business growth, EU entry or investment – time spent in Helsinki provides a clearer basis for informed decision-making.
“I’ve been incredibly impressed by the quality of the research I’ve seen here, and I’m really excited about the possibility of working more in Finland going forward. What I see here is a strong collaborative spirit between investors, universities and startups.”
Felicity Meyer, Investment Manager at BoxOne Ventures and Venture Nordics participant 2024
Start accumulating the learnings
Read more about the business programs and start validating Helsinki:
- 90 Day Finn for global tech companies exploring European expansion
- Venture Nordics for investors
- 90 Hour Helsinki for companies looking for short-format immersion
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