March is here, and with Q1 winding down, the momentum is strong. Now is the time to make your move! Finland’s startup ecosystem is thriving, and this newsletter is here to keep you on track. Let us guide you toward realizing your next big dream, securing funding, and making strategic moves.

Ready to level up? Let’s go. 👇

Why You’re Here

This newsletter exists to be the ultimate resource for Finland’s entrepreneurial scene. You’re receiving this because you’re part of the community shaping the future of business in Finland. Our goal? To keep you informed, inspired, and connected with the latest funding news, startup insights, and must-attend events. Let’s build something great together!

Why You Should Stay With Us?

We don’t just report on innovation—we live it. From tracking groundbreaking funding rounds to exclusive insights from top founders, we bring you real, actionable knowledge. Every update here is a step toward your next big win.

🇫🇮 Funded: Who’s Making Waves?

Proof that daring ideas are getting serious backing. Who do you think is next?

🇫🇮 Behavix Inc. | $2.5M Seed | CEO: Hannu Verkasalo | AI-driven behavioral data platform. Backed by Vendep Capital & Superhero Capital.
🇫🇮 SemiQon | €17.5M | CEO: Himadri Majumdar | Advancing scalable, cost-effective, and energy-efficient silicon-based quantum processors. Funded by EIC Accelerator.
🇫🇮 Cactos | €7M | CEO: Oskari Jaakkola | Transforming energy storage. Supported by Superhero Capital & Union Square Ventures.
🇫🇮 StemSight | €1M | CEO: Laura Koivusalo | Biotech innovation for vision restoration. Led by Voima Ventures.

🚀 Takeaway: These startups turned innovation into reality, backed by venture capital. Now it’s your turn—you can make it happen too. Check them out and see how!

📊 Startups to Follow 

Get ahead of the curve—these Finnish startups are making big moves

🇫🇮 Paebbl | Mitigating concrete’s carbon footprint by turning CO₂ into stone.
🇫🇮 Distance Technologies | Developing mixed-reality HUDs for vehicles.
🇫🇮 FlowAI | AI-powered writing assistant streamlining business communication.

🌟 Events You Can’t Miss:

Stay ahead, stay connected.

START Summit | 20-21 March, St. Gallen | Grand Finale Competition of Europe’s top startups gathereded by START Network. Grab your ticket with the discount code Helsinki30

Crush 2025 | 14 May 2025, Helsinki | Feminist business conference driving sustainable growth.
Founders Live | 15 May, Helsinki | Five 99-second pitches in an electric atmosphere

Latitude59  | May 21-23, Tallin  | The flagship startup and tech conference of the Baltics, bringing together founders, investors, and innovation leaders.

Arctic15 | 4-5 Jun 2025, Helsinki | Top matchmaking startup event in Nordics & Baltics.

📚 Learning Hub: Level Up Your Game

Get ahead with these resources:

Startup Grind Helsinki | Monthly events to inspire & connect entrepreneurs.

Innovating in Finland Webinar Series | March 11, 2025 | Sector-specific insights for founders.in the webinar format

Kasvu Open | Free sparring and coaching for growth-oriented companies.

📊 Market Trends

Get ahead of the biggest shifts in the market.

Green Hydrogen Production | Reuters report Finland’s first green hydrogen plant goes live.

Venture Capital Boom | Superhero Capital launches €50M fund for Finnish software startups.

Food Tech Boom | The food tech sector is projected to grow by 40% by 2025, driven by innovations like cell-based agriculture and 3D food printing

🔧 Policy Updates: Challenges and New Horizons

Changes that impact your business.

 Business Finland’s Ecosystem Initiative | €20M in funding for lead companies driving innovation - ABB for clean electricity,  Borealis Polymers for sustainable plastics, Meyer Turku for sustainable cruise liners, Picosun for zero-emission semiconductors and Sandvik for sustainable mining.

Bankruptcy Surge | Finland saw 434 company bankruptcies in the first seven weeks of 2025.

Construction Woes | The construction industry remains the most affected by bankruptcies

 Small Business Vulnerability | Companies with annual revenues under €199,000 account for 54% of bankruptcy filings

📣 Community Voices

The best gift that you can give to our team is voicing your opinion on a burning topic! 

The topic of this edition is:

Should internships be paid? Why yes and why no? Are there exceptions or special cases?

Please, do not hesitate to submit your opinion on this month’s topic, those will be anonymously published in the next edition, so you can go off!

🌟 Final Word: The Time Is Always Now.

No great success happens overnight. Every step you take, whether big or small, brings you closer to your goals. Keep building, keep learning, and keep pushing forward. The only way to create the future you dream of is to take action today.

💡 You don’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.

🚀 See you next month! Stay tuned to hear from the local founders and industry experts in the next edition!

By Vlada