There’s no doubt that the startup scene in Southern Finland is unique.
Dozens of successful startups have been founded there over the years.
Some of them are already worth billions of dollars.
So whether you’re looking to start your own business, or just interested in learning about fast-growing startups from Southern Finland, here’s an extensive list of 59 startups founded there.
59 Startups in Southern Finland 1) Whim Whim is a mobility-as-a-service provider that bundles all city transportation services into a single app for its customers.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2015 Founders: Kaj Pyyhtia, Sampo Hietanen Industries: Apps, Electric Vehicle, Last Mile Transportation, Recreational Vehicles, Ride Sharing, Transportation Number of employees: 51-100 Funding amount: € 53,700,000 Number of funding rounds: 5 Number of investors: 12 You can find their website here
2) Wolt Wolt is a real-time logistics optimization business that specializes on food delivery.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2014 Founders: Elias Aalto, Juhani Mykkänen, Lauri Andler, Mika Matikainen, Miki Kuusi, Oskari Petas Industries: Apps, Delivery, Delivery Service, Food Delivery, Mobile Payments Number of employees: 1001-5000 Funding amount: $822,523,959 Number of funding rounds: 8 Number of investors: 20 You can find their website here
3) Supercell Supercell is a firm that creates video games for tablets and smartphones.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2010 Founders: Ilkka Paananen, Lassi Leppinen, Mikko Kodisoja, Niko Derome, Petri Styrman, Visa Forsten Industries: Gaming, PC Games, Video Games Number of employees: 251-500 Funding amount: $143,032,267 Number of funding rounds: 3 Number of investors: 10 You can find their website here
4) Smartly.io Ads that are both attractive and effective
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2013 Founders: Kristo Ovaska, Tuomo Riekki Industries: Ad Targeting, Advertising, Advertising Platforms, E-Commerce, Social Media Advertising Number of employees: 251-500 Funding amount: $22,803,337 Number of funding rounds: 2 Number of investors: 3 You can find their website here
5) HMD HMD is a company that creates and sells mobile phones.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2016 Founders: Jean-Francois Baril Industries: Consumer Electronics, Customer Service, Manufacturing, Mobile Devices, Product Design Number of employees: 501-1000 Funding amount: $330,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 2 Number of investors: 6 You can find their website here
6) ICEYE By delivering fast and reliable satellite images, ICEYE enables people to make better decisions in the B2B and B2G markets.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2014 Founders: Pekka Laurila, Rafal Modrzewski Industries: Aerospace, Agriculture, AgTech, Information Services, Information Technology Number of employees: 101-250 Funding amount: $152,059,475 Number of funding rounds: 8 Number of investors: 20 You can find their website here
7) RELEX Solutions RELEX Solutions is a global provider of a comprehensive retail and supply chain planning solution that produces results.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2005 Founders: Johanna Småros, Michael Falck, Mikko Kärkkäinen Industries: Computer, Enterprise Software, Retail, Retail Technology, Software, Supply Chain Management Number of employees: 501-1000 Funding amount: $235,856,066 Number of funding rounds: 4 Number of investors: 3 You can find their website here
8) AppFollow AppFollow is a B2B SaaS startup that provides a one-stop shop for growing mobile apps and increasing client loyalty.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2015 Founders: Anatoly Sharifulin, Eugene Kruglov, Pavel Vlasov Industries: Analytics, Android, iOS, Mobile, Mobile Apps, SaaS Number of employees: 51-100 Funding amount: $7,263,058 Number of funding rounds: 7 Number of investors: 8 You can find their website here
9) Yousician Yousician is the largest music educator on the planet.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2010 Founders: Chris Thür, Mikko Kaipainen Industries: E-Learning, Music, Music Education Number of employees: 101-250 Funding amount: $32,750,790 Number of funding rounds: 4 Number of investors: 11 You can find their website here
10) MariaDB MariaDB relieves businesses of the costs, limitations, and complexity associated with proprietary databases.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2009 Founders: Kaj Arnö, Max Mether, Michael Carney, Michael Widenius, Patrik Backman, Ralf Wahlsten, Ulf Sandberg Industries: Database, Enterprise Software, Software, Technical Support Number of employees: 251-500 Funding amount: $123,175,561 Number of funding rounds: 11 Number of investors: 12 You can find their website here
11) Metacore Metacore is a firm that makes wearable games.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2014 Founders: Aki Järvilehto, Markus Tuppurainen, Mika Tammenkoski Industries: Casual Games, Wearables Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: $218,145,564 Number of funding rounds: 6 Number of investors: 5 You can find their website here
12) Enfuce Banks, fintechs, financial operators, and merchants can use Enfuce's payment, open banking, and sustainability services.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2016 Founders: Denise Johansson, Monika Liikamaa Industries: Banking, Financial Services, FinTech, Sustainability Number of employees: 51-100 Funding amount: € 17,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 3 Number of investors: 5 You can find their website here
13) Veri Veri is a blood sugar monitor and iOS app that helps health-conscious people attain optimal metabolic health.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2019 Founders: Anttoni Aniebonam, Frans Lehmusvaara, Verneri Jaamuru Industries: Apps, Health Care, Wellness Number of employees: 1-10 Funding amount: € 3,280,000 Number of funding rounds: 2 Number of investors: 5 You can find their website here
14) Varjo Varjo creates industrial VR/XR gear and software.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2016 Founders: Klaus Melakari, Niko Eiden, Roope Rainisto, Urho Konttori Industries: Hardware, Software, Virtual Reality, Virtualization Number of employees: 101-250 Funding amount: $99,900,000 Number of funding rounds: 7 Number of investors: 16 You can find their website here
15) Swarmia Software teams with data-driven abilities
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2019 Founders: Otto Hilska Industries: Software Number of employees: 1-10 Funding amount: € 6,700,000 Number of funding rounds: 2 Number of investors: 2 You can find their website here
16) Supermetrics Supermetrics is a B2B software firm that gathers data from a variety of sources for web analytics, social media, and online marketing.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2013 Founders: Mikael Thuneberg Industries: Analytics, B2B, Enterprise Software, Marketing, SaaS, Software Number of employees: 101-250 Funding amount: € 43,500,000 Number of funding rounds: 2 Number of investors: 5 You can find their website here
17) eMabler Payment, business processes, data, and electricity management are all integrated with EV charging in an API-first eMobility SaaS platform.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2019 Founders: Juha Stenberg, Ville Parviainen Industries: Electric Vehicle, SaaS, Software Number of employees: 1-10 Funding amount: € 630,000 Number of funding rounds: 1 Number of investors: 3 You can find their website here
18) Aiforia Aiforia's objective is to empower medical, healthcare, and other professionals throughout the world with AI-powered image analysis.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2013 Founders: Johan Lundin, Kari Pitkanen, Mikael Lundin Industries: Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Education, Health Care, Information Technology, Life Science, Machine Learning, Medical, Neuroscience, Software Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 11,070,000 Number of funding rounds: 4 Number of investors: 8 You can find their website here
19) Howspace Howspace is a digital facilitation tool for facilitating organizational change efforts, learning programs, and workshops.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2008 Industries: Education, Information Technology, Internet, Software Funding amount: € 15,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 3 Number of investors: 8 You can find their website here
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20) Fiksuruoka.fi Fiksuruoka.fi is a startup that eliminates food waste by selling extra foods at a large discount on the website www.fiksuruoka.fi.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2016 Founders: Juhani Järvensivu, Richard Lindroos Industries: E-Commerce, Food and Beverage Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 22,120,000 Number of funding rounds: 4 Number of investors: 6 You can find their website here
21) Swappie Swappie is a one-stop shop for buying and selling reconditioned smartphones online.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2016 Founders: Jiri Heinonen, Sami Marttinen Industries: Consumer Electronics, Consumer Goods, E-Commerce, Marketplace Number of employees: 101-250 Funding amount: $46,806,622 Number of funding rounds: 3 Number of investors: 5 You can find their website here
22) IQM IQM focuses on superconducting technology to create scalable hardware for universal quantum computers.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2018 Founders: Jan Goetz, Juha Vartiainen, Kuan Yen Tan, Mikko Möttönen Industries: Computer, Hardware, Product Design, Quantum Computing Number of employees: 51-100 Funding amount: € 70,750,000 Number of funding rounds: 5 Number of investors: 11 You can find their website here
23) AppGyver AppGyver is a professional no-code platform for React and React Native app development.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2010 Founders: Henri Vahakainu, Jeff Alonzo, Marko Lehtimaki Industries: Android, Apps, Cloud Computing, Developer Tools, Internet, iOS, Mobile, Software, Web Development Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: $10,994,735 Number of funding rounds: 4 Number of investors: 3 You can find their website here
24) Virta Ltd. Virta is a pioneer in the field of electric vehicle charging.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2013 Industries: Automotive, Customer Service, Electric Vehicle, Electronics, Information Technology, Mobile Apps Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 30,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 2 Number of investors: 2 You can find their website here
25) Dispelix Dispelix merely exposes the problems that product designers have been attempting to conceal for years.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2011 Founders: Antti Sunnari Industries: Eyewear, Fashion, Manufacturing, Medical Device, Product Design Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 23,700,000 Number of funding rounds: 3 Number of investors: 5 You can find their website here
26) Surrogate.tv Surrogate.tv is a third-party platform for creating physical encounters in real life.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2018 Founders: Esko Vähämäki, Severi Tikkala, Shane Henrik Allen, Stanislav Dmitriev Industries: Digital Entertainment, Gaming, Robotics, Video Games, Virtual Reality Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: $4,509,000 Number of funding rounds: 4 Number of investors: 6 You can find their website here
27) Quicksave Interactive Quicksave Interactive is a chat game platform that creates entertaining gaming-based chatting apps.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2017 Founders: Elina Arponen, Timo Kämäräinen, Ville-Kalle Arponen Industries: Gaming, Information Technology, Internet, Messaging, Mobile, Mobile Apps Number of employees: 1-10 Funding amount: $1,673,727 Number of funding rounds: 4 Number of investors: 5 You can find their website here
28) Enevo Enevo is a forward-thinking organization with a mission to reduce waste's financial, environmental, and social costs.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2010 Founders: Fredrik Kekalainen, Johan Engström Industries: Fleet Management, Hardware, Internet of Things, Logistics, Recycling, Software, Waste Management Number of employees: 51-100 Funding amount: $55,363,230 Number of funding rounds: 6 Number of investors: 15 You can find their website here
29) Medixine Medixine is the next generation of linked care since it involves patients in their own treatment.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2000 Founders: Tapio Jokinen Industries: Health Care, Medical, Software, Wellness Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 6,067,800 Number of funding rounds: 4 Number of investors: 2 You can find their website here
30) Happeo Your communications will flow smoothly thanks to an intranet, enterprise social network, and collaboration platform.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2017 Founders: Antero Hanhirova, Perttu Ojansuu, Vesa Sironen Industries: Cloud Computing, Google, Human Resources, Online Portals, SaaS Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: $20,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 2 Number of investors: 4 You can find their website here
31) Flowhaven Flowhaven is a brand licensing management tool that allows professionals to automate every step of the licensing process.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2016 Founders: Jess Trinca, Kalle Torma, M L, Timo Olkkola Industries: SaaS, Software Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: $21,200,000 Number of funding rounds: 3 Number of investors: 3 You can find their website here
32) Elisa Elisa is a telecommunications, ICT, and internet communication and entertainment service provider.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 1882 Founders: Daniel Wadén Industries: Consumer, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Online Portals, Telecommunications Number of employees: 1001-5000 Funding amount: € 100,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 1 Number of investors: 1 You can find their website here
33) Carbo Culture Carbo Culture is a carbon-removal startup based in the Nordics and the United States.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2016 Founders: Christopher Carstens, Pia Henrietta Kekäläinen, Sam Van Wesenbeeck Industries: Environmental Engineering, Sustainability Number of employees: 1-10 Funding amount: $7,083,979 Number of funding rounds: 4 Number of investors: 15 You can find their website here
34) Klevu Klevu Oy is a self-learning search engine that assists internet merchants in converting visitors into paying clients.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2013 Founders: Jyrki Kontio, Nilay Oza, Niraj Aswani Industries: E-Commerce, Internet Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: $17,855,493 Number of funding rounds: 3 Number of investors: 7 You can find their website here
35) Zyfra Zyfra is a global firm that creates products based on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Artificial Intelligence.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2017 Industries: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, Information Technology, Internet of Things, Machine Learning Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: RUB990,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 1 Number of investors: 1 You can find their website here
36) iFarm Universal data-driven plant-growing technology for automated vertical farms
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2017 Founders: Alex Lyskovsky, Konstantin Ulianov, Max Chizhov Industries: Agriculture, AgTech, Farming, Horticulture Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: $4,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 1 Number of investors: 5 You can find their website here
37) Eficode With operations in Northern and Western Europe, Eficode is a DevOps, software, automation, and design company.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2005 Founders: Risto Virkkala Industries: Developer Tools, Information Technology, Linux, Open Source, Software, Web Development Number of employees: 251-500 Funding amount: € 6,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 1 Number of investors: 1 You can find their website here
38) Sensible 4 Sensible4 is a self-driving vehicle software firm that builds self-driving automobiles that can be used all year.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2017 Founders: Harri Santamala, Jari Saarinen, Jussi Suomela, Tommi Rimpiläinen Industries: Artificial Intelligence, Automotive, Autonomous Vehicles, Machine Learning, Software Number of employees: 51-100 Funding amount: $7,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 1 Number of investors: 2 You can find their website here
39) Freska Freska is a firm located in the Nordics that provides on-demand internet house cleaning services.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2015 Founders: Erik Dalland, Esa Vuolas, Sebastian Heinrichs Industries: Home Services, Housekeeping Service, Service Industry Number of employees: 501-1000 Funding amount: $13,785,219 Number of funding rounds: 3 Number of investors: 6 You can find their website here
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40) Leadfeeder Leadfeeder is a B2B sales lead creation platform that assists in converting interested visitors into sales leads.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2012 Founders: Herkko Kiljunen, Pekka Koskinen, Vicent Llongo Industries: Advertising, Analytics, B2B, Internet, Lead Generation Number of employees: 51-100 Funding amount: € 4,380,000 Number of funding rounds: 3 Number of investors: 3 You can find their website here
41) Nightingale Health Nightingale Health is a biotechnology business that is revolutionizing chronic disease prevention.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2013 Founders: Antti Kangas, Antti Kangas, Pasi Soininen, Peter Würtz, Teemu Suna Industries: Biotechnology, Health Care, Medical Number of employees: 51-100 Funding amount: € 24,500,009 Number of funding rounds: 6 Number of investors: 9 You can find their website here
42) Mash One of Europe's fastest-growing FinTech startups, focusing on payments and lending innovation.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2007 Founders: Tommi Lindfors Industries: Banking, Consumer Lending, Finance, Financial Services, FinTech, Micro Lending, Mobile Payments, Payments, Point of Sale Number of employees: 101-250 Funding amount: € 138,045,000 Number of funding rounds: 7 Number of investors: 2 You can find their website here
43) Sulapac With biodegradable packaging innovation, Sulapac addresses the global plastic waste problem.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2016 Founders: Antti Parssinen, Laura Kyllönen, Suvi Haimi Industries: CleanTech, Packaging Services, Plastics and Rubber Manufacturing, Sustainability Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 18,763,125 Number of funding rounds: 5 Number of investors: 11 You can find their website here
44) Blok Blok is a digital real estate agency and one of Finland's most popular startups.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2017 Founders: Olli Gunst, Rudi Skogman Industries: Digital Media, Real Estate Number of employees: 1-10 Funding amount: € 5,100,000 Number of funding rounds: 3 Number of investors: 5 You can find their website here
45) Smarp Smarp is a major SaaS solution for employee communications and advocacy.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2011 Founders: Mikael Lauharanta, Roope Heinilä, Tommi Huovinen Industries: Apps, B2B, Enterprise Software, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Information Technology, SaaS, Social Media Number of employees: 51-100 Funding amount: € 9,877,000 Number of funding rounds: 9 Number of investors: 4 You can find their website here
46) Speechly Speechly uses deep learning and natural language processing technology to provide speech interfaces for professional products and services.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2016 Founders: Otto Söderlund Industries: Artificial Intelligence, Computer, Machine Learning, Software Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 2,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 1 Number of investors: 7 You can find their website here
47) Bonusway Bonusway is a web-based platform that offers ecommerce loyalty programs, cash rewards, and online shopping solutions to its consumers.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2011 Founders: Lasse Järvinen, Tatu Koistinen Industries: Advertising, Affiliate Marketing, Coupons, E-Commerce, Loyalty Programs, Shopping Number of employees: 101-250 Funding amount: € 9,301,000 Number of funding rounds: 6 Number of investors: 3 You can find their website here
48) Nosto Nosto is an e-commerce platform that provides personalized product recommendations based on user behavior.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2011 Founders: Antti Pöyhönen, Jani Luostarinen, Juha Valvanne Industries: Analytics, Big Data, E-Commerce, Internet, Marketing Automation, Personalization, SEO, Software Number of employees: 51-100 Funding amount: $32,806,669 Number of funding rounds: 4 Number of investors: 7 You can find their website here
49) Nordcloud assisting businesses in transforming their businesses through the use of the public cloud
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2011 Founders: Fernando Herrera Industries: Cloud Computing, Information Services, Software Number of employees: 251-500 Funding amount: $25,030,997 Number of funding rounds: 3 Number of investors: 4 You can find their website here
50) Sharetribe The simplest method for setting up your own peer-to-peer marketplace.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2011 Founders: Antti Virolainen, Juho Makkonen Industries: Collaborative Consumption, E-Commerce, Internet, Marketplace, Software Number of employees: 1-10 Funding amount: $2,402,049 Number of funding rounds: 4 Number of investors: 3 You can find their website here
51) UpCloud UpCloud has the fastest cloud servers in the world.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2011 Founders: Joel Pihlajamaa Industries: Cloud Computing, Cloud Data Services, IaaS, Web Hosting Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 22,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 2 Number of investors: 3 You can find their website here
52) Holvi Holvi is a digital banking service for independent contractors and small business owners.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2011 Founders: Kristoffer Lawson, Mikko Teerenhovi, Teemu Hukkanen, Tuomas Toivonen Industries: Banking, Finance, Financial Services, FinTech Number of employees: 101-250 Funding amount: € 4,250,000 Number of funding rounds: 6 Number of investors: 4 You can find their website here
53) Bob W A respectable tech firm with a hospitality division. Bob is creating a more upscale alternative to hotels and short-term rentals.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2018 Founders: Niko Karstikko, Niko Karstikko, Sebastian Emberger Industries: Hospitality Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 10,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 2 Number of investors: 6 You can find their website here
54) Small Giant Games Small Giant Games is a Helsinki, Finland-based indie game development studio.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2013 Founders: Markus Halttunen, Timo Soininen Industries: Mobile, PC Games, Software, Video Games Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: $50,562,955 Number of funding rounds: 4 Number of investors: 7 You can find their website here
55) Skand Skand is a Nordic designer and manufacturer of light electric vehicles that may be used all year.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2015 Founders: Anssi Helminen, Eva Adlercreutz Carrero, Miika Utoslahti, Stefan Wennström Industries: Automotive, Electric Vehicle Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 1,845,000 Number of funding rounds: 2 You can find their website here
56) Ilmatar Ilmatar is a renewable energy integrator with a project-oriented approach.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2011 Founders: Kalle Pykälä Industries: Energy Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 200,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 1 Number of investors: 1 You can find their website here
57) HEI Schools SaaS licensing concept for early education
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2015 Founders: Milla Kokko Industries: EdTech, Education, Primary Education, STEM Education, Training Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 3,100,000 Number of funding rounds: 2 Number of investors: 2 You can find their website here
58) Quuppa Quuppa is a software platform that offers sophisticated real-time location services and applications.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2012 Founders: Antti Kainulainen, Fabio Belloni, Kimmo Kalliola Industries: Customer Service, Information Services, Information Technology, Location Based Services, Software Number of employees: 51-100 Funding amount: € 20,000,000 Number of funding rounds: 2 Number of investors: 3 You can find their website here
59) Invesdor A major European fintech startup that makes it simple and fair for everyone to participate in growth finance.
Details of the startup:
Started in: 2012 Founders: Jouni Leskinen, Lare Lekman, Lasse Mäkelä, Miikka Poutiainen, Petteri Poutiainen, Timo Lappi Industries: Crowdfunding, Financial Services, FinTech, Internet Number of employees: 11-50 Funding amount: € 6,036,827 Number of funding rounds: 13 Number of investors: 9 You can find their website here
