Startup.Tampere supports the journey from idea to international growth
Located in the city centre of Tampere, the startup building is the physical heart of Startup.Tampere and a shared meeting and workspace for the ecosystem. At the building, startups, students, specialists, investors, and partners come together in their daily work and at events.
More broadly, Startup.Tampere serves as a shared platform for Tampere’s startup ecosystem. It brings together startups, universities, investors, business services, and other growth-supporting actors, and helps entrepreneurs find the support they need.
– Many people visiting the Startup House for the first time say, "I can feel the vibe." That really captures the sense of community and our way of doing things, says Business Coordinator Ville Brusi.
At the Startup House, companies can rent workspaces, participate in events, find partners, and access the right services.
– Here, you can meet an investor, a startup founder, a specialist, and a business partner all in the same meeting. Encounters like these help companies find new contacts and take the next steps toward growth, Brusi continues.
Internationality is evident in Startup.Tampere’s day-to-day operations
Startup.Tampere is strongly international and supports connections between international experts and local companies. A partnership with Tredu, the Tampere Region Vocational College, offers students opportunities to get involved in a hands-on startup environment.
Shanshan Du, who joined through Tredu, currently works as a Coordinator for the City of Tampere’s Startup Services. Her work focuses on the day-to-day operations of the startup hub, customer service, and providing practical support to the startup community. She is also responsible for planning and implementing Startup.Tampere’s social media and communications content.
– I’m really glad I ended up in Tampere. There’s a friendly atmosphere here, and I’ve enjoyed myself both in the city and in this work community, says Shanshan.
Shanshan holds a master’s degree in transportation engineering and worked for over ten years in China in customer relationship management and commercial leadership roles before moving to Finland.
Building growth together
Early-stage startup services are part of the City of Tampere’s Employment and Growth Services, which support entrepreneurship and business growth from the idea stage all the way to international expansion.
– We want to promote entrepreneurship right from the start and offer companies opportunities to build growth together with the city, universities, investors, business services, and other ecosystem actors, says Service Manager Elina Wallin.
– Startup.Tampere’s mission is to build connections between companies, experts, investors, and public sector actors, as well as to help startups find the networks, services, and opportunities that are crucial for their growth. At the same time, together with our partners, we are building Tampere into an even stronger innovation environment and a hub for international growth entrepreneurship, says Senior Specialist Mia Häkkinen.
The community supports companies’ growth
There are currently 26 startups operating in the Startup House. Applications to join the house are submitted online, and tenancy is intended as a temporary phase on a company’s growth path.
The building regularly hosts events, training sessions, and networking opportunities. Companies that have grown within the ecosystem serve as role models for current and future startup entrepreneurs.
– Some of the companies that have moved on from the community have raised significant rounds of funding. This funding validates the company’s long-term efforts, says Brusi.
Startup.Tampere connects the local community to international networks. This helps companies find partners, talent, and growth services, making Tampere an even more attractive place to launch and grow businesses.
– An extensive collaboration network helps bring Tampere-based startups to international markets while also attracting new expertise, companies, and partnerships to Tampere, says Wallin.
