Funding

It is advisable to receive advice even before applying for funding or deciding to start an entrepreneurial activity. Your business advisor will give you tips on how to make a business plan and check that your profitability calculations and financial calculations are in order.  

The template for the business plan and the various calculation bases can be found here(external link).

In addition to our business advisors, you also have access to our local expert network, which will also help with financing. The first consultancy visit to the expert is free of charge.

The start-up grant is granted to new entrepreneurs by the City of Espoo and Uusimaa TE Office. The purpose of the grant is to support new entrepreneurs during the early stages of their full-time entrepreneurship when their business is not yet generating much income. The start-up grant encourages them to continue as entrepreneurs. You have to apply for the start-up grant and wait for the decision before starting as a full-time entrepreneur.

For more information, please contact:

Customers in TE-office: starttiraha.uusimaa@te-toimisto.fi 
Customers in the local government pilots: starttiraha@espoo.fi

If you don´t know your provider, we will help you from both of the above email addresses.

For more information and instructions on how to apply for the start-up grant, visit the TE Services website for new entrepreneurs(external link) (in Finnish).

Business Espoo will help you also with your business plan and calculations needed in start-up grant application:

Book an appointment with a business advisor(external link).

The innovation voucher is intended for SMEs engaged in well-established business and who have a new product or service idea with international growth potential and for which the company needs external expertise. The innovation voucher aims to find new business opportunities for businesses to support business growth and encourage new businesses to innovate.
More information on the Business Finland website.(external link)

In the programs, Business Finland offers the internationalization and innovation-funding services of Business Finland as entities which have been customized in accordance with the goals and target groups of each program. Programs provide networks which enable the participants to resolve common challenges and learn from their peers.
Read more.(external link)

Funding for research, product development, and many kinds of business development needs, especially for small and medium-sized companies. Large companies and research organizations can receive funding for joint projects with smaller companies.
Read more. (external link)

There are working 148 experts in 35 countries to help Finnish companies find new partners, experts and networks.
Read more.(external link)

• Business development services(external link)

• Development support for internationalisation(external link)

Both websites in Finnish and Swedish.

Finnvera provides financing for the start, growth and internationalisation of enterprises and guarantees against risks arising from exports. Finnvera is a specialised financing company owned by the State of Finland and it is the official Export Credit Agency (ECA) of Finland.

More information on the Finnvera website(external link). 

Fiban(external link) helps growth companies to find angel investors who usually invest in start-ups in the early stages of the company or when the company has its first paying customers.

We provide information on the funding opportunities and programmes offered by the EU and support companies in identifying a suitable EU funding programme. We help companies find out which funding programmes could be useful for their business. Additional information(external link). See the EU funding guide(external link) (pdf).

Contact us preferably by e-mail:

• Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce/Enterprise Europe Network, Johanna Marin-Hyppönen johanna.marin-hypponen@chamber.fi
• EEN’s other experts in Finland(external link)

Business Finland provides information on, among other things, EU research, development and innovation funding, the European Innovation Council, various types of funding, cooperation projects and projects of individual companies. Business Finland advises companies in finding an appropriate financial instrument and suitable calls for applications, and provides practical assistance in applying for funding, for example by commenting on applications submitted by companies.

More information is available on the Business Finland website(external link).

Contact us: kaisa.ainala@businessfinland.fi

• Finnvera provides information on the following topics:
  • European fund for strategic investments (future InvestEU) and advisory service
  • Market-based EU funding: loans, guarantees and investment funds, EU-supported SME funding programmes, European investment advisory hub (including project preparation support), European investment project portal (project presentation to investors)
  • European Investment Bank and Fund

Contact information: www.esir.fi(external link), esir@finnvera.fi

More information on the Finnvera website(external link).

Watch a recording of the EU funding webinar on the Business Espoo YouTube(external link) channel and learn the fundamentals of the EU funding options available to SMEs. The webinar explains, for example, the different types of funding and programmes, calls for funding applications, consortia, business support, reasons to apply for EU funding and future EU financial instruments. (The recording is mainly in English.)

Planning gives your business wings. Your business plan and calculations are important tools for planning and defining how much and for what kind of projects your company needs money. If the cash flow suddenly stops, the growth of your business will also stop.

Plans help you to focus on the right things when starting a business and developing its operations as well as telling you how the need for money changes at different stages of the business and when money is needed. Plans and calculations also help you, for example, to solve the company’s future financing needs.

At the clinic meeting, you can review funding models and discuss possible financing solutions. Plans will greatly facilitate negotiations with the bank or investors. We therefore recommend that you prepare a business plan and calculations.

Are you interested in discussing the financing of your business with an expert?

Make an appointment at the Financial Clinic if you want:

• information on available funding opportunities
• expert tips on financial planning and calculations
• advice on financing change situations
• tools to succeed in financial negotiations with the bank or investors.

Target group: The Financial Clinic is especially intended for SMEs and start-ups, but sole entrepreneurs are also welcome.

When and where? On EnterpriseEspoo’s premises, Otakaari 5 A 02150, Espoo.

Book an appointment electronically >>(external link)
Instructions:

• First select the clinic for which you wish to make an appointment.
• Go to the day booked for the clinic in the calendar (e.g. 10 March).
• Fill in your information and book the appointment. You will receive a confirmation e-mail.
• Note: If you cannot find a free time on the booking page, the clinic is full.
• You can also book an appointment by telephone at +358 10 3366550.

The Dealroom platform helps start-ups reach a growth path by providing them with a connection to investors and major companies operating in Finland and internationally. By creating a profile for your company, you can gain information on other actors and cooperation opportunities. You can also contact potential partners. The basic profile in the service is free of charge.

Register to Dealroom(external link)