Startup 101 Night 1: Ecosystem, Funding & Getting Started in Finland

Name: Startup 101 Night 1: Ecosystem, Funding & Getting Started in Finland
Start: 2026-11-26T14:30:00.000Z
End: 2026-11-26T17:30:00.000Z
Location: Lippulaiva library

Kuvassa lukee englanniksi: From Idea to startup - validate your idea, find funding and learn how to start a business in Finland

Time

Thu 26.11.2026 EET/EEST16.30–19.30 EET/EEST

Location

Espoonlahdenkatu 8, 02320 Espoo

See location on the map(external link, opens in a new window)

Salonki

Languages

English

Price

Free entry

Organizer

WeCode ry

Do you have a business idea but don’t know where to start? Startup 101 is a free event series by WeCode Platform (WeCode ry) for first-time founders and anyone curious about entrepreneurship. No experience needed.

On this first evening, you’ll learn what a startup really is, how to test whether your idea is worth pursuing, how early-stage funding works, and what practical steps it takes to start a business in Finland. And we’ll kick things off with delicious Turkish food!

Programme

16:30 Doors open, delicious Turkish food and networking

17:00 Welcome by WeCode ry

17:05 Understanding startups and validating your idea with Mikko Pitkänen

17:50 Short break

18:00 Funding and investment for early-stage startups with Kustaa Valtonen

19:00 Starting a business in Finland: accounting, taxes and compliance basics with Dipali Jani

Speakers

Mikko Pitkänen, CEO of Surgerix, angel investor, mentor and fundraising advisor. Mikko has been involved in over 400 projects and has raised more than 38 million euros for startups and international R&D and innovation projects. He works with health, medtech, sports and AI software businesses and is an ICF certified performance coach and board professional.

Kustaa Valtonen, venture capitalist and early-stage investor. Kustaa heads the program management office of FinEst Bay Area Development, the company preparing the Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel. He invests in early-stage startups through FinestLove VC, Valtonen Capital and Random Ventures, with a special interest in student-led projects, and holds board positions in many companies.

Dipali Jani, Chartered Accountant (ICAI) and Cost & Management Accountant (ICMAI) with over 10 years of experience in accounting, taxation and financial compliance, including global tax compliance work at Grant Thornton Bharat. She is currently deepening her expertise in the Finnish financial system (Procountor, Netvisor, Power BI) through the Taloushallinnon Career Boost program at Metropolia.

Location:

Lippulaiva Library, multipurpose space Salonki, Espoonlahti, Espoo

Good to know:

Free of charge, but registration is required.

Delicious Turkish food served from 16:30, so come early!

The event is held in English.

Register here: https://www.meetup.com/espoo-application-architecture-meetup-group/events/317296462/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link&utm_version=v2&member_id=482181850(external link, opens in a new window)

Organized by WeCode Platform (WeCode ry), a non-profit association helping people build careers in technology, with a special focus on beginners.

wecodeplatform.com

The route to the main entrance

The 10 accessible parking spaces are located in a parking hall over 10 m from the entrance. The width of the parking spaces is at least 3.6 m.
The parking hall has a lift, which can hold a wheelchair; the door opens automatically. The floor numbers in the lift can be felt with fingers. The button for the exit floor stands out from the other buttons. (The minimum dimensions for an accessible lift are width 1.1 m and depth 1.4 m.)
The pick-up and drop-off area is located in the vicinity of the entrance, giving easy access to the pavement.
The route to the entrance is guided, smooth and sufficiently wide and illuminated and it uses movement-guiding surface material.

The main entrance

The entrance stands out clearly and is illuminated.
The doors connected to the entrance stand out clearly and the glass doors have contrast markings. Outside the door there is sufficient room for moving e.g. with a wheelchair. The door opens automatically with a motion sensor.

The entrance "Merikarhunkuja 5"

The route to the entrance is smooth and sufficiently wide and illuminated and it uses movement-guiding surface material.
There is a steep slope on the passage.
The entrance stands out clearly and is illuminated.
The doors connected to the entrance stand out clearly and the glass doors have contrast markings. Outside the door there is sufficient room for moving e.g. with a wheelchair. The door opens automatically with an opening button.
The entrance has thresholds over 2 cm high.
The customer service point is on the same floor as this entrance.
The staff opens the toilet.

In the facility

The customer service point is located on floor 3.
The staff opens the toilet.
For moving around, there is a lift, which can hold a wheelchair; the door opens automatically. The floor numbers in the lift can be felt with fingers. The button for the exit floor stands out from the other buttons. (The minimum dimensions for an accessible lift are width 1.1 m and depth 1.4 m.)
The doors in the customer service point stand out clearly. The glass doors have contrast markings.
The customer service point has an accessible toilet on the same floor.