🌟 Independent & Ecosystem-Based Programs
  • Kiuas (Espoo/Helsinki)
    Finland’s best-known independent accelerator (spun out of Aaltoes).
    Website: kiuas.com
    Support: Two core programs: Kiuas Start (4-week idea validation) and Kiuas Accelerator (8-week intensive). Includes mentoring, founder community, and optional pre-seed investment (€25–50k for ~5% equity).
    Application: Two cohorts per year (spring, autumn). Highly selective.
  • Maria 01 (Helsinki)
    The largest startup campus in the Nordics, based in a former hospital.
    Website: maria.io
    Support: Community of 170+ startups, dozens of VCs, coworking, events, and on-site investor presence. Hosts programs like Northern Light Accelerator (see below). Not a structured accelerator itself.
    Application: Rolling for startups with scalable tech business models.
  • Business Helsinki Accelerator (formerly NewCo Accelerator, Helsinki)
    City of Helsinki’s official accelerator service.
    Website: hel.fi/business-helsinki-accelerator
    Support: Long-term, equity-free coaching with one-on-one mentors, internationalization support, investor readiness. 30 new startups onboarded monthly.
    Application: Continuous intake; free of charge.
  • Health Incubator Helsinki (Helsinki)
    Flagship health and life sciences incubator, backed by the City of Helsinki and university hospitals.
    Website: healthincubatorhelsinki.com
    Support: Up to 3 years of equity-free incubation. Includes mentoring, office space at Terkko Health Hub, clinical and investor networks.
    Application: Annual call each spring; 10 startups selected (2025 round ran Mar 3–31, with programme starting May 2025).
  • EnergySpin (Vaasa)
    Corporate-backed accelerator for cleantech and energy startups.
    Website: energyspin.fi
    Support: 10-week program. Industry mentoring, pilots with major energy companies, and access to investments (facilitated rounds up to €1M).
    Application: One cohort per year (fall); international startups welcome.
  • Red Brick Accelerator (Tampere)
    Community accelerator in Tampere.
    Website: redbrick.fi
    Support: Pre-accelerator (6 weeks) for ideas and main accelerator (10 weeks) for early startups. Coaching, workshops, demo day.
    Application: Two cohorts per year; free, equity-free.
  • Finnish Game Incubator (Tampere/Online)
    10-week pre-incubator for game studios, run by Tampere Game Hub.
    Website: tampere.games/incubator
    Support: Mentoring from game industry veterans (Rovio, etc.), publisher access, entrepreneurship certification. Equity-free.
    Application: Annual cohort (next intake late 2025).
  • xEdu (Helsinki)
    Europe’s leading EdTech accelerator.
    Website: xedu.co
    Support: 3–4 month programme, two cohorts per year. Focus on pedagogy, global market expansion, and pilot projects in Finnish schools. Equity stake typically taken.
    Application: Spring and autumn calls; international founders welcome.
  • Turbiini Accelerator (Vantaa)
    Pre-accelerator linked to Metropolia UAS.
    Website: turbiini.net
    Support: 2 programs per year; workshops, coworking, business coaching, prototype grants via “Nanobuusti”. Equity-free.
    Application: Semester intakes.
  • Boost Turku – Startup Journey (Turku)
    Student-driven accelerator.
    Website: boostturku.com
    Support: 10-week summer accelerator, mentoring, workshops, demo day. Equity-free.
    Application: Annual intake in spring.
  • ESA BIC Finland (Espoo/Tampere)
    European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre.
    Website: esabic.fi
    Support: Up to €75k non-dilutive funding, technical support, ESA IP, 2-year incubation.
    Application: Year-round, with selection rounds (next deadline Sep 14, 2025).
  • Startup Express Pre-Incubator (Oulu)
    BusinessOulu’s 14-week idea-stage program.
    Website: oulu.com/startup-express-pre-incubator
    Support: Workshops, 1-on-1 coaching, peer support. Free, equity-free.
    Application: Runs each semester; Fall 2025 cohort already active.
  • Northern Light Accelerator (Maria 01, Helsinki)
    Soft-landing accelerator for non-Finnish founders.
    Website: maria.io/northernlight
    Support: 3-month programme (Sep–Nov 2025). Includes product-market fit validation, European market entry, and founder community. Culminates in Demo Day during Slush Week.
    Application: Annual cohort.
  • Valkea Growth Club (Helsinki)
    Fortum’s corporate growth platform for clean energy and sustainability.
    Website: valkea.club
    Support: Investments from €100k–500k (up to €1M), mentoring, access to Fortum’s ecosystem. Based at Maria 01.
    Application: Rolling, equity taken via direct investment.
  • OYSTER Pre-Incubator (Oulu)
    Digital health & wellness pre-incubator, run by OuluHealth.
    Website: ouluhealth.fi/oyster
    Support: 100-day programme, workshops, mentoring, corporate/clinical access. Equity-free.
    Application: Annual call; in-person attendance required.
🎓 University-Based Programs
  • Aalto Startup Center (Espoo)
    Website: startupcenter.aalto.fi
    Support: 12-month Business Generator, mentoring, workspace at A Grid, corporate pilots. Hosts ESA BIC, Urban Tech Helsinki legacy.
    Application: Rolling; cohorts a few times a year. Equity-free (unless university IP involved).
  • University of Helsinki – Incubators
    Website: helsinki.fi/incubators
    Support: Multiple tracks: Pathways Pre-Incubator (2 months), Journeys Incubator (4 months), plus thematic hubs (EdTech, Food/Agritech, Circular economy). All equity-free.
    Application: Multiple calls per year.
  • SPARK Finland (National, coordinated from Helsinki)
    Website: sparkfinland.fi
    Support: 18–24 month mentoring for academic health projects. Guidance on IP, regulatory, clinical trials. Equity-free.
    Application: Annual competitive intake.
  • Tampere Universities – Y-Kampus & Tribe Tampere
    Website: startuptampere.fi
    Support: Courses, hackathons, early venture support; pathway to Red Brick. Equity-free.
    Application: Rolling via university engagement.
  • University of Oulu – Avanto Accelerator
    Website: oulu.fi/avanto
    Support: 1–3 month idea-stage accelerator for students/researchers. Equity-free.
    Application: Annual call.
  • VTT LaunchPad (Espoo)
    Website: vttresearch.com/launchpad
    Support: Internal incubator for VTT spin-offs. IPR support, project funding, coaching. Equity-free but tied to VTT researchers.
🏢 Corporate Accelerators
  • Combient Foundry (Helsinki/Stockholm)
    Website: combientfoundry.com
    Support: Corporate venture client model. 3-month pilots with Nordic industrials (KONE, Stora Enso, Scania). No equity; outcome is commercial contract.
    Application: Twice yearly challenge calls.
  • OP Financial Group
    Runs internal innovation pilots and co-development projects with startups (health, fintech). Not open cohorts; invitation only.

🌍 International Accelerators with Finnish Presence
  • Antler (Helsinki)
    Website: antler.co
    Support: 8-week residency, €100k pre-seed for 10% equity, follow-on €250–500k. Two cohorts per year.
  • Startup Wise Guys
    Website: startupwiseguys.com
    Support: 4-month B2B accelerator. €30k investment for ~5% equity, plus €250k follow-on. Many Finnish startups join Baltic/online cohorts.
  • EIT Climate-KIC / EIT Digital / EIT Food
    Website: eit.europa.eu
    Support: Non-dilutive grants (€10–50k), pan-European accelerators. Finnish startups eligible.
  • TINC – Tech Incubator Silicon Valley (Nordic Innovation House)
    Website: nordicinnovationhouse.com
    Support: 4-week bootcamp in Palo Alto. US mentors, investor meetings. Equity-free.
  • Tech Nordic Advocates – International Accelerator
    Website: technordicadvocates.org
    Support: 6-month accelerator for women-led scaleups, backed by City of Helsinki. Masterclasses, investor access. Equity-free. Annual cohort.
  • REACH – Nordic Innovation House (Silicon Valley)
    Website: nordicinnovationhouse.com
    Support: 6-month programme for Nordic research-based spinouts. Online + 2-week Silicon Valley immersion. Participation fee.
  • Founder Institute Nordics (Helsinki hub)
    Website: fi.co
    Support: 14-week pre-seed accelerator (virtual, with local mentor network). Global program adapted for Finland.
    Application: Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 cohorts.