New to Finland and looking for a cofounder
If you are building a company in Finland and do not have a local network yet, this directory is a place to start. Founders and cofounders across Finland say what they are looking for in their own words, and you can read every profile without an account. Add a free profile in English, say where you are based and what you need, and send a message without waiting for an introduction.
Founders and cofounders listed from outside Finland
Questions people in your position ask
Do I need to speak Finnish?
Not to use this site. Profiles and messages work in English. If Finnish matters for your market, say so in your profile: a Finnish-speaking cofounder can be part of what you are looking for.
What do I need to found a company here?
It depends on your citizenship. For a founder from outside the EU, the startup permit route starts with an eligibility statement from Business Finland, then a residence permit application to the Finnish Immigration Service. The official pages below have the current rules. We do not give immigration advice.
Can I be listed before I move?
Yes. Choose Outside Finland when you set your location and write where you are. Saying it up front means nobody has to guess.
Official next steps for founders moving to Finland
- Finnish Startup Permit: applying. Business Finland's instructions for the eligibility statement that starts the startup permit.
- Residence permit for a start-up entrepreneur. The Finnish Immigration Service's page on the permit itself.
- International House Helsinki: startup entrepreneur's checklist. A step-by-step list of the registrations a new founder in Finland needs.
- Work in Finland. The official site for international talent moving to Finland.
Read next: New to Finland: how to find a Finnish cofounder with no network here.