Over the course of a little more than three years, the University's incubators have shown their effectiveness in producing promising innovations. Now they have received over €2 million in additional funding from the City of Helsinki.
What if we had a better treatment for chronic pain , could limit oil spills at sea, or were able to improve the flavour of plant-based foods with a revolutionary mushroom powder ? These are in fact some of the innovations to have emerged from University of Helsinki business incubators.
During the past three, over 432 teams have refined their ideas in the University's incubators and pre-incubators, and over 80 startups have entered the market. Half of these have succeeded in raising funds, totalling some €15 million.
"The results are impressive. We're happy that the incubator operations launched with the city have got off to a good start," says Jouni Hirvonen, the University of Helsinki's Vice-Rector for Innovation.
Startups have the power of transforming research and education into solutions with global benefits. They not only create new jobs, attract investments and excel at commercialising new technologies but can also, for example, enhance public education and health services.
Quickly gaining recognition
The University's new initiative for developing entrepreneurial skills has been noted outside Finland as well. Irina Blomqvist, who heads the the University's Helsinki Incubators notes that international guests often come to the University to learn more about the programmes.
"It's clear that we're an interesting player in the European scene," she says.
The incubators have also attracted a wide range of applicants, including students, researchers and experienced serial entrepreneurs. Many applications initially came from outside the University, for example, from international professionals who saw entrepreneurship as an employment opportunity.
But gradually people from within the University have joined the operations. Over 50% of the current participants are affiliated with the University, and this number is expected to grow. Blomqvist says that when asking students and doctoral researchers how many of them have heard about Helsinki Incubators , most raise their hands.
"Our reputation has grown considerably."
Boosting entrepreneurial skills
Among those seeking career growth through the incubators is chemistry student Max Ahonen. Though always fascinated by the freedom and ways to create an impact associated with entrepreneurship, he was unsure where to begin.
"I joined the programme quite impulsively," he says.
Ahonen is now the founder of the newly launched Dora Health startup. A manufacturer of dog health monitoring equipment, it is set to launch its first products in early 2026.
"We wish to help both pet owners and vets make better decisions."
It is largely thanks to the incubators that Ahonen's business idea evolved into its current form. Having set out to develop a mobile app for diabetics, his plans changed along the way. He now urges anyone considering entrepreneurship to take the leap.
"There's no such thing as the perfect time to start."
Support from a wide range of mentors
The incubators offer the support of a network of 140 business professionals, helping the participants establish connections with investors and consider business models. Among the mentors is the City of Helsinki's Networks and Ecosystems Manager Aline de Santa Izabel, who has herself worked as both a researcher and startup founder
"As a mentor, my goal is to pay forward the incredible support I've received in my own journey. I want to empower others to push boundaries, explore new ideas, and grow with the confidence that they have a network of experts behind them," she states.
Specialised in deep-tech startups, Santa Izabel has so far advised three University of Helsinki teams. She believes the incubators equip participants with useful skills even if their business ideas do not take off.
"The journey in an incubator is about much more than success or failure - it's about growth, self-discovery and expanding your horizons. Even if a startup doesn't succeed, the experience builds resilience, opens doors and inspires new possibilities," she states.
Goal: Going global
The future looks bright for the University's incubators. They recently received €2.4 million in additional funding from the City of Helsinki for 2025-2027.
"It's great that the city wishes to continue collaborating with us in building a vibrant startup community based on excellence," says Blomqvist.
The next goal is to help the teams involved go global. This can be achieved by establishing connections with international innovation ecosystems and further developing incubator services. Blomqvist says that this could be accomplished, for example, with supplementary EU funding.
The University also intends to expand its support to alumni teams and launch entrepreneurship MOOCs.
"We are confident that the innovation culture on campuses will grow even stronger in the coming years."
